I am looking to build a Workgroup Server. (Should be compatible/certified with both XEN & VMware hypervisors, as I am not sure which one I will settle with...comments requested)

To run baremetal on hypervisor, with each of the following services running virtualized with minimum OS install (CentOS 5.x, latest stable release).

- Multi-homed router-cum-border firewall (Access to Network Card limited to this instance...will act as router for rest of virtual machines). - DNS Server (djbDNS). - Mail Server (Qmail). - News Server (INN). - Webserver (Apache). - RDBMS (postgreSQL...highest load).

In addition to above the server to provide Windows RDP &/or Linux Desktop Thinclient to 5 users running diskless thin clients or old desktops (second highest load).

Server to have adequate amount of memory for the above and 500 GB/1 TB RAID 5 or better using SATA disks.

What Server Specs. I am looking at? I understand DB load is major in this but assuming moderate to medium db load, what do I need. Will seperate the server & Thinclient server six months/year down the road.

What budget? Recommendations for a processor/motherboard/ram/disks/sata card?

With best regards and thanks in advance. Sanjay Arora.