Day 1: Wow! My 1st real server! LOL. Not really. However, for the home virtualization server, with lab, and other machines running, this takes the cake. Let me say, thank you to TinkerTry.com for helping point me in this direction. If you are out to get an Intel NUC for a home lab--as I was--get this instead. Reason: you can beef up the ram, 6 cores, etc. For the workplace, this kind of low-cost powerhouse is needed. Let me say some things about my specs: I have the recommended RAM modules (Timetec Hynix IC 32GB Kit (2x16GB) DDR4 2400 MHz PC4-19200 Non-ECC Unbuffered 1.2V CL17 2Rx8 Dual Rank 288 Pin UDIMM Desktop--non-ECC only goes to 64GB) which are in the same price as Crucial, so get these. I DON'T have a recommended HDD, but DO have a perfectly fine, working M.2 (
Samsung 960 PRO Series - 512GB PCIe NVMe). I run ESXi 6.5 on a 32GB SanDisk USB (small one) that is on the MOBO. So far, It is great. Sadly, I don't yet have a 10Gb switch for the 10Gb ports, however, in case you want to know, a website, TinkerTry has an article "How to download and install the Intel Xeon D 10GbE X552/X557 driver/VIB for VMware ESXi 6.x, works for X540 too," that has the drivers. Let me add one thing: as of now, I don't find the fans to be particularly noisy. I don't yet have many VMs running, so that is something I will look into. There are quieter, compatible fans out there. Out of the box, the iKVM (or KVM over LAN) is a breeze and makes setting up virtual CD drives for loading ISOs a cakewalk. PS: I am a network engineer, not a sysadmin expert. I did have some pointers from associates who do know VMware. I should also mention that ESXi 6.5 doesn't play nicely with Intel NUC due to the Broadcom NICs. And, if you run an OVPN server, then this is great for remote use too. By the way, I use this for my EVE-NG labs which run many appliances. Running 20+ Cisco CSR1000v routers on a NUC is near impossible (mine only could take 16GB of RAM). I have worked with Supermicro in production and I love them!
This is an absolute beast as a PFsense router. I can move gigabit traffic without it even breaking a sweat. Given the two 10gbit SFP+ ports, I strongly suspect I could hit at least 5-6gbit before it started struggling. And you have 6 1gbit ports to use for splitting off different networks without using VLANs, or handling multiple incoming lines. I do wish it came with the rackmount ears, but I was aware before purchasing that it did not, so that's not a fault of the product.
This worked well as a refreshed VMWare home lab server. It is small, powerful little unit, especially since it supports up to 128G of ram. So many vendor demos want 4-8Gigs of RAM now. Spinning those plus a few test workstations pretty much kills 32G VM devices. This unit allows for some more complex topologies and test environments. The additional NIC ports are nice if you spinning home lab environments testing 802.1x sort of stuff. It is not completely silent and you can definitely hear the fans if the room is quiet. I wouldn't want it in my bedroom if any noise wakes you. The IPMI is nice for remote management.
Make sure you match the memory correctly. I had to return my first set. I used Crucial memory, Crucial Technology RAM Memory 2 x 32GB DDR4 SDRAM 64 DDR4 2133 SDRAM CT2K32G4RFD4213.
Best home server ever hands down.. I have modified mine by installing nocture fans.
On a side not I wish it was slightly wider so I could install a full size GPU to test Citrex Xen GPU Passthrough
Excellent little box:
- Plenty of storage options (mSATA, SATA DOM, 2.5" SATA, m.2 SATA, m.2 PCIe)
- Plenty of network ports
- Powerful CPU that supports large amounts of ECC RAM
- Good IPMI
- Rack mount options
- PCIe expansion options
Was well stocked, arrived next day.
Feature Product
- The product is manufactured in China
Description
Supermicros small Xeon server box is based on Intel Xeon D SoC. It is well-suited for embedded networking applications, network security appliance, firewall applications, virtualization server. The product is manufactured in China.
It was really hard to let it go. A small beast with amazing performance. My return reason, sitting right beside my desk and its noise was bothering me. Will buy again If vendor ever comes with a quite unit.
A good buying/return experience from this seller.
I used this device to install VyOS for my home router. Nice having 6 gigE ports and a couple of 10GigE ports. Not that I need 10Gig at home, but it is still "nice".
Great server!!!
0 comments:
Post a Comment