ᐅ Intel/Windows applications – NUC, mini PC, or server. What do you recommend?
Created on: 7 May 2021 11:15
H
HarvSpec
Hi everyone,
I’m currently considering the idea of a central computer.
The computer should run the following applications so that I can remote access them from my Mac (M1 & Intel):
- ETS Professional
- Gira Project Assistant
- Unifi Controller
- Possibly VirtualBox to experiment with Home Assistant
In other words, I want to have all the programs that don’t run natively on Macs or require an Intel chipset (or both, I’m not sure which work on Windows for ARM) on a central computer that I can access remotely.
Since none of these are “classic” server applications, I was thinking of using a mini PC or NUC with Windows 10 running 24/7 in a 19" rack.
Does it make sense to switch to server hardware designed for 24/7 operation, like a DELL PowerEdge or similar? Those usually run only server versions of Windows, and the rest feels like a workaround again.
Regards,
Harv
I’m currently considering the idea of a central computer.
The computer should run the following applications so that I can remote access them from my Mac (M1 & Intel):
- ETS Professional
- Gira Project Assistant
- Unifi Controller
- Possibly VirtualBox to experiment with Home Assistant
In other words, I want to have all the programs that don’t run natively on Macs or require an Intel chipset (or both, I’m not sure which work on Windows for ARM) on a central computer that I can access remotely.
Since none of these are “classic” server applications, I was thinking of using a mini PC or NUC with Windows 10 running 24/7 in a 19" rack.
Does it make sense to switch to server hardware designed for 24/7 operation, like a DELL PowerEdge or similar? Those usually run only server versions of Windows, and the rest feels like a workaround again.
Regards,
Harv
Markus254 schrieb:
You don't need any extra server hardware for that. If you do proper backups, I don't see any problems.
Most likely the hard drive will fail first; everything else should run fine for years.
Running Home Assistant through VirtualBox is a bit tricky. As long as you don’t need to passthrough USB sticks or similar devices, it works.
An Intel NUC (possibly secondhand) with Windows installed is a good option. I have no idea if Gira Project Assistant and ETS Professional are available for Unix systems!? The original poster has now perfectly solved their situation.
By the way, ETS is not available for Linux.
HarvSpec schrieb:
Quick update:
I now have the HP Mini PC running in the rack and can easily access ETS remotely from all Macs, just as I wanted.
I only regret struggling with Bootcamp for the past few months and not thinking of this solution earlier... Could you please briefly specify which model you chose and its exact configuration?
HarvSpec schrieb:
HP 800 G2 Thin Client with i5, 8GB RAM, and 256 GB SSDIt serves its purpose (Gigabit LAN)
HarvSpec schrieb:
It does its job (Gigabit LAN)Nice device. Unfortunately, it has very limited expandability, so it’s not really a replacement for me. Still, thanks. I think I’ll have to wait until I have enough money for a 19-inch (48 cm) rack server. I would like to replace my Windows Server 2016 Essentials with the existing Datacenter edition to virtualize using Hyper-V. For that, I’ll need more space for drives. A SAN would probably be overkill xD
A cost-effective server (due to mass production) would be, for example, a DL380 Gen8. It supports affordable DDR3 registered ECC memory. 256GB in 16GB modules typically costs around 200 - 250€ (approximately 220 - 275 USD). A second drive bay for up to 16 drives is also available very cheaply. A suitable RAID controller, such as the Smart Array P420 with battery and 1GB cache, costs about 50€ (approximately 55 USD). Dual octa-core Xeon processors, plenty of RAM, empty chassis or a few new 1.2TB hard drives (each about 180€ / 200 USD), RAID configuration, redundant power supplies, rails, and so on make it an affordable data center server. Use the iLO license or standard remote management features; a 10Gb Ethernet card is also inexpensive... and so on. These servers are reliable. Only make sure the BIOS/firmware is up to date, as without a maintenance contract you won’t have access to updates (unless you have contacts). You might need to budget a few extra dollars for power consumption, though it remains reasonable with a lot of idle time—or the server can help keep your basement warm 😉 Additional (large) storage can be added cost-effectively, for example via a NAS connected over iSCSI...
Two Xeons are too much for my needs. Currently, as I mentioned, an i5 3570K throttled down to 1.6 GHz is sufficient. If I knew that my Ryzen 1800X along with the Asus Crosshair VI motherboard and 32GB of RAM would be suitable for a Windows Server, I would probably wait until I replace my desktop and then use these components as a server. If not, I will save up for an HP or DELL single CPU system.