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Hardware For Windows Server 2012

Tags:
  • Windows
  • Windows Server
  • RAM
  • CPUs
  • Business Computing
  • Servers
  • Hardware
  • Xeon
  • Memory
  • SSD
Last response: in Business Computing
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August 24, 2014 7:11:52 PM

Hi,
I am new to Windows Server and servers in general. I want to get familiar with both. This makes want to build a home server and play with it . Hopefully ending up with a good server and learning the software . I have a copy of Windows 2012 R2 (standard) with update. I also have access to other versions of Microsoft software. I know full blown Windows Server and the hardware listed properly is overkill. But like I said I want to learn my way around it. So to the hardware.

Parts I have laying around:

3- Barracuda 1TB Drive
2- WD Black 1 TB Drive
1- VisionTek Race SSD 120GB
Various 2.5 HD's
32GB of Corsair Vengeance Ram
16GB of VisionTek Black label Ram
HD6850 GPU
650 Watt PS


Parts I have to choose from. This can not be altered I must choose between the two.

1. Dell T5500 - 2x Xeon Quad Core (X5550) 2.66 GHz.14GB of Ram

2. Dell T5500 - 1x Xeon 6 Core (X5675) 3.06 GHz 4GB of Ram

So is 2 X5550 cpu;s better than 1 X5675 cpu?

Will the Corsair Ram work with these systems?

Should I install the OS on the SSD?







More about : hardware windows server 2012

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August 24, 2014 7:18:23 PM

I do not mean to be critical nor get in your way, but I would highly recommend using Ubuntu for a web server over Windows Server. I have a web server running Ubuntu 10 feet away from me.

Install the OS on the SSD, use the 1TB hard drive for storing web site data, and use the 6-core processor so the server can interpret multiple threads of PHP simultaneously.
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August 24, 2014 7:22:31 PM

You wouldn't use Windows if you could get if free? Also in my line of work I sometimes have to get things to communicate over business networks. Most use Windows.
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August 24, 2014 7:25:51 PM

No, I would actually not use Windows if it was free, and I'll say why.

Ubuntu is a much more efficient operating system than Windows, meaning it uses about half the RAM and less CPU. It also has much more security, as you will find each individual file has strict limitations on what can be done. Best of all with Ubuntu, when a server is running you can close the GUI of the OS and simply run the server from the command-line interface, it almost looks as if you're running on a 1980s computer, but it is extremely efficient that way. Ubuntu needs no virus protection like windows and does not crash nearly as much.

Is this a web server you are building or for something else? Or is it just a file hosting server for the business? If it is web server use Ubuntu, else use Windows.
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August 24, 2014 7:39:16 PM

Like my above post says "new to the world of servers". Not 100% sure what I am going to do with it. For now Learn. But the OS is going to be Microsoft. I have access to all versions of MS server. They have a Web version. That is the OS I want to learn for now. I have played with Ubuntu a few times. I installed it once on my PS3. I have install it a few times on some of my PC's. Right now need help with the hardware questions above.
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August 24, 2014 7:49:22 PM

Okay, well, the RAM is fine, use the Corsair, and what motherboard have you chosen? Also, pick a case with exceptional airflow.

And Windows Server seems to fit your needs. :) 
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August 24, 2014 8:08:23 PM

The case I am using is the Dell T5500 and it's motherboard and the CPU's already installed in it. Using the spare parts I have to upgrade it.
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August 25, 2014 7:32:18 AM

If you want to work with a realistic scenario, I would setup both boxes with windows server as a primary and secondary AD server. That way you can see the issues with promoting and demoting an AD server. You can experiment with DNS servers and replication. Of course power and cooling aren't free.....
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August 25, 2014 8:07:58 AM

I would also make a hyper-v server since you have 2012 standard you can run hyper-v, and run 2 2012 hyper-v servers with the same license. This way you start to get some VM experience as well, and as kanewolf pointed out you can also run the two server to get AD experience but only need one physical box.
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August 25, 2014 12:41:19 PM

turkey3_scratch said:
I do not mean to be critical nor get in your way, but I would highly recommend using Ubuntu for a web server over Windows Server. I have a web server running Ubuntu 10 feet away from me.

Install the OS on the SSD, use the 1TB hard drive for storing web site data, and use the 6-core processor so the server can interpret multiple threads of PHP simultaneously.


The bigger question - why would you tell him to run Ubuntu when he clearly asked about getting familiar with Windows Server?? You completely missed the point of the question.

Frankly, I think you could debate virtually all of the "points" you mentioned about Ubuntu being "much more efficient", but I don't want to derail this thread. This isn't Linux vs Windows - he's simply asking some hardware questions.

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August 25, 2014 12:58:56 PM

motorcyclerider said:
Hi,
I am new to Windows Server and servers in general. I want to get familiar with both. This makes want to build a home server and play with it . Hopefully ending up with a good server and learning the software . I have a copy of Windows 2012 R2 (standard) with update. I also have access to other versions of Microsoft software. I know full blown Windows Server and the hardware listed properly is overkill. But like I said I want to learn my way around it. So to the hardware.

Parts I have laying around:

3- Barracuda 1TB Drive
2- WD Black 1 TB Drive
1- VisionTek Race SSD 120GB
Various 2.5 HD's
32GB of Corsair Vengeance Ram
16GB of VisionTek Black label Ram
HD6850 GPU
650 Watt PS


Parts I have to choose from. This can not be altered I must choose between the two.

1. Dell T5500 - 2x Xeon Quad Core (X5550) 2.66 GHz.14GB of Ram

2. Dell T5500 - 1x Xeon 6 Core (X5675) 3.06 GHz 4GB of Ram

So is 2 X5550 cpu;s better than 1 X5675 cpu?

Will the Corsair Ram work with these systems?

Should I install the OS on the SSD?



I have a few hardware suggestions for you:

1) The Dell T5500 takes DDR3 - usually 1600MHz and either ECC or non-ECC - and can support 2 banks of 3 slots (so-called tri-channel). For optimal performance, you would want to fill 3 slots at a time. I can't tell what the specs are for your current Corsair & VisionTek sticks, so you may or may not be able to use them. However, in any case, these workstations don't really need them.

2) Each T5500 will be fine as a testbed. You could even consolidate memory from one to the other. Overall, you will get better per-thread performance from the X5675, and 2 extra cores really won't make a difference for your testing. In the real world, have two physical processors might make a huge difference in different software licensing fees, so there is a consideration outside the realm of "testing". So if you want to use only workstation for testing, then I would suggest moving the RAM from the dual-X5550 into the X5675.

3) Storage - I would get a 8GB USB flash drive, transfer the Windows install files to it, and then load Windows from that USB drive. Use the SSD as your base drive, and the install will go much faster. You may even want to reload Windows several times, perhaps with a GUI installation the first time and a Core (no GUI - command prompt style interface) Installation the next time. For the other HDDs, I would use them to see how Windows handles them in Storage Space, or even with understanding how different RAID configs would work (like using those 3 Barracudas to create a RAID-5 array, or even the 2 x WD to create a RAID-0 or RAID-1 array).

4) With the T5500 with the most memory, setup Hyper-V on it and see how virtual machines work. You can run Hyper-V as a standalone hypervisor or as part of Windows Server.
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August 25, 2014 2:58:37 PM

I am only going to have one server for now. Had to pick between the two listed. And I picked the dual CPU T5500. I have to use the 14gig of memory it comes with for now. All the ram I have laying around is non ECC. Plan on using the SSD for the OS and putting some of the 1TB drives in for storage.

I picked the dual core T5500 because it has the daughter board with the 2nd CPU with more DIMM slots. I also found this link.

http://senk9.wordpress.com/2013/12/17/home-server-upgra...

"It has 9 DIMM slots, which accept up to 72GB of ECC registered/unbuffered DIMMs (UPDATE: Thanks to Zdravko, the T5500 unofficially supports 144GB-288GB of RAM)."

So this will be my system.

Dell T5500
2x Xeon Quad Core (X5550) 2.66 GHz
14GB ram- Will add more
120GB SSD for OS
3X 1T 7200 rpm drives
HD 6850 or FX 1800 GPU
Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard

How does this system sound?



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August 26, 2014 6:13:58 AM

motorcyclerider said:
I am only going to have one server for now. Had to pick between the two listed. And I picked the dual CPU T5500. I have to use the 14gig of memory it comes with for now. All the ram I have laying around is non ECC. Plan on using the SSD for the OS and putting some of the 1TB drives in for storage.

I picked the dual core T5500 because it has the daughter board with the 2nd CPU with more DIMM slots. I also found this link.

http://senk9.wordpress.com/2013/12/17/home-server-upgra...

"It has 9 DIMM slots, which accept up to 72GB of ECC registered/unbuffered DIMMs (UPDATE: Thanks to Zdravko, the T5500 unofficially supports 144GB-288GB of RAM)."

So this will be my system.

Dell T5500
2x Xeon Quad Core (X5550) 2.66 GHz
14GB ram- Will add more
120GB SSD for OS
3X 1T 7200 rpm drives
HD 6850 or FX 1800 GPU
Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard

How does this system sound?



The extra RAM slots won't matter if you're not going to fill them. You're not making a server for a specific production purpose, so basically you're not going to *need* the extra RAM. There also isn't much of a point in putting $ into it by adding memory unless you have a specific need. So I would reiterate that for the purpose of just testing & experimentation, you're better off going with the faster processor. The additional 400MHz will give you a performance boost above the dual-X5550 A side benefit of having a single CPU with only one CPU fan, it's probably slightly quieter as well.

That being said, nothing is hurt by going with the dual-X5550 option.
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August 29, 2014 6:36:18 PM

Got it together.

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I managed to get 4 drives in it. I pretty sure I can get one more in it.

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I did play with the hardware some before removing Vista that was on it. I had these in it and ran some benchmarks. With the dual CPU's
it's quick.



Now to load 2012 R2
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