Recommended Spec for Server Running 2 VMs

[Zoom7000]

So nearly 15 years in to my career as an education IT professional, I'm surprised to say that this is the first time I am actually looking to purchase a new server! (In the past, I've mostly inherited servers - mainly junk! Or they've been purchased by someone else!)

 

So, the question is, what exactly do I need to look for in terms of server spec? I recently rebuilt an old RM CC4 server as a vanilla domain with the old CC4 server running as a Windows Server 2016 virtual host with 2 VMs (DC and SIMS). The specs are:

 

Model: HP ML350pT08 SFF CTO Server

Product Number: 652065-B21

CPU: 2 x Intel Xeon E5-2609 @ 2.4GHz

RAM: 16GB (8 for host, 4 for DC, 4 for SIMS)

HDD: 4 x 450GB running in RAID5

 

The servers aren't really doing anything too fancy. The DC is basically doing AD authentication, GPO, DNS, DHCP, WDS and PDQ Deploy. The SIMS server is obviously doing SIMS and SQL. There is no file server as all files are on the cloud. There are no user profiles. All profiles are local and My Documents is heavily restricted to just 1GB per staff member and a shared 5GB limit for all students as the main storage is on Google Drive.

 

What specs would be recommended for the above requirements? The current server is struggling heavily with the above and the CPU constantly runs at 100%. I have already ordered a further 16GB RAM which should be arriving today, but I get the feeling that this might not solve the issues with high CPU utilisation.

[Steve21]

When you say it's 100% is that the host or the VMs? You should be able to see which one is using the CPU up as you may just need to tweak which VM you've given the CPU to etc.

 

The host shouldn't need 8GB on it's own, and SIMs deffo needs more than 4GB, but the DC should be fine with that.

 

How big is the school? Assuming it's primary/small etc if it's only the 2 servers?

 

Steve

[ICTDirect_Dave]

That server chassis can provide a LOT of power should you wish.

 

For me, you'd want to look at some better processors. The E5-2609 are about as basic as it gets.

Something like an 8 Core E5-2670 running at 2.60GHz would slot straight in there. They're pretty cheap these days too.

 

I'd suggest doubling the RAM. You've got the slots (24 in one of those machines) and 4GB 10600R DIMMs are so cheap right now.

 

You have plenty of drives to have a decent speed on your array, but you've made no mention on the raid controller. Those towers come with a Smart Array P420i, which is a great controller, but you'll want to make sure it's got the 1GB of flash-backed write cache in there as that does make a difference.

[Zoom7000]

When you say it's 100% is that the host or the VMs? You should be able to see which one is using the CPU up as you may just need to tweak which VM you've given the CPU to etc.

 

The host shouldn't need 8GB on it's own, and SIMs deffo needs more than 4GB, but the DC should be fine with that.

 

How big is the school? Assuming it's primary/small etc if it's only the 2 servers?

 

Steve

 

Yeah, it's a 2 form primary school. The host itself is running fine. Even with the VMs on full load, the CPU is at like 10% load, so I'm gonna take a look at the VM configuration to see if there is something going on there.

 

That server chassis can provide a LOT of power should you wish.

 

For me, you'd want to look at some better processors. The E5-2609 are about as basic as it gets.

Something like an 8 Core E5-2670 running at 2.60GHz would slot straight in there. They're pretty cheap these days too.

 

I'd suggest doubling the RAM. You've got the slots (24 in one of those machines) and 4GB 10600R DIMMs are so cheap right now.

 

You have plenty of drives to have a decent speed on your array, but you've made no mention on the raid controller. Those towers come with a Smart Array P420i, which is a great controller, but you'll want to make sure it's got the 1GB of flash-backed write cache in there as that does make a difference.

 

I'll give you a call @ICTDirect_Dave, I'd be interested in looking at CPU costings.

[vikpaw]

Depending on the version of SQL and VM setup, won't SQL take all it can anyway? The issue might be it doesn't have enough, it can't access enough, it's getting clogged up so staying permanently spiked.