powerful mini-ITX server running ESXi

[voidru]

I want to build a very small and efficient server.

Here are my requirements:

1. mini-ITX board and case.
2. core i5, i7, xeon.
3. 16 Gb RAM, or should I better choose 32 Gb?
4. Storage
a. SSD 128-160 Gb — virtual machines storage.
b. 2 x SATA 2-3 Tb (RAID 1) — main storage, shared between virtual machines and media-server.

5. Low noise, low power consumption (as much as possible).

With this server I want to achieve the following:

1. Web-site hosting. A virtual machine with PHP+MySQL+Apache, running 3-5 websites (Wordpress, 300-500 visitors a day, photo content).

2. Photo/video storage with easy access from home or Internet from Mac.

3. Backup for my 2 MBPs (Time Capsule).

4. Test lab for MS certification (3-4 VM Windows Server 2008 R2 — 2012, Windows 7/8).

5. Media-server with direct content streaming to iPad, iPhone, Mac.

Everything will be hosted on ESXi.

The server should be AMT/IPMI compatible.

Questions:

0. I need a list of parts will be suit the requirements.

1. Is it possible to host all these OS/Services on one ESXi?

2. Is there any way to passthrough USB flash disks to exact guest OS?
For example I want to use the first USB port to pass USB flash disk to FreeNAS and copy pictures/video from USB flash disk to NAS. And I want to use the second USB port to pass flash disk to LAMP server and use the disk there. Can I somehow bind USB port # to exact VM?

3. Can this monster powered by 90W Lenovo Adapter?

 

[ScrewySqrl]

I know not the 90w adapter, just because the CPU alone is 95W (Sandy Bridge) or 77W (Ivy Bridge). i'd suggest the Seasonic 300-350W 80+ Bronze PSUs for this.

some quick searches finds an actual ITX server motherboard:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813182261
It's able to take second gen (Sandy Bridge) *mobile* CPUs, so you could potentially use a Sandy Bridge i7-2xxxM in this, with up to 16 GB RAM, use the SATA 3.0GB ports to RAID a couple drives, and use the Sata 6.0 GB for your SSD.

I don't know about he USB mapping in VM ware, but I suppose its possible

 

[voidru]

Can anybody provide a rough list of parts to buy?

Thanks.

 

[ScrewySqrl]

this uses a traditional itx board

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Xeon E3-1275 V2 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($354.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: ASRock H77M-ITX Mini ITX LGA1155 Motherboard ($94.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: Corsair XMS 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1333 Memory ($93.98 @ Amazon)
Storage: Samsung 840 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk ($89.99 @ NCIX US)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($124.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Storage: Seagate Barracuda 3TB 3.5" 7200RPM Internal Hard Drive ($124.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Video Card: Asus Radeon HD 6450 1GB Video Card ($39.98 @ Outlet PC)
Case: Cooler Master Elite 120 Advanced (Black) Mini ITX Tower Case ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Power Supply: SeaSonic 350W 80 PLUS Bronze Certified ATX12V Power Supply ($39.99 @ Newegg)
Optical Drive: Lite-On iHAS124-04 DVD/CD Writer ($17.98 @ Outlet PC)
Total: $1021.85
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-04-25 07:16 EDT-0400)

the xeon could be replaced with an i7-2600 or 3770, saving about $60. no reason to overclock

 

[voidru]

ScrewySqrl, thank you for your answers.

Here's my approx. config:

Case: Chenbro SR30169 Black
Proc: Intel Core i5-3470T Ivy Bridge
Mainboard: Intel DQ77KB
Memory: Corsair CMSX16GX3M2A1600C10 2x8Gb
VM Storage (SSD): Intel SSDMCEAC180B301
Media Storage (SATA): Western Digital WD10EFRX, 4x1Tb
Hardware RAID controller to handle SATA disks: Intel AXXRMS2AF040

I have not found any info about compatibility between Intel DQ77KB and Intel AXXRMS2AF040 as well as any other Hardware RAID controllers. I can only know that Intel AXXRMS2AF040 is supported by ESXi 5.1.

Has anybody tested DQ77KB with hardware RAID controller?

 

[ScrewySqrl]

I'll just note that the motherboard I listed, which has 2 SATA 6GB and 4 Sata 3GB plugs, will do RAID 0/1/5/10 on the motherboard. ITX usually doesn't have spare slots.

I don;t know enugh about ESXi to know about compatability issues