Seeking host server recommendations/suggestions :)

[tlyczko]

We have 3 HP Proliant servers -- two DL380 G5s and one DL360 G7 -- used as ESXi hosts.

We're exploring about moving those servers to become offsite DR servers and putting new servers into production.

Are HP Gen 8 servers enough better than Gen 7 to be worth the extra $$$ aside from simply being newer??

What are the equivalent Dell servers to the HP Proliant Gen 7 / Gen 8 DL360 series servers??

Other companies' servers to consider??

Any particular recommendations for processor per se would be helpful.

Some kind of remote access to the server equivalent to HP ILO 3 is required.

Thank you, Tom

P.S. Moderator, if you know a better place to put this thread, please do so, thank you...

Removed configuration info (e.g. memory etc.), this is not a request for how to configure the server, this is a request about server make/model or processors.

[Josh26]

tlyczko wrote:

The ideal configuration: 96 GB DDR3 RAM with expansion capacity, a couple small SATA disks in RAID 1 to install/run ESXi, two (2) quad-core processors (6 or 8 core??), a good RAID controller like the HP SmartArray P400, minimum 6 NICs whatever the NIC card(s) may be, dual power supplies...

Please be sure to obtain the BBWC or FBWC with that RAID card, or the whole server will perform terribly.

Two SATA disks for ESXi is a huge waste and will actually complicate things - more often than not ESXi won't manage SATA disks and you'll end up with no view of the RAID. If you don't want it with the rest of your data, buy a USB stick or SD card to run from.

[tlyczko]

I know about the BBWC/FBWC, we presently have this in our HP servers.

I'm asking about SERVERS per se (make/model or processors), not people's opinions about configurations.

We're using two SATA disks now to contain the ESXi software with no difficulty whatsoever.

HP is so fussy about internal SD/USB drives that it was not worth the hassle at the time, maybe it will be re-considered.

Thank you, Tom

[mcowger]

Dell's equivalents are the R620.

Take a look at the Cisco UCS line, too.

[Josh26]

Matt wrote:

Dell's equivalents are the R620.

Take a look at the Cisco UCS line, too.

Add in IBM and we've listed every serious server vendor.

[seetee]

Intel Whitebox - Serverboards are always on the HCL.  My experience is that they are considerably less expensive than the name brand servers and the name brand servers are usually based on the Intel componentry - Chipset; Processor etc. Chassis's (Tower or Rack) are usually very good and the RAID Cards are excellent.  Intel SSD's are well perceived.  Have had a good run with Intel - very few issues with ESXi.

Just get in touch with an Intel Server System builder and have them do a comparison for you.