So I am looking to build an ESX server that will host Freenas, Windows 7, Linux in a home environment. It will primary be used as a media storage server for 2-3 concurrent users.
Motherboard: Supermicro X11SSH-CTF ($418.90)
CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1230 V5 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($271.66 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial 32GB Kit (2 x 16GB) DDR4-2400 ECC UDIMM VLP or 2* Crucial 16GB DDR4-2400 ECC UDIMM VLP depending on in stock
2* Storage: Sandisk Extreme Pro 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($119.99 @ Newegg)
8* Storage: Western Digital Red 6TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive ($234.52 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Define R5 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($119.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 660W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($104.99 @ Newegg)
I have read many of the forum posts about ESX & Freenas and the general guidelines seem to be:
- Pass through the LSI controller (in IT mode) so Freenas can have the hard drives natively
- Don't over-commit the Vcpu
- Reserve all of Freenas's memory (will probably lock it as 16 GB to start)
- Create a backup of the Freenas config in-case ESX doesn't boot
So here is my general idea for the build:
A1. Assemble the machine
A2. Test the memory using memtest86+ for 12-24 hours
A3. Flash the LSI controller to IT mode
A4. Load an OS on a temp drive and use something like Hard Disk Sentinel to do full read/write on the drives several times
A5. Create Raid 1 array of the 2 SSD using the Intel 236 controller
A6. Install ESX to raid 1 of SSD
A7. Create Freenas VM on the SSD datastore and passthrough the LSI controller with 2 Vcpu, 16 GB memory reserved, VMXNET3 nic, LSI passed through
A8. Install Freenas as normal creating a single Raidz2 using the 8 hard drives
So my general questions:
1. Can you help me find the best 32GB memory kit for this board? The part numbers on Supermicro's website for tested memory don't show much on amazon or newegg.
2. Is that the best CPU for the project? All of the CPU's above that one seem to have onboard video which won't get used or slightly higher clocks.
3. Any major differences between the X11SSH-CTF and X11SSL-CF besides the 10Gb NIC and two extra SATA?
4. Any recommendation for good SSD's for ESX install/Datastore
5. What is the best easiest ways to backup my ESX and Freenas configurations?
6. Do the Supermicro boards come with the SAS breakout cables?
Thanks and let me know if there is any feedback or other things I didn't think of or missed.
Edited to make some questions clearer hopefully and cleaned up parts links.
Edited again to add suggested memory.
Motherboard: Supermicro X11SSH-CTF ($418.90)
CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1230 V5 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($271.66 @ Newegg)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler ($24.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Crucial 32GB Kit (2 x 16GB) DDR4-2400 ECC UDIMM VLP or 2* Crucial 16GB DDR4-2400 ECC UDIMM VLP depending on in stock
2* Storage: Sandisk Extreme Pro 240GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($119.99 @ Newegg)
8* Storage: Western Digital Red 6TB 3.5" 5400RPM Internal Hard Drive ($234.52 @ Newegg)
Case: Fractal Design Define R5 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($119.98 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 660W 80+ Platinum Certified Fully-Modular ATX Power Supply ($104.99 @ Newegg)
I have read many of the forum posts about ESX & Freenas and the general guidelines seem to be:
- Pass through the LSI controller (in IT mode) so Freenas can have the hard drives natively
- Don't over-commit the Vcpu
- Reserve all of Freenas's memory (will probably lock it as 16 GB to start)
- Create a backup of the Freenas config in-case ESX doesn't boot
So here is my general idea for the build:
A1. Assemble the machine
A2. Test the memory using memtest86+ for 12-24 hours
A3. Flash the LSI controller to IT mode
A4. Load an OS on a temp drive and use something like Hard Disk Sentinel to do full read/write on the drives several times
A5. Create Raid 1 array of the 2 SSD using the Intel 236 controller
A6. Install ESX to raid 1 of SSD
A7. Create Freenas VM on the SSD datastore and passthrough the LSI controller with 2 Vcpu, 16 GB memory reserved, VMXNET3 nic, LSI passed through
A8. Install Freenas as normal creating a single Raidz2 using the 8 hard drives
So my general questions:
1. Can you help me find the best 32GB memory kit for this board? The part numbers on Supermicro's website for tested memory don't show much on amazon or newegg.
2. Is that the best CPU for the project? All of the CPU's above that one seem to have onboard video which won't get used or slightly higher clocks.
3. Any major differences between the X11SSH-CTF and X11SSL-CF besides the 10Gb NIC and two extra SATA?
4. Any recommendation for good SSD's for ESX install/Datastore
5. What is the best easiest ways to backup my ESX and Freenas configurations?
6. Do the Supermicro boards come with the SAS breakout cables?
Thanks and let me know if there is any feedback or other things I didn't think of or missed.
Edited to make some questions clearer hopefully and cleaned up parts links.
Edited again to add suggested memory.
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