Voice lab server

Can anyone advise on a server to purchase for setting up a voice lab. I'm a bit clueless with servers so just want to get something decent. Obviously will have to run vmware and have enough ram to power all vms etc.

Would appreciate thoughts..

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rchase

Just about any computer will do. The requirements are that

you need at LEAST 16gb ram
also, the PC must support hardware virtualization (you can check in the bios for this setting) in order to run a hypervisor like vmware esxi 5. For example, I tried to use an Acer Aspire AX1200 and it did not support this and would not work

I run a hp workstation xw8600 with 16gb ram. It cost around $700, I bought it already put together and used at a local computer store. I loaded it with VMware ESXi 5 - the hypervisor runs on baremetal and is licensed for free for basic use - I think only single host allowed, 32gb ram maximum supported (fine for lab requirements!)

Then you just have to load a CUCM pub, sub, CUC, UCCX, CUPS, Windows Server for AD, couple of XP machines, and you got a lab.

rchase

HP Workstation XW8600 2 x Quadcore 3GHz 2 x 300GB SAS 16GB RAM NVIDIA GTS250 | eBay

Here's what I have basically (above)
only a total of 600gb hdd tho, you're gonna need about 2tb (1tb for the lab, 1tb to back up the lab). You may want to get 2x 1.5tb or 2tb for a little extra space

rchase

I use this NAS to hold the lab and back it up:

Iomega 12TB StorCenter ix4-200d Network Storage, Cloud 34791 B&H

shodown

I need to redo my voice lab. I have like 12GB of ram now. Its taxing to try to have more on it. The storage has been on my mind for a while. I haven't run into a situation where I needed it, but then again I don't take many snapshots.

rchase

some pics of my lab:

https://twitter.com/VoIPChase/status/331188777211002882/photo/1
https://twitter.com/VoIPChase/status/327295338924871681/photo/1
https://twitter.com/VoIPChase/status/327295670870478849/photo/1

rchase

shodown, you gonna attempt version 3 before it switches in february?

shodown

Not in a rush 2. I will be kicking myself in the A55 if the new changes are extreme. I haven't had much time to prep, so in 9 months maybe kinda hard. I may schedule a date just to get one just in case.