Virtualisation servers for scalable compute resources

Are you looking for the perfect server to reduce operating costs and hardware purchases through virtualization? Then our server systems, specifically optimized for VMware and Hyper-V, are exactly what you need. We’ve thoroughly tested every component and conducted our own benchmarks to ensure we can offer you the best servers for virtualization.

Hardware selection for virtualization servers:

What hardware do I need for the optimal virtualization server?

To run as many virtual machines as possible on your server, you should choose processors with as many cores as possible. How many cores you ultimately need depends on the requirements of your applications. As a rule of thumb, four virtual machines can be run on a single virtual CPU.

The amount of RAM on your virtualization server should be based on the needs of your applications. Just as with physical servers, oversizing the RAM is a waste of resources. Since RAM can be easily increased or decreased on virtual servers, we recommend at least 64GB of RAM for a virtualization server.

The required network resources (NICs) depend on the required redundancy and the intended use. If you use network storage via iSCSI, for example, more than four NICs are advisable. When using vSwitches, you should assign multiple network cards to them, as this increases redundancy.  

Ideally, you should use at least two, preferably three servers for virtualization. This allows you to effectively avoid outages and maintenance while optimizing load balancing. Systems with one to two rack units offer the best compromise between flexibility, scalability, and space requirements.

Example configuration of host servers:

▷ Dual Intel Xeon Scalable processors (e.g., 2x Intel Xeon Gold 6430)

▷ At least 128GB of RAM

▷ At least one 4-port 1Gb network card (e.g., Intel I350-T4) and one 2-port 10Gb network card (e.g., Intel X550-T2)

▷ RAID controllers for managing the storage arrays

What are the requirements for the storage configuration?

The right choice of storage depends largely on your budget and existing IT infrastructure. If you already have a SAN (Storage Area Network) available, this is the best solution in terms of performance and scalability. Other virtualized servers can also access and share the total available storage space. This enables features such as vMotion. If this is not financially feasible, internal hard drives in each individual server are recommended.

When selecting hard drives, metrics such as IOPs and MB/s are crucial. Additionally, you should plan for sufficient storage space for all virtual machines.

Example configuration for storage servers:

▷ At least one 10Gb iSCSI connection

▷ Sufficient high-quality storage (e.g., 1.8TB Seagate Exos SAS 10k)

What are the software requirements?

To optimize the virtualization of your servers, specialized software solutions from well-known vendors are recommended. These include VMware, Microsoft, Red Hat, and Citrix. Additionally, you should protect your virtualized servers with a backup. Veeam, for example, is recommended here.