Well, this post is going to be geared for those who are technically minded. I decided to get a server for my office that could handle several instances of vmware running simultaneously. For work, I need to be able to test integrations from SCOM, MOM, SCCM, and several other Microsoft management servers. I also need to test Active Directory, eDirectory, LANDesk, Altiris, SMS, etc. I decided that the easiest and best way to do this would be by having several vmware instances that I would not have to blow away, but could activate whenever I needed them. I would like to have many of these servers running all of the time so that I could use them while I am at Mark's house or elsewhere.
To accomplish this, I needed a powerful server. To purchase this server from Dell.com or elsewhere online, it cost several thousand dollars. I decided that I would build one myself to save money, and it ended up costing my a little over $400 due to some rebates that were available on the parts. This server has a top-of-the-line Intel quad-core processor, nice motherboard, 4 hard drives (each dedicated to a vmware instance which gets its own processor core dedicated to it), and 4GB RAM. I believe that this setup should allow up to 3 vmware instances to run at the same time with very little performance hit. I should be able to run even more if I need to.
It took me a little longer to assemble it than I thought that it would. I didn't read any instructions (I never do :) ), and when I put it together, there were some things that didn't look right. I noticed that the back of the motherboard was touching the metal case and I worried about that shorting-out. I peeked at the assembly instructions for the motherboard and found out that I was suppossed to install some spacers between the board and the case. I took it apart again and fixed it. To be honest, I was pleasantly surprised when the time came to plug it in and turn it on. I half expeced it to spark, pop, and die.
Anyway, I am very happy to have my server!
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