Hello Friends,
I need suggestions to figure out a proper solution to start with a New IT Setup(15-20 users) using VMware Vsphere 5 Essentials Plus Kit to run below number of vms.
A)Below VMs to start of immediately
1. Active Directory Server (win2k8 R2 std)
2. Microsoft Exchange Server (Database starting of fresh- targeted for 15-20users) Exch 2010 std
3. DNS/FileServer(starting fresh, provision for up to 200Gb)(win2k8 R2 std)
4. Accounts package/Antivirus Server(win2k8 R2 std)
B) below Vm's to join in coming 3months time
5. Web server(max 20Gb size)
6. SQL/PHP(max 20Gb size)
| VM1 | VM2 | VM3 | VM4 |
| Host 1 | Host 2 | ||
To give idea on the hardware part. I am planning to use 2 IBM Express x3650 M4. Each server having 2x Xeon 6C E5-2630 95W 2.3GHz/1333MHz/15MB, 4x8GB =32GB, 2x300GB HS 2.5in SAS, 4 x 1GB Ethernet Ports.
I will have HA & Vmotion In case of a Esxi Host Hardware Failure all the vms should move to the working Esxi Host.
Initially i decided to go with 8x300gb SAS disk=2.4TB local storage on both IBM M4 server, so 4.8TB total (with all raid and VSA mirroring usable 1.8tb)
and group it using Vsphere Storage Appliance(VSA). However the License cost was too high $6000 above inclusive support for which i dont have a budget and moreover I think there is so much of wastage of space as Hardware Raid will take off 25% disk space and Storage appliance will eat rest of the usable 50% space because its mirroring and mainly Vcenter server cannot be a VM while using VSA. so i will have to add another standalone server or a pc to run Vcenter server.
To rework on all of this, can some one advise me on 2 things
- IBM NAS or a vmware supported NAS to start with 1TB and expandability upto 4TB(adding more disk) making future provision.
- A core switch for communication between the 2 Physical Hosts. Anyone using in production environment with similar kind of small setup.
I am kind of freezed with the limited IT budget. Any guidance/suggestions would be of a great value to me now.
Thanks,
vik.