Suggestions to build own Linux lab server

  • Thread starter Thread starter Guest
  • Start date Start date
G

Guest

Guest
Don't need powerful gaming PC but it should be able to play multimedia from web on Ubuntu without a hitch. I am planning to run it dual boot centos-ubuntu. Centos will hold kvm, have gnome installed and hołd at least 3-5 vms running. So obviously i need machine that will provide plenty of memory and decent storage but don't need it powerful for gaming or video editing.

I am leaning toward small tower cases that can host m-atx. I was thinking of going smaller itx but IMO selection is smaller and more pricer. What do you think. I like portability that comes with them but mATX cases don't seem too far bigger.

Would you advice me to go for mATX motherboard supporting DDR3. It should be enough? It would have 16gb of ram and 500-1TB storage, might throw in there 140 GB SSD for OS partitions but I think I will be fine with slower cheaper mechanical.

Not sure what to choose for CPU and whether go with i3 or spend little more and get i5.

Ideally motherboard should have hdmi but last time I looked I see all of them have nowadays.

Should I obtain parts myself from Fry's or online? Amazon, microcenter?

My concern with Frys is the people who pick parts on shelves such as motherboards maybe not handling gently and frys may itself repack returned parts as "new" and the selection may not be as wide for best price as with online.

My new PC will act as CentOS KVM server for my lab study, but I plan to run Ubuntu or Mint as well. I may load on it Windows 10. When running Centos as host, i will run on it only other centos guests. ubuntu or Windows would dual boot as host when not doing Centos.

Perhaps i should go farther and spend on redhat? The problem is their server editions are expensive and i think Centos should be enough for me to get through studying for RHCSA and RHCE. I feel Redhat desktop/workstation editions will be too restricted but I am not sure. On other hand I would have more pure Redhat lab.

 
no answer or sugesstions? what about this?


Crucial 16GB Kit (8GBx2) DDR4 2133 MT/s (PC4-17000) CL15 DR x8 Non-ECC UDIMM 288-Pin Memory
Samsung 850 EVO - 250GB - 2.5-Inch SATA III Internal SSD
Gigabyte LGA1151 Intel H110 Micro ATX DDR4 Motherboard GA-H110M-A
Rosewill Slim MicroATX Computer Case with ATX12V Flex 300W Power Supply, Black/Silver R379-M
Intel BX80662I36100 Core i3-6100 3M Cache, 3.70 GHz Processor
Kootek KC01 - High Performance 120mm CPU Cooler with 4 Direct Contact Heat Pipes / Aluminum Fins Computer Fan