Superguide: Supermicro SuperServer 5028D-TN4T - THE Ultimate Home Virtualization Lab
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TinkerTry IT @ home Efficient virtualization, storage, backup, and more...
I tend to go pretty deep in my articles for nearly 5 years now, ever since I created my original self-built Core i7 beast aptly named vZilla in 2011. It worked well, but using a consumer motherboard had both benefits (cost) and drawbacks (Realtek NICs), and it's stuck at 32GB of RAM max, which really puts a limit on what can be run concurrently.
Every year since, I've been seeking the best single server I could recommend for the majority of folks that are serious about running a home virtualization lab 24x7. And this year, I've finally found it.
I knew the moment I first read about the Xeon-D 1500 SoC (System on a Chip) that an octacore Xeon CPU (worth about $850) paired with a tiny, efficient, and VERY capable motherboard, was exactly what I've been waiting for. It even has two 1Gbe and two 10GbE interfaces! What clinched the deal for me was that mere mortals could now obtain up to 128GB of RAM, easily, and reasonably affordably, using four sub-$300 Samsung 32GB DDR4 DIMMs. As for me? I'm at 64GB now, and 128GB eventually.
This powerful yet efficient server forms the basis for the next few years of articles here at TinkerTry. A solid foundation for tinkering with all the latest storage technologies (M.2, NVMe) and software out there, with room to grow.
You don't have to order the Windows 10 preload bundle, but you'll miss out on the free shipping and the unique extras.
While TinkerTry does earn a small commission from every visitor that comes from this site to a link to the Wiredzone site, turns out their prices for things like 32GB DIMMs are usually lower than Amazon and Newegg anyway.
Here's the parts list, Q&A, or just place your order.
If you're also interested in reading the full story, in chronological order, let me guide you with the must-read articles you should get started with:
-
Intel Xeon D-1500 crams incredible virtualization lab specs into tiny mITX size, codename Broadwell-DE
Mar 09 2015 - I can still remember the first time I read about this motherboard announcement. -
Supermicro SuperServer mini-tower ordered with 64GB of memory for $1900, the ultimate home virtualization lab?
Jun 23 2015 - I put down my cash, and cross my fingers. -
What fits in any home virtualization lab, has 8 Xeon cores, 6 drives, 128 GB memory, and 3 4K outputs from a Windows 10 VM? Your new Supermicro SuperServer Workstation!
Jul 15 2015 - Read along as I struggle to contain my enthusiasm. - TinkerTry Supermicro SuperServer Workstation bundle now available - Windows 10 with triple 4K GPU can run as an ESXi VM!
Aug 01 2015 - Perhaps THE very first Windows 10 Workstation available!
It wasn't hard to come up with a Windows 10 build procedure that Wiredzone now uses to create your Superserver, and you may want to check out this closely related article, My experience with the Samsung 850 EVO 2TB SSD, and how it fits into my hybrid home lab strategy, where I mention that I upgraded my SuperServer to VMware vSphere 6.0, booting my Windows 10 SSD as whole-hog fully functional VM workstation!
Now that you're familiar with the journey, here's a search for ALL the Supermicro SuperServer related articles:
Complete list of SuperServer articles
In chronological order, newest on top.
The first list is just the titles.
The second list down below is the same set of articles, but with larger preview images added.

- How to enable higher Windows VGA resolutions on both your monitor and your Supermicro Remote Console
Mar 23 2016


- Supermicro's beloved iKVM Console Redirection is dumping problem-ridden Java for HTML5, yay!
Mar 08 2016


-
First Look - SR-IOV support in Intel Xeon D-1541
Feb 11 2016 -
First look at the new Intel Xeon D-1541 Supermicro SuperServer SYS-5028D-TN4T
Feb 07 2016 -
TinkerTravels - 5 Technical Presentations these next 4 months
Feb 03 2016 -
Longest email thread ever about Xeon D-1540, VMware, NVMe, vSAN, backup dedupe, and so much more...
Jan 15 2016 -
Recommended BIOS Settings for Supermicro SuperServer SYS-5028D-TN4T
Jan 15 2016 -
Benchmark Optimized BIOS Settings for Supermicro SuperServer SYS-5028D-TN4T
Jan 13 2016 -
TinkerTry'd SuperServer featured at Virtualization Review "The Quest for the Right Virtual Home Lab Server"
Dec 02 2015 -
World's fastest consumer SSD - Samsung 950 PRO M.2 NVMe benchmark results
Nov 07 2015 -
Order a TinkerTry Supermicro SuperServer Bundle - powerful and efficient virtualization home lab solutions
Oct 30 2015 -
Upgrade your VMware ESXi 6.0 to Update 1a the easy way
Oct 29 2015 -
First look at Infinio Accelerator with SuperServer cluster shared Synology iSCSI datastore
Oct 22 2015 -
Intel SSD 750 Series NVMe PCIe installation in Supermicro SuperServer 5028D-TN4T, the easy way
Oct 14 2015 -
Intel 750 Series NVMe PCIe SSD supported by ESXi 6.x out-of-the-box, install Intel's VIB for full speed
Sep 29 2015 -
Samsung announces 950 PRO V-NAND NVMe M.2 SSD, 512GB 2.5 GB/s version arrives in October, 1TB next year
Sep 22 2015 -
First look - Intel 750 Series NVMe PCIe SSD in a Supermicro SuperServer 5028D-TN4T
Sep 25 2015 -
Home Server Show Meetup 2015 - My experience and my Superserver presentation
Sep 12 2015 -
TinkerTry Supermicro SuperServer Workstation bundle now available - Windows 10 with triple 4K GPU can run as an ESXi VM!
Aug 01 2015 - Perhaps THE very first Windows 10 Workstation available! -
"The 5th Annual Home Server Show Meetup" in Indianapolis Sep 12 2015 - TinkerTry'll be there!
JUL 29 2015 -
My experience with the Samsung 850 EVO 2TB SSD, and how it fits into my hybrid home lab strategy
JUL 28 2015 -
How to locate your triple monitor 4K PC 20 feet away for less noise and more joy
JUL 23 2015 -
Deep dive inside video of the Supermicro SuperServer 5028D-TN4T including component installation
JUL 02 2015 -
Supermicro SuperServer 5028D-TN4T Photo Gallery
JUL 01 2015 -
Installing Windows on the Supermicro SuperServer 5028D-TN4T
JUL 01 2015 -
Intel Xeon D-1500 SoC 10GbE X552/X557-AT 10GBASE-T VIB for ESXi 6.0 support?
JUN 30 2015 -
Supermicro SuperServer 5028D-TN4T accessories and aspirations
JUN 29 2015 -
Supermicro SuperServer 5028D-TN4T first impressions
JUN 26 2015 -
TinkerTry's Xeon D-1540 fueled ESXi 6.0 home lab build begins LIVE!
JUN 25 2015 -
Intel Xeon D-1500 crams incredible virtualization lab specs into tiny mITX size, codename Broadwell-DE
MAR 09 2015 -
Nice little USB flash drive choice for that ESXi in your home lab
JAN 31 2015 - Superguide: Home virtualization server enthusiasts' colorful variety of ESXi whiteboxes
JAN 05 2014
Partial list of SuperServer articles - with image previews
In chronological order, newest on top:


- Order a TinkerTry Supermicro SuperServer Bundle - powerful and efficient virtualization home lab solutions
Oct 30 2015




- First look at Infinio Accelerator with SuperServer cluster shared Synology iSCSI datastore
Oct 22 2015

- Intel SSD 750 Series NVMe PCIe installation in Supermicro SuperServer 5028D-TN4T, the easy way
Oct 14 2015



- Intel 750 Series NVMe PCIe SSD supported by ESXi 6.x out-of-the-box, install Intel's VIB for full speed
Sep 29 2015


- Samsung announces 950 PRO V-NAND NVMe M.2 SSD, 512GB 2.5 GB/s version arrives in October, 1TB next year
Sep 22 2015




- TinkerTry Supermicro SuperServer Workstation bundle now available - Windows 10 with triple 4K GPU can run as an ESXi VM!
Aug 01 2015 - Perhaps THE very first Windows 10 Workstation available!

- "The 5th Annual Home Server Show Meetup" in Indianapolis Sep 12 2015 - TinkerTry'll be there!
JUL 29 2015

- My experience with the Samsung 850 EVO 2TB SSD, and how it fits into my hybrid home lab strategy
JUL 28 2015



- Deep dive inside video of the Supermicro SuperServer 5028D-TN4T including component installation
JUL 02 2015

- Supermicro SuperServer 5028D-TN4T Photo Gallery
JUL 01 2015







- Intel Xeon D-1500 crams incredible virtualization lab specs into tiny mITX size, codename Broadwell-DE
MAR 09 2015


See also
- Supermicro SuperServer 5028D-TN4T User's Manual
JUN 01 2015, by Supermicro

-
Supermicro SYS-5028D-TN4T Review small box – big power
MAY 13 2015, by Patrick Kennedy at Serve The Home -
Intel Xeon D – Intel SoC Changing the low end with Broadwell-DE
MAR 09 2015, by Patrick Kennedy at Serve The Home - Supermicro X10SDV-TLN4F Review – A must get platform
APR 13 2015, by Patrick Kennedy at Serve The Home, here's an excerpt:
BOTTOM LINE:
With four port Ethernet (two 10Gbase-T and two 1Gbase-T), solid storage m.2 PCIe x4 and 6x SATA III, a fast and low power CPU (Intel Xeon D-1540) and 128GB of RAM, the Supermicro X10SDV-TLN4F is a must get platform. For those still using Intel Xeon L5520 or L5620 generation processors, one can get more performance in less than half of the power and space footprint which is astounding. For those that always wanted more than the Xeon E3 line could offer in terms of their limited RAM capacity (practical 32GB limit) and core count (4C/ 8T max), this is the answer.
- Buying An M.2 SSD? How To Tell Which Is Which
APR 07 2014, by MARSHALLR