Home Server HyperVisor Build

[Thomas_T]

Hello All, long time reader, first time poster.

I have been wanting to build a home server for a number of years, but haven't had a good reason too. Recently, I have been taking an interest in data ownership and privacy, and I have been thinking that soon (over the summer) may be the right time to build a home server.
My needs are far from cutting edge, so I figure I will be able to source used parts. Roughly, I'd most likely be looking for a multi-processor server, with lots of ECC RAM - Kijiji Used HP Z800 Server

My main question is - am I making this overly complicated due to my love of technology and tinkering?

My thoughts are running a Type1 Hypervisor list ZenServer as the host OS and running 4 or 5 VMs.
VM1 - web server, personal website
VM2 - private git or team foundation server
VM3 - OwnCloud
VM4 - NAS
VM5 - linux development

My thoughts are that by keeping each service sandboxed into its own VM, it is less likely that they will all suffer problems at the same time.

Does anyone have a hypervisor setup that they run at home? If so, what do you like about it? What would have you wanted to consider at the start that you didn't?

Thank you for reading all of this,

Thomas

 

[kanewolf]

Networking can be more difficult with VMs. Are you going to have multiple NIC cards to allow a dedicated to each VM? Your NAS should have an exclusive NIC.

You may violate your usage agreement with your ISP if you have any public access to servers.

 

[Thomas_T]

Hello Kanewolf,

Thank you for you response. I hadn't thought about need multiple NIC cards to allow for dedicated internet to each VM. Also, I guess I would have to look into some sort of switch to go between my ISP modem and the server.

I hadn't thought to much about the ISP agreement... that could really be the main issue. Only the website would particularly be public facing the rest would be for my personal use.

 

[kanewolf]

What seems like a technical question, many times is much more...

Other than a dev environment, I really recommend commercial NAS appliances from most people. The setup time is SO much shorter with a purpose built NAS that you get to start enjoying the benefits of having it rather than tinkering with it...