Hardware Spec to virtualize 8 servers and setup VDI for 150 desktops.
Hello,
We want to virtualize our servers and convert our desktops to virtual desktops.
We have currently have 8 physical (pentium and Xeon dual cores)servers(: exchange, MS SQL, files server, webserver, domain server.
And desktops that are mixes of pentium and core 2 duo. all run XP. and do mostly outlook, ms office, and some web apps.
I want to first convert all servers to VMWARE and create all new windows 7 based virtual desktops. This because we will not be replacing the workstations soon.
I am thinking of buying 3 DELL R810 Servers with 2x 8-core X6550 processors and 128GB RAM and 2x INTEL Quad Gb ethernet cards each
For storage I am thinking DELL M3220i 4TB Raid-10 SAN with 8x GB ethernet adapters.
My estimate is based on 2 cores per server. (16 cores needed)
5 VDI per core(30 cores needed)
My server have a total of 3x2x8cores= 48 cores
Memory 4Gb per server(32GB)
2G per VDI (300GB)
My servers carry 3*128= 384GB
HD space
currently the server use 300GB
I want to give the server 1Tb total and each VDI 20GB
Of course I plan to buy 1 extra server with samr specs in case of failures.
I am not sure if the MD3220i is fast enough. Please give me some insights.
Edward
We want to virtualize our servers and convert our desktops to virtual desktops.
We have currently have 8 physical (pentium and Xeon dual cores)servers(: exchange, MS SQL, files server, webserver, domain server.
And desktops that are mixes of pentium and core 2 duo. all run XP. and do mostly outlook, ms office, and some web apps.
I want to first convert all servers to VMWARE and create all new windows 7 based virtual desktops. This because we will not be replacing the workstations soon.
I am thinking of buying 3 DELL R810 Servers with 2x 8-core X6550 processors and 128GB RAM and 2x INTEL Quad Gb ethernet cards each
For storage I am thinking DELL M3220i 4TB Raid-10 SAN with 8x GB ethernet adapters.
My estimate is based on 2 cores per server. (16 cores needed)
5 VDI per core(30 cores needed)
My server have a total of 3x2x8cores= 48 cores
Memory 4Gb per server(32GB)
2G per VDI (300GB)
My servers carry 3*128= 384GB
HD space
currently the server use 300GB
I want to give the server 1Tb total and each VDI 20GB
Of course I plan to buy 1 extra server with samr specs in case of failures.
I am not sure if the MD3220i is fast enough. Please give me some insights.
Edward
Last Comment
ASKER
I want to setup failover with the extra server? Yes the SAN can fail. for that one I did not choose a backup yet.
I have no problem virtualize SQL, Exchange, file server, domain controllers, etc. for a larger environment than yours using Hyper-V. Performance for servers should be okay as far as server hardware goes (should maybe add more RAM to some of the servers). I don't think that your disk storage will be fast enough for 150 virtual desktops. You don't mention how many disks and what kind you plan on using. I would work with VMware and Dell to figure out how many disk IOPS you will need and how to deliver that. You might be looking at something like the Dell EqualLogic PS6000XVS, which will really raise the cost of your project.
ASKER
Yes Kevin,
I was thinking to add a little extra ram to the servers.
I was thinking Raid50.
But am also afraid that the m3220 speed won't cut it.
However the Equallogic is another price range specially considering extra requirements for the servers.
I am waiting for Dell's offer.
I was thinking to add a little extra ram to the servers.
I was thinking Raid50.
But am also afraid that the m3220 speed won't cut it.
However the Equallogic is another price range specially considering extra requirements for the servers.
I am waiting for Dell's offer.
I don't think that you can do 150 seat VDI deployment with slow (cheap) storage. You can take a look at Nimbus Data, which is a startup offering Tier 1 flash at 10K per TB, starting at 2.5 TB. They claim to have all of the normal storage features (replication, snapshots, MPIO, thin provisioning, etc.) for flash at a price point that you would pay for 15K disk from the traditional vendors with all of their software.
My understanding is that VDI really stresses disk systems, much like a high IOP database.
My understanding is that VDI really stresses disk systems, much like a high IOP database.
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ASKER
My calculations came out to 7500IOPS for the VDI's. My servers do mostly light duty. I have to look into a way measure what the servers will need when virtrualized.
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ASKER
we worked with Dell to finish the proposal and went for EMC
Virtualization
Virtualization is the act of creating a virtual (rather than actual) version of something, including (but not limited to) a virtual computer hardware platform, operating system (OS), storage device, or computer network resources. Virtualization is usually the creation of a system that executes separate from the underlying hardware resources, or the creation of an entire desktop for systems located elsewhere, similar to thin clients.
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As far as u are happy with the virtualization then selected hardware is fine .