Setting up a virtualization environment can be overwhelming. There's a lot to consider: allocating CPU cores for your virtual machines, ensuring enough RAM for concurrent workloads, and configuring storage for optimal VM performance (while keeping costs manageable). Whether you're building a training lab for VMware certification or scaling your DevOps infrastructure, choosing the right hardware foundation is critical.
From Proxmox and VMware ESXi to Hyper-V and XCP-ng, modern hypervisors give IT teams powerful tools to orchestrate virtual environments efficiently. When paired with the right refurbished hardware—multi-core Xeon CPUs, ECC RAM, and high-speed NVMe storage—you can run everything from containerized microservices to full-blown Windows and Linux VMs without the lag or overhead of shared cloud resources. These platforms thrive on dedicated infrastructure, making refurbished servers a smart foundation for homelab builders, sysadmins, and enterprise IT teams alike.
At TechMikeNY, we like to learn the hard way: reconfiguring servers, using them, and then tweaking until they're perfect. What we've found: running a robust virtualization environment doesn't require expensive cloud infrastructure or monthly surprises from your AWS bill that make your CFO spill their coffee. All you need is a properly configured server with ample CPU cores, plenty of RAM, and fast SSD storage - exactly what our enterprise-grade refurbished systems deliver. Moving your VMs to dedicated hardware does more than just save money (and prevent those mysterious "data transfer" charges that somehow equal your monthly rent). It's about having complete control over your hypervisor and building the skills that define modern IT careers.
We’re here to help. Talk to one of our experts and we’ll help you configure a database server that fits your rack and your budget.
Dive into our TechTalk section for expert insights and step-by-step guides on tackling key IT tasks. Whether you’re setting up RAID, optimizing server performance, or exploring the latest in server technology, our blog articles provide the knowledge and tips you need to get the job done right. Empower your IT journey with practical advice and in-depth tutorials designed for both beginners and seasoned professionals.
Virtualization is a hot topic these days for good reason - it offers a ton of benefits! From optimizing infrastructure to simplifying disaster recovery, being able to run multiple virtual computers on physical hardware is an incredibly powerful capability that allows for so much more flexibility.
Building a homelab can be overwhelming, but this article simplifies the process by detailing the essential components you need to get started. Learn about the core hardware, networking equipment, and storage solutions required to create your personal tech playground for experimentation.
Over the years, we’ve had several customers reach out to our sales reps asking for help building out a Plex Media Server. We have always happily obliged, but for those unfamiliar with Plex or perhaps are in the market for an efficient home media solution, read on.
If you’ve been thinking about setting up a centralized media server of your own, there’s a good chance you’ve come across Plex, a media server software that allows you to organize, stream, and access your personal media collection across various devices.
When it comes to types of server hard drives, there are so many variations out there that it can become challenging to keep track of all the considerations. "Can my server read a 4Kn drive?" "Can I mix SAS and SATA drives in the same machine?" "What about SSDs versus HDDs?"
Enterprise servers are designed to hold multiple hard drives in bays. In fact, most enterprise rack servers have no less than six bays, and the Dell PowerEdge' xd' models can have up to twenty-four drive bays (and that's not including any Flex Bay options!).
