PowerEdge T110 | 2008 R2 Hyper-V | PIAF/Freepbx Purple

[twack1]

I ordered a Dell T110 with the Xeon X3440 with HT and it will be here in a couple of weeks. I'll be installing Windows 2008 R2 server, on 2x1TB HDD's in Raid 1 with 16Gig of Ram.

My plan is to set it up as a domain controller with active directory as a small home office server for 5-6 PC's that are on windoze 7.

I then want to run each below as separate VM's :
1. 1 x Email server
2. 1 x Media streaming server
3. 1 x Web Server (Apache or IIS, haven't decided)
4. 1 to several PIAF/Incredible PBX servers
-with googlevoice, fax, skype, vncserver, sendmail

So, staying within the context of the forum, I'd like to hear from anyone who has experience on #4? I'd like to know what is the "best practice" using PIAF/Incredible PBX in a MS Hyper-V environment? Should I use a different virtual environment for #4?

I've been playing with PIAF/Incredible PBX in Native, VMware, Virtual PC and Hyper-V environments for about a month now. They all seem to have their own personalities. And I know that I have only scratched the surface in each. That is why I am asking "those who have gone before for me", to help me know where the rocks are. What should I look out for?

As some background; I'm beginning to remember my way around the oonix command line pretty well again and I know "VI" (she's a good 'ole gal ain't she?). I'm also old enough to remember Archie and Gopher and was an early subscriber to the "Well". Which all means I like to tinker, tweak and break things.

TIA,
Twack1

 

[lowno]

Wow, I thought that server would only take 8gigs of ram like its predecessor.

Most here have experience using Proxmox, as most other virtulization platforms don't work all that well with asterisk. I am sure there may be one or two using Hyper-V though, just be patient for an feedback.

 

[mickecarlsson]

Just my 2 cents.
As soon as you install Active Directory on the server, Windows will turn the write cache on the C drive off. That is to preserve the integrity of AD. So you lose performance.

Also installing Hyper-V role on a DC is non supported by Microsoft.

And as you seems to run a couple of Linux servers on it, my recommended solution is this:
Get a free license for VMware ESXi 4.1, install Windows 2008 as your server with AD on it as one guest. Then install your other linux servers as other guests.

If you go by the ESXi track, remember, if you buy a Windows 2008 Standard license, you get on physical and one virtual server, however, you can only run the virtual server in ESXi, you have to assign the physical license to ESXi, but never use it.

This is a good link explaining the licensing when running virtualization:
http://blogs.technet.com/b/mattmcsp...-windows-server-in-a-virtual-environment.aspx

 

[twack1]

Wow, I thought that server would only take 8gigs of ram like its predecessor.

You can actually run up to 32gb Ram on these puppies. Using RDIMMs (Registered Dual Inline Memory Modules) it will take 1, 2, 4 or 8gb sticks in each DIMM slot. With UDIMM (Unbuffered Dual Inline Memory Modules) you are limited to 4gb per DIMM slot. There is of course a price/performance curve since 8gb RDIMM's are lower volume components.

8gb RDIMM = $360 US or $45 US per/gb
4gb UDIMM = $69 US or $17 US per/gb

It is important to note that to take advantage of the full performance of 3 channel RDIMMs, how the slots are populated is crucial.
See: http://www.dell.com/downloads/global/products/pedge/en/server-poweredge-11g-white-paper.pdf

 

[twack1]

Also installing Hyper-V role on a DC is non supported by Microsoft.

So are you inferring that running a DC as a VM is?

And as you seems to run a couple of Linux servers on it, my recommended solution is this:
Get a free license for VMware ESXi 4.1, install Windows 2008 as your server with AD on it as one guest. Then install your other linux servers as other guests.

So ESXi is actually a host OS? This does sound better since it is probably more of a light-weight OS. The complexity and work is being done in the guests which are nicely encapsulated thereby making the parallel guests less sensitive. Isn't virtualization great!

If you go by the ESXi track, remember, if you buy a Windows 2008 Standard license, you get on physical and one virtual server, however, you can only run the virtual server in ESXi, you have to assign the physical license to ESXi, but never use it.

Licensing Schemas = ACK-ACK
Back when I was a SW PM, I would define the license schema for single or multiple product lines. I then would have to invite the sales guys/gals in. Talk about living the "Dilbert Nightmare".

I really appreciate your insight/feedback, Thank you.

Twack1

 

[sircolin]

I then want to run each below as separate VM's :
1. 1 x Email server
2. 1 x Media streaming server
3. 1 x Web Server (Apache or IIS, haven't decided)
4. 1 to several PIAF/Incredible PBX servers
-with googlevoice, fax, skype, vncserver, sendmail

For me with the above list the only real option is Proxmox, free stable and versitile, just my 2pence worth.

Col

 

[twack1]

My Dell T110 system arrived last night and is now configured with 16gb ram and 2x1tb WD hard drives (slots 0 & 1).

I am having a hard time getting it set up into a RAID 1 configuration with Proxmox. I googled, searched Dell and proxmox sites and have not found a good "how to" entry.

It's set up with a SAS PERC 100 controller set at RAID 1. When I install proxmox, it downgrades drive 0 to Downgraded (R/W) and shows disk 1 at nonraid and ready.

What am I missing? Can any PAIF/Proxmox/Dell experienced folks give me a push in the right direction?

I thank you in advance,
Twack1

 

[euser4life]

That raid card will only work with Windows (considered fake raid). You should either spring for a SAS6ir (cheap on ebay) or just go with Linux Raid 1.

http://www.dell.com/content/learnmo...f=CFG&s=bsd&~id=hmc_raid_controller&~lt=popup
PERC S300
Windows OS only3Gb/s SASPCI-Express 1.02x4 internal- - 0,1,10,58Software RAID on HBA
PERC S300
Windows OS only3Gb/s SASPCI-Express 1.02x4 internal- - 0,1,10,58Software RAID on HBA