Creating and deploying a virtual machine server?

Question

Virtualization

Good afternoon!

Previous story:
I work in a small company, there are only 2 servers. 1C and a server for restaurant jokes (not the point)
In the near future, the 2nd building will be built, and the workstations will increase by an order of magnitude.

Essence of the question:
Since the organization does not have huge finances, I would like to reduce costs to the maximum.
And buy and create a virtual machine server, and transfer all the servers that are currently available to it (weak machines at the moment) and, in addition to this, buy and create a server for Backups.

Tell me how it will be easier and better to do it at the lowest cost

Thank you in advance, and responsive users

Answer 1

The iron itself (server) can be taken bu - servers are designed to work for years, three to five years is not a term for it. I always suggest to take it here (I once took a server from them, two years have passed, the server works as expected, and survived the invasion of ten thousand cockroaches: D)
You can install ESXi with Hyper - on a single host for free (register on vmware and get it for free key).
For backup, a Synology / QNAP shelf is taken, stuffed with disks. Of course, you will have to look for a free solution, we use Nakivo Backup & Replication, it is paid and not very cheap, but it completely covers all backup issues.
It seems to me (not counting licenses for Windows in virtual machines - this is your business) the greatest expense is a shelf and screws for it, as well as backup licenses (if you take a paid one)

Answer 2

This is a thorny path.
For redundancy, you still need at least two iron servers. Backup should be stored in at least 2 places. Provide uninterrupted power and cooling. In order for machines to easily migrate between servers, the servers must be the same in terms of hardware and have a common storage.
It is worth starting with calculations
- how many resources are needed for virtual servers (CPU, RAM, HDD), all your resources should fit on one server with a margin of 20-40%.
- allowable idle time
- backup depth
- backup time
I would suggest starting with ProxMox.
But I also propose to consider the option of moving to the cloud, some DCs turn a blind eye to the lack of a license.

Answer 3

In the near future, the 2nd building will be built, and the workstations will increase by an order of magnitude.
Since the organization does not have huge finances, I would like to reduce costs to the maximum.

This is greed. Let them allocate as much as necessary for comfortable work.
Proxmox is enough for virtualization and backups.

Answer 4

workstations to increase by an order of magnitude

It should be in pieces.
But I have already given my example about the 1C server in other questions. Approximately 40 users on the terminal server according to a single-link scheme (everything in one place - 1C clients, 1C server, database server), several databases (the size of the databases is measured in tens of gigabytes). This works on Ryzen 3600, 8 virtual cores and 32 GB of memory are given under 1C, next to it are 2 more cores and 2 GB received by a virtual machine with a domain controller and 2 more cores and 2 GB of file storage. KVM hypervisor. Well, a gig eats up the host, the remaining 27 gigs are still in reserve and are used for disk cache.
I think that 40 users in 1C on one gaming processor is a success. I did the assembly on my knee, the server came out about 70-80 thousand rubles (a year ago). You can't do this on intel. Moreover, do not look in the direction of old Xeons - they can be quite good for a web server, but not for 1C. If suddenly you have a dislike for AMD (it happens), then under 1C from intel'ov only desktop i5 or i7.
Under the load of 25 users, I assembled even more budget servers on the Ryzen 3500X, also with virtualization, I am also pleased with the result.

Answer 5

It’s easier and better to turn to those who understand that before doing something, you need to get a clear technical task from you (where there will be no phrases “restaurant joke server”), and possibly help you write it. And only then select hardware and software.