VirtualPro

I’ve recently been lucky enough to be looking at purchasing a few additional ESX servers. I have spent a good few years now working with HP servers so have been looking at the HP Proliant DL380 G7 model for my particular needs.

I tend to spend a bit of time ensuring that the servers are specified correctly using the HP server quick specs. It can take a bit of time but I want to make sure that I am getting the right configuration for my virtualisation solution. To see an example follow the link to see the current quick specs for the HP Proliant DL 380 G7 server.

While reviewing the quick specs for the DL 380 G7 I noticed the following section which I’d not seen before when buying other HP Proliant servers.

NOTE: Depending on the memory configuration and processor model, the memory speed may run at 1333MHz, 1066MHz, or 800MHz. Please see the Online Memory Configuration Tool at: www.hp.com/go/ddr3memory-configurator.

Now I usually buy memory as follows 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, most people probably do I imagine.  However as it turns out that the new Nehalem (Xeon 5500) and Westmere (5600) processors have some specific rules that need to be abided by to ensure optimal performance.  This is where this particular HP tool comes in handy, whether you are configuring a new server or attempting to upgrade a current one.

  
As it turned 32GB is not an optimal configuration,  something that certain resellers never picked up on.  As it turned out I needed either 24GB or 36GB to ensure my server memory runs at 1333MHz and performs at its best. 

If you are looking at buying a new HP server, or simply looking to add memory to an existing server I strongly suggest taking a look at this tool to ensure you get it right.

http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/servers/options/tool/hp_memtool.html

General, Servers HP, Memory, Proliant

I’ve been considering building myself an ESX3i host at home for a little while now,  specifically for training and testing out new software. Mike DiPetrillo has posted a blog entry yesterday on how he went about building his ESX3i box at home. 

Think I’ll start looking at the price of parts in the UK and set about doing something similar,  I had been eyeing up the HP ML110 G5 which at one point was selling for £93,  then £143 but now appears to be back up at £265.  However there are some articles out there about people who have ESX3i running on this server so it might not be a bad option or I suppose you could just build your own.

http://mikedatl.typepad.com/mikedvirtualization/2008/10/building-a-500.html

General esx3i, HP, server