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Steve Kelly

New Server Hardware

Hi all,

So we currently have a Dell R330 running Windows Server Essentials 2012 R2.

We want to replace the hardware and run Server Essentials 2016 (2019 doesn't quite cut the cloth being as they removed half the features).

I'm after some recommendations for the hardware...

Ideally I'd like to get a new Dell server (to run the Server Essentials 2016 OS) in RAID 1 (hyper-v) and then potentially get a QNAP NAS to hold all data shares (connected via ISCSI). 

The reason for this is if the server goes tits up the shares can be still be accessed once we get the hyper-v running on another box.

Is this the best practise? Or should we stick with keeping the data shares on the server with a dual hardware RAID controller?

If anyone has any suggestions/recommendations it would be greatly appreciated.

Plan on purchasing the Migration Guide from here (https://server-essentials.com/store/windows-server-2012-migration-kit-diy)

Which I'm hoping will alleviate having to do a new build etc.

asked09/07/2020 17:26
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Last Activity 10/22/2020 11:24

3 Answer(s)

  • Mariette Knap

    Hello Steve,

    That NAS will do no good if your DC is down, you cannot authenticate. I never use a NAS for critical shares, keep them on a VM. I would do this:

    • Install Hyper-V Host, no other roles
    • Create one VM for DC, possibly DHCP and Essentials Experience role
    • Optional another VM for files and shares. Depends on the number of users and computers.
     
    If you are going to do one VM and you have a Windows Server Essentials 2016 license (the one limited to 25 users and 50 devices) you cannot use that media for your Hyper-V host. You must use one or more of these guides:
     
     
    It is much easier for you to purchase Windows Server 2016 Standard. That license allows you to build one Hyper-Host and two VM's with the same media/license.
    answered 09/08/2020 08:50
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    Steve Kelly

    Hi Mariette, 

    I understand what you're saying about if the DC goes down users won't be able to authenticate on the NAS, but I was thinking all I'd need to do is get the OS image up and running on a new hyper-v.

    Purchasing Server 2016 Standard bring additional costs and headaches.

    Could we not use Server Essentials 2016 on a Hyper-V and have the shares on a NAS?

    Or should we stick with purchasing say a Dell R340. Have the VM/OS running on a BOSS card and have the data shares on a RAID 1 (via a H730P adapter).

    Mariette Knap

    Steve,

    Yes, you can install Server Essentials 2016 on a free Hyper-V server Core and have the shares on a NAS. That will work if you follow these two tutorials:

     
    I don't know that BOSS Card. I focus on Microsoft solutions and nothing else.
    replied 09/08/2020 09:41
    Steve Kelly

    Hi Mariette,

    OK, so I've spoken with our Dell Acc. Manager and we're looking at:

    R340 Server

    Windows Server Essentials 2016 (downgrade from 2019)

    2 x 480GB SSD (RAID1) for the Hyper-V and OS

    2 x 4TB HDD (RAID1) for the Data

    If I purchase and follow your migration guide https://server-essentials.com/store/windows-server-2012-migration-kit-diy

    Should this cover everything or is there anything else I need to be aware of?

    replied 09/08/2020 10:51
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    replied 09/08/2020 09:20
  • Mariette Knap

    Steve,

    That will work just fine but you need to use the free version of Windows Server Hypervisor, see Try Hyper-V Server 2019 on Microsoft Evaluation Center. It requires you know Powershell.

    answered 09/08/2020 11:37
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  • Steve Kelly

    Hi Mariette et al,

    Going on from our conversation the other day and migrating from 2012 R2 to 2016 :)

    So we've got our nice new shiny Dell Server (Poweredge R340 with a PERC H730P RAID Card).

    What I can't quite get my head around is this, and please forgive my ignorance here, I've limited experience, time and resources due to other workloads :(

    If I have dual raid 1 drives (Raid 1 for the OS 500GB and another Raid 1 for the DATA Shares 4TB).

    1) Install Hyper-V on the OS Raid 1 drive

    2) Install Windows Server Essentials 2016 as a VM on the OS Raid 1 drive

    ************

    A: How do the DATA Shares get configured? Is this also installed/assigned as part of the VM in Hyper-V? i.e. when I create the VM for the OS, is the DATA Shares drive available and does that then become part of the VM of which I can backup as a whole?

    Reasoning:  If the whole physical server dies for whatever reason and the 4TB DATA shares are not part of the VM, although I can run the OS VM on another Hyper-V (on another physical machine) how would it then point to the  DATA Shares?

    OR

    B: If the DATA Shares are part of the same VM as the OS, I'll need at least a 5TB external HDD to save the images for recovery etc.

    Reasoning:  If the whole physical server dies for whatever reason we can simply restore the VM (OS & DATA) on another physical machine running Hyper-V. How do we go about doing a daily backup of the VM (OS & DATA) should the worst happen and we need to restore!

    OR

    C: Should I/can I create a separate VM for the OS and a separate VM for the Data Shares? Can I do this via the Hyper-V which is installed on the OS RAID 1 Drive? Are there additional requirements such as network IP for each etc.?

    Reasoning:  If we have 2 separate VMs (one for the OS and one for the DATA) I can restore both (worst case scenario) on another Hyper-V machine or if required, make single restores (for the OS or DATA).

    I'm half tempted to not bother with Hyper-V due to lack of time to learn it etc. but I can see so much benefit from using it.

    Apologies for the somewhat silly question but I'm kinda confused (I think I need more coffee).

    answered 10/22/2020 10:56
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    Mariette Knap

    For Data you add a second virtual disk to your VM and use that. The data on your physical Data share (OS Raid 1 drive) needs to be moved to that virtual disk in your VM.

    Mariette Knap

    Steve, let us do our 'mini session' How to build a Hyper-V system?

    replied 10/22/2020 11:24
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    replied 10/22/2020 11:17
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