A couple of weeks ago I started my first IT Quest. Reading on numerous blogs about the homelabs most of the Virtualization Experts have installed I figured it was the first big step for me to take as well. After all a XenServer certification isn’t worth much in my opinion if you don’t get the hands on experience to really know what you are consulting about. And I’d rather not be depended on the test facilities at the clients I’m consulting.
So to keep my knowledge up-to-date and learn even more new tips and tricks, I’ve bought two whiteboxes, a NAS and a 8-port Managed Switch. All the ingredients for my First Homelab experience. (Thankfully collected from the Expert blogs I’ve read.
The hardware specs
I decided to use my savings for the new motorcycle (didn’t hear a complaint from my partner on that one) to buy the good stuff right away. So here’s the specs for the hardware that from now on will be known as my first Homelab.
The configuration of each whitebox is:
- ASUS V Series V7-P5G43M (Towermodel)
- 1 x Intel Core 2 Quad Q9400 / 2.66 GHz ( 1333 MHz ) – LGA775 Socket
- 2 x OCZ Platinum Dual Channel – SDRAM – 4 GB ( 2 x 2 GB ) – 8 GB total
- 1 x Intel PRO/1000 PT Dual Port Server Adapter
- 1 x ASUS DVD E818A6T – DVD-ROM – 18x – Serial ATA
- 1 x WD Caviar Black WD6401AALS – 640 GB – SATA-300 – 7200 tpm -buffer: 32 MB
Additional Hardware:
- 1 x Iomega StorCenter ix2-200 Network Storage – NAS – 2 TB
- 1 x Cisco Small Business Smart Switch SLM2008 – Switch – 8 ports
- 1 x Laptop, provided by my employer, to be used as the management console.
So I’m all good to go for the next IT Quests to come …
The following sources have be read prior to ordering my own homelab configuration:
Gabes Virtual World » My new whitebox ESX home lab
NTPRO » A VMware High-Availability Cluster at Home
Yellow Bricks » My homelab
