Migration to OX Server from Linux HA Cluster

Question

Hello. I'm not sure if this is the correct forum for this topic, but I am looking for some friendly opinions on a possible solution to my organization's infrastructure. Basically I am looking to consolidate resources and reduce energy usage.
I currently operate our entire organization with 10 servers. They are broken down like this:
2-CentOS-5: Running in Active/Passive HA. Hosts Apache 2.0 and MySQL 5. Data and config files replicated by DRBD.
2-CentOS-5: Running in Active/Passive HA with 6-500gb RAID 5 SATA Drives. These systems are set up to host NFS Shares. Data and config files replicated by DRBD. MySQL is also installed as a Replicating Slave from the previous mentioned servers.
2-CentOS-5: Running in Active/Passive HA for an Asterisk VOIP Phone System. Config files replicated by DRBD. All voice recordings are sent via a NFS mount to the previous mentioned NFS Servers. All MySQL entries are made to the Main MySQL Server.
1-CentOS-5: Mail Filter
1-Redhat-4: Mail/LDAP/Samba Domain Controller
1-Windows 2003: Enterprise Application Server
1-Windows 2003: Terminal Services
None of these servers are tasked out by any means. My server rack is full, the electric required to run them and the AC to keep them cool is high.
So, I was thinking about purchasing 2 Mac XServe Servers. I wanted to do the following. Can anyone validate the configuration? Or do I not understand the capabilities of the OS X Server?
Both XServes would be built like this: Dual 2.8 quad core, 16GB RAM with 3x1TB SATA Discs in RAID 5.
My goal is to utilize OS X Server’s HA across the two servers to handle:
Web Services (Apache 2)
MySQL 5 (Master Node)
Email Server
Calendaring Server
Samba Domain Controller (For Windows Clients)
File Storage
Will HA work for the services I mentioned using OS X Server easily?
Then, on the first XServe (XS1) I would install 2 virtual machines (No HA – just snap shots taken for backup):
VMA – CentOS5 – MySQL (Slave Node)
VMB – Windows 2003 – Enterprise Apps
Then, on the second XServe (XS2) I would install 2 virtual machines (No HA – just snap shots taken for backup):
VMC – Windows 2003 – Terminal Services
VMD – Windows 2003 – More Enterprise Apps
My concern/question is really mostly about the “File Storage” I referenced. As I mentioned above I currently have a HA NAS Server that each of my other linux servers mount via NFS. Is this something that Xsan 2 could do between the two XServe servers? If so, does that mean that I could store the virtual machine images on the NAS created by Xsan 2? And, if so, do I NEED to have a fiber switch? Or could I simply utilize fiber directly between the two servers?
Am I crazy for wanting to do this? Am I missing something? I am thinking I must be, that is why I am posting!
Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that the Asterisk VOIP System will remain on its current hardware.
Message was edited by: gamepawn
Message was edited by: gamepawn
Message was edited by: gamepawn

Answer 1

as far as i know, you'd need xsan nodes for all machines involved and san storage shared among all nodes. ideally, you'd need primary and secondary xsan metadata controllers just to deal with san metadata, and they should not be your od master or replica.
you could probably skimp on hardware and double up services on each machine, but it probably wouldn't save you much in the short term, at least.
how about moving to more power efficient processors for your current setup? your network as it is now sounds exactly like what some of my clients would love to have, but it would take a lot of cash to build with apple hardware/software.