Need some server advice

[Supermanpunch786]

Hi,

 

I am looking to upgrade 3 servers with VMs on them to 1 VM server. I am new to this and need some technical advice. My server knowledge isn't up to scratch

 

The current servers have the following specs-

Xeon 5620 2.4ghz dual processor 8 core

64gb ram

With 1 VM on it already(print server)

 

Xeon 5620 2.4ghz dual processor 8 core

64gb ram

With 1 VM on it already(used for catering packages and software)

 

Xeon 5645 2.4ghz dual processor 8 core

64gb ram

With 2 VM on it already(1 is the old MIS, which is still needed for GDPR and records and the other is for PS)

 

Would the following server be enough to migrate the 4 VMs to?

 

https://www.etb-tech.com/dell-poweredge-r730xd-1x12-3-5-2-x-e5-2650v3-2-3ghz-ten-core-128gb-4-x-4tb-sas-perc-h730-idrac8-ent-svr-r730xd-006.html

Edited July 12, 2022 by Supermanpunch786

[ICTDirect_Dave]

Morning @Supermanpunch786

 

That Dell should be more than capable of taking on a few VMs from the other servers.

 

My concern would be the 4TB SAS drives would be pretty slow. They'll only spin at 7.2k and you'll not get much speed boost from only having four discs in the array.

 

I'd be happy to quote you for a Dell server (we can do the R730Xd or something similar no problem). I can guarantee we'd be cheaper, whilst offering you a higher specification and the same three year warranty length.

 

Drop me a PM if you'dlike me to fire across the details

 

Dave

[TechMonkey]

Just sticking my oar in, I'm sure you've thought about it, but with 1 Server holding all your VMs do you have plans for resilience and what to do for maintenance?

[PotNoodleTech]

I've recently moved down to 1 server too - having not ever had a server faliure in the last 20 years I'm going to lean on the reliability of the refurbished Dell R740XD plus my Veeam backup solution. I have kept an older R730 server on standby just in case - a full recovery should be doable in a matter of hours.

 

(though now I've put this in text, I am probably screwed...)

 

Spending 60k every three years like some schools do on SANS and all sorts of gubbins to try and cater for all the possible what if's and buts that never actually happen in real life doesn't make sense. I'd rather buy new chromebooks for my pupils instead.

[TechMonkey]

Fair enough, just thought I'd raise the issue.

 

Do you do a full shutdown of the whole system when you need to update the hosts?

[Supermanpunch786]

Just sticking my oar in, I'm sure you've thought about it, but with 1 Server holding all your VMs do you have plans for resilience and what to do for maintenance?

Hi,

 

Thank you for the question.

 

We have a number of servers which hold VMs and do daily backups on external hard drives and to a NAS unit.

 

I currently have 11 physical servers and the 3 I am moving across to 1 are currently on a intel modular server.