Re: Quad processor / server - recommendation ?

["ahundhausen" <allan_hundhausen@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Marcus,

A couple of comments on your plan:
1) USB TV Tuners don't work in VMs - nothing with "block" style
transfers.
2) I got an ELO serial touchscreen to work in a VM (Windows).  Of
course, it only accurately worked when the VM was put in fullscreen.
3) You are planning on XP Pro on Host and all Guests?  So you will
need 4 separate licenses of XP Pro?  Ouch.

I think your plan will meet your goals nicely and this machine
should have more than enough power for those 3 VMs and reasonable
host responsiveness.

I'd be interested to hear the final, running wattage of your
virtualized solution.  I built my system to do like you are
suggesting a couple of years ago on a dual Xeon (250W+).  I hope to
go to a quad core soon for power alone.

-Allan

--- In ukha_d@xxxxxxx, "Marcus Warrington"
<marcus.warrington@...> wrote:
>
> I'm beginning the process of combining the 2 PC's that I have
running
> 24x7 into Virtual Machines running on a single more powerful PC.
>
>
>
> The current  24x7 machines are ;
>
>
>
> PIII 600 - handles reverese proxy access to TiVo  +
Torrent /MiRC/P2P
> downloads
>
> Duron800 - Touchscreen jjukebox running Xlobby - feeding music
from a
> NSLU2 NAS
>
>
>
> My plan is to build a single PC probably based around a Quadcore
(Energy
> Efficient 95w GO) E6600 , and then use VMWare to have virtual
machines ;
>
>
>
> VM1 : External facing : P2P stuff running on own subnet - (imaged
to
> allow quick restore if infected or attacked)
>
> VM2 : External facing : Reverse proxy / FTP access / Website to
house
>
> VM3 : Internal facing :  HA software / Xap Hub etc
>
>
>
> Xlobby running on host machine (I don't think I can VM this as
because
> of the display / touchscreen) - 2 soundbalster cards running as 8
stereo
> Zones
>
> GB-PVR running from a dual freeview tuner (PCI-E). (I don't think
I can
> run in a VM since it needs access to the DVBT cards. Although I
wonder
> if USB based DVBT might be do-able in VM)
>
>
>
> I'm hoping this will provide better resilience from attacks,/
virus'  -
> allowing quick restore of image instead of complete reinstalls,
and also
> may provide more efficient power consumption since I'll only be
using
> one power supply (EE) , fan. chipset, harddisc etc
>
>
>
> ATM I'm looking at a Quadcore processor running 4gig on a Gigbyte
> GA965P-DS3 board (intel chipset), running XP professional as host
and
> guest O/S'
>
>
>
> Has anyone gone down this route.. anyone have any advice or
> recommendations on motherbards etc.
>
>
>
> Marcus
>