Re: [Xen-users] Home Xen hypervisor for master's project

[Joseph Commisso <commissoje@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hmm. Server grade.
Now, I am going to have to decide on Xeon vs Opteron :)
More research.

Thanks for the suggestion.


On Sat, Feb 19, 2011 at 8:15 PM, Ryan Holt <ryan@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> I recently built a home Xen server to both play with and run a few servers at 
> my house. I decided I'd spend a little more money and get server grade gear 
> and have been very happy with what I have so far:
>
> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820139024
> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819117225
> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813182235
>
> You'll need a few disks and a case. I used software RAID and used the 6 SATA 
> connectors on the board along with an old Coolermaster case. I purchased 3x 
> 5.25 to 5x3.5" hdd adapter to make things easier. Next I'll buy one of these 
> cases to replace the Coolermaster that it's currently running in:
>
> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811219038&cm_re=4224-_-11-219-038-_-Product
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: xen-users-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
> [mailto:xen-users-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Todd Deshane
> Sent: Saturday, February 19, 2011 8:11 PM
> To: Joseph Commisso
> Cc: Xen-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: Re: [Xen-users] Home Xen hypervisor for master's project
>
> On Sun, Feb 20, 2011 at 1:02 AM, Joseph Commisso <commissoje@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>> On Sat, Feb 19, 2011 at 7:21 PM, Todd Deshane <todd.deshane@xxxxxxx> wrote:
>>> On Sat, Feb 19, 2011 at 8:02 PM, Joseph Commisso <commissoje@xxxxxxxxx> 
>>> wrote:
>>>> Hi all,
>>>>
>>>> Could somebody please help me with a few hardware questions?
>>>>
>>>> I am building a home Xen server to implement a Xen Cloud for my
>>>> master's project comparing SOA.
>>>> I will probably use Linux guest OSs, but I may want to use a Windows
>>>> guest for home PC use.
>>>>
>>>
>>> Can you go into more detail about what features you plan to implement?
>>
>> Well, I really do not know too much about Cloud computing, grids
>> (Globus), or parallel programming, all of which I would like to touch
>> upon or possibly go into more depth.
>
> You might find these useful for background (you or your school will need an 
> ACM account):
> http://techpack.acm.org/cloud/
> http://techpack.acm.org/parallel/
>
>> I was thinking of implementing a grid on the cloud, but then I saw
>> documentation referring to a cloud on a grid, so when I get there, I
>> will work that one out.
>> My instructor said to compare what I do against SOA, which will give
>> me something to work on there as well.
>>
>> I am fairly proficient with Linux administration with some abilities
>> on other areas, like networking, hardware and some minor software
>> programming.
>> So, I do not know what I will need to implement at this point. I hope
>> to learn as I go and see if I can come up with something useful.
>> I want to build this virtual server at home, since the machines that I
>> have access to at school are slow and also because school is 50 miles
>> away and I have no other classes to attend, so working at home on this
>> seems like the way to do it.
>>>
>>> Also, what type of interfaces do you expect to provide to users? How
>>> will they connect? etc.
>>
>> What I know how to do is use xdmcp for remote sessions.
>> If I do set up a grid or cluster, then there may be some interface
>> which that uses.
>> Again, I hope to be able to find out when I get there.
>> I plan on choosing a motherboard/CPU and then building the rest of the
>> machine around those.
>> I have a coworker who suggested the AMD line and said that due to the
>> way the CPU connects to the bus and the rest of the motherboard, that
>> three cores is optimal.
>> I did not get a chance to talk to him about a hypervisor machine and
>> whether that also applied to the three cores.
>>
>>>
>>>> I have been trying to make a decision on the CPU and motherboard to
>>>> purchase and really could use some help.
>>>>
>>>> I have read the wiki post at:
>>>> http://wiki.xen.org/xenwiki/VTdHowTo?highlight=(vtd)
>>>>
>>>> 1) For my purposes, is IOMMU important?
>>>> If so, then also, for my purposes, it looks like the ASUS Crosshair
>>>> IV Formula may be a good choice.
>>>>
>>>> ** I would appreciate any input, as to the Crosshair or other, like the 
>>>> M4A89TD.
>>>>
>>>> Now for the CPU and I have really not been able to determine how
>>>> many cores is optimal for this server.
>>>> I have a knowledgeable coworker who says that three cores is optimal
>>>> and I have not been able to find information to support that or
>>>> dispute it.
>>>>
>>>> 2) The Phenom II series seems to be attractive, so I have been
>>>> concentrating on those, but can someone also help me with the X3,
>>>> X4, or X6 decision?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks,
>>>> Joe
>>>>
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>>>>
>>>
>>
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>>
>
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