Recommended Server Specs? June 2025

[bluecavalry]

Server Purpose: CCIE-EI Lab Exam Preparation

What do you think about the below setup? Are there better deals out there?

I believe this is a total of 44 cores.

• $2,058.94
  Dell PowerEdge R630 8-Bay 2.5-configured
  Processor: 2x Intel Xeon E5-2699 V4 - 2.20GHz 22 Cores (+$504.05)
  Heatsink: Standard Heatsink/Fan (+$0.00)
  Memory: 512GB 2400MHz DDR4 (8x 64GB) (+$733.34)
  RAID Controller: PERC H330 RAID Controller (+$27.00)
  Storage Drives: New Crucial 1TB SATA SSD (Qty: 4)
  Remote Access: iDRAC8 Enterprise License (+$54.00)
  Power Supply: 2x 495W R3 Power Supply (+$18.00)
  Network Card: Dell Broadcom 5720 4x 1Gb Ethernet (+$28.80)
  Operating System: NONE
  Warranty: Continue with 180 day limited warranty

[Uldis (UD)]

If to use it as Bare metal server for EVE then it is not bad

[bluecavalry]

If to use it as Bare metal server for EVE then it is not bad

Thanks Uldis. Any suggestions on memory or chassis? This is a custom build on Savemyserver.com

[Uldis (UD)]

Dell is OK, myself I am on Poweredge DELL 640

[bluecavalry]

Well, I have redone the quote using the r640 chassis, and the price went up $1500.
Gold 2x 22 core = 44 core, 512G RAM, 4x 1TB SSD

Feel like I am going down a rabbit hole. Trying to spec this for at least 3 year lab-work.
Best BANG-FOR-THE-BUCK server for a bare-metal EVE-NG my lab.

Is there a way for me to spec the best size server for CCIE-EI Lab prep? Recommended specs for CCIE-EI.
Number of Cores? Amount of Memory?

Appreciate your input. Thanks.

[Uldis (UD)]

CCIE IE need DNAC, but it is different story, this single DNAC from cisco need 56 Cores CPU, 256GB RAM, and 4TB SSD. Usually such DEAC is as external server connected to EVE lab.
If to skip this DEAC, then your chosen server is totally OK for your Labbing needs.
Currently also running EVE VM on ESXi 8 server config below

Server PowerEdge R650
2x Intel(R) Xeon(R) Platinum 8368 CPU @ 2.40GHz (76 cores/144 threads)
16x 32GB DDR4 DIMM Total 512GB
8x SAMSUNG SSD MZ7LH3T8HALT0D3 4TB Total 32TB
PERC H745

This box is expensive. And do not run DNAC at all, no need it