Need help with at building a new ESXi server for a Dev environment with lots of SQL

[alex1002]

Good Day,
I was chosen to help spec out a new server for a dev shop with lots of SQL Work. The server will not be from Dell,HP or Lenovo due to the high costs. I want to spec out and build my own server based on Supermicro barebone or anything else suggested. I like the Supermicro because it provides a new starting point. My max bugdet is 10k. Can anyone help me advice, on the CPU, RAM choice. My most difficult part is choosing the storage. Seems that SSDs are still pricy, 10k 2.5 sas drives 15k sas drives. Need some help here. Also what raid card to choose.

This is what I got so far:
SUPERMICRO SYS-1028R-WC1RT 1U Rackmount Server Barebone Dual LGA 2011 Intel C610 DDR4 DIMM sockets
SUPERMICRO SYS-1028R-WC1RT 1U Rackmount Server Barebone Dual LGA 2011 Intel C610 DDR4 DIMM sockets - Newegg.ca
Intel Xeon E5-2630 v3 Haswell-EP 2.4 GHz 8 x 256KB L2 Cache 20MB L3 Cache LGA 2011-3 85W BX80644E52630V3 Server Processor x2
Intel Xeon E5-2630 v3 Haswell-EP 2.4 GHz 8 x 256KB L2 Cache 20MB L3 Cache LGA 2011-3 85W BX80644E52630V3 Server Processor - Newegg.ca
Ram Either 128GB or 256GB DDR4
Raid control maybe buildin good enough
Need to device on storage, option 10x 2.5

This box will also host between 20-30 low resource vms that are constantly changing.


Cheers

 

[xnoodle]

How big are the SQL datasets? How large are the VMs? Might want to go NVMe .. but capacity might be a issue.

 

[alex1002]

The current Server is about 3TB all together for all the VMs. I dont think the SQL DBs will ever be more then 200GB....
NVMe ,,, what are my options?

 

[T_Minus]

Why not put DB on own server w/enough RAM for entire data set + os and any other minor needs, then you can decide to get NVME or SSD, but either way it's cheap because it's can be the smaller drives.

Then get a 2nd server for your VMs, if they're low usage this server can cost very little.

 

[Naeblis]

Well here you go.. (puts on anti-flaming suit)

option 1
1) dell precision workstation t7910 from outlet - approx $3500 with dual 2670v3 (server class Mother board)
2)add ram up to 256 GB (it has 16 slots) $1200
3) HDDs (6x 1tb SSDs in cage ) -- SSDs + cage = 2500
4) 2 Intel NVMe PCI 1.2 TB SSDs = $1800
5) raid card +- $400 (need PCIe V3 x 8 and preferably 16 port - adaptec is about $400)
6) local back up 2 5tb Sata drives $280
7) 2 SSD boot Drives = $100
8) 2 Dual port 10G NICs = $300

Total $9800

option 2
1) intel R2208WTTYS (Kalleyomalley ebay) approx $1100
2) CPUs 2670v3 x 2 and 256GB Memory 3500
3) raid card RMS3CC080 (same ebay seller) approx $400
4) 4 x NVMe cage A2U44X25NVMEDK $500
5) 4 NVMe Drives 2 x 1.2 TB and 2x 400GB = $1900
6) 12 500 GB SSDs $2200
7) 2 SSD boot Drives = $100
8) 2 Dual port 10G NICs = $300
Total $10K

 

[alex1002]

When buying ES cpus. Are they any risks? EG Them being buggy, or issues with system stability. Motherboard wont supporting them with future bios updates?

I see locally I can get the Intel R2208WTTYS for $2k, Since I am Canadian prices are alway higher. How do the Intel compare to Supermicro?

 

[T_Minus]

You said lots of SQL, so to me that means the DB performance should be #1, VM #2, basted on how it was interpreted by me is this not the case? If your DB is only 200GB there's 0 reason not to use NVME + enough RAM (256gb) for cache.

When buying ES cpus. Are they any risks? EG Them being buggy, or issues with system stability. Motherboard wont supporting them with future bios updates?

I see locally I can get the Intel R2208WTTYS for $2k, Since I am Canadian prices are alway higher. How do the Intel compare to Supermicro?

There are lots of risk buying ES anything.
- They can be buggy.
- They might not work at all with your motherboard.
- They may be unstable, or overheat, or constantly reboot, you never know until you get it. Buying from a reputable seller that provides all the info about the CPU will help you.
- Future BIOS updates shouldn't remove the CPU info from BIOS but certain versions may and may not have the same codes, never know, again that's the risk of ES chips.

I'm not sure about Intel motherboards vs. SuperMicro, all mine are supermicro (sold my INTEL). With supermicro I'm running E5-46xx in a E5-26xx 2P board just fine, can Intel do that, not sure? SM Can also run E5-16xx in E5-26xx not sure about Intel either. AND, like was said before some CPUs may work with some boards and not other boards in the same series cross 1P or 2P or 4P, it depends 100% on the BIOS codes for the CPU. Some of the ES chips are even 'matched', or at-least that's what they tell me... they work in matched board just fine so far.

Most people don't use ES CPU for production enviroment unless you know it's a release "ES" version. Some ES show-up as the actual CPU in BIOS, and Windows while others just say "Intel ES" or "2.0ghz INTEL" type things. And technically they were not meant for this.

 

[tare55]

I have had good luck with intel over supermacro. i would not use ES CPUs. a quick check on ebay shows non-ES CPUs within the price above. I would not expect an Intel Server to support ES CPUs.

 

[T_Minus]

This may be of use to people too:
Intel Engineering Sample Info - Direct From Intel!
Processors — Information About Intel Engineering/Qualification Sample Processors

 

[alex1002]

Thank you guys looks like I am okay at finding the main components. Am still stuck at choosing the storage part....

 

[tare55]

Thank you guys looks like I am okay at finding the main components. Am still stuck at choosing the storage part....

NVMe 2 disks