Hardware Selection¶
Selecting the right hardware is crucial for a successful TAPPaaS deployment. This guide helps you size your infrastructure based on your requirements.
Design Process¶
Hardware selection follows these phases:
- Problem Definition - Determine what operational challenges TAPPaaS should address
- Infrastructure Sizing - Calculate compute and storage requirements
- Hardware Procurement - Acquire equipment matching your calculations
Minimum Requirements¶
Single Node Setup¶
For a basic TAPPaaS installation:
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | 4 cores | 8+ cores |
| RAM | 16 GB | 32+ GB |
| Storage | 256 GB SSD | 512 GB+ NVMe |
| Network | 1 Gbps | 2.5 Gbps+ |
Multi-Node Cluster¶
For high availability and additional capacity:
| Component | Per Node | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | 4+ cores | More cores enable more VMs |
| RAM | 16+ GB | Plan for VM overhead |
| Storage | 256+ GB | Consider ZFS mirroring |
| Network | 1+ Gbps | Dedicated management NIC recommended |
Resource Planning¶
When planning resources, account for:
Foundation Services¶
| Service | RAM | Storage |
|---|---|---|
| Proxmox Host | 2 GB | 32 GB |
| OPNsense Firewall | 2 GB | 16 GB |
| TAPPaaS CICD | 4 GB | 50 GB |
| NixOS Template | 1 GB | 10 GB |
| Identity (Authentik) | 4 GB | 20 GB |
| Backup Server | 2 GB | Variable |
Optional Stacks¶
| Stack | RAM | Storage | GPU |
|---|---|---|---|
| AI Stack (OpenWebUI) | 4-8 GB | 50 GB | Optional |
| AI Stack (vLLM) | 8-32 GB | 100+ GB | Recommended |
| Productivity (n8n) | 2-4 GB | 20 GB | - |
| Home (Home Assistant) | 2 GB | 32 GB | - |
Hardware Recommendations¶
Entry Level¶
Repurpose an old workstation or small server:
- Intel i5/i7 or AMD Ryzen 5/7
- 32 GB DDR4 RAM
- 500 GB NVMe SSD
- Gigabit Ethernet
Production Ready¶
For reliable operation:
- Server-grade CPU (Xeon, EPYC)
- 64+ GB ECC RAM
- Multiple NVMe drives for ZFS
- Dual network interfaces
- UPS power protection
High Availability¶
For mission-critical deployments:
- 2-3 identical nodes
- Shared or replicated storage
- Redundant networking
- Remote management (IPMI/iLO/iDRAC)
Storage Considerations¶
ZFS Recommendations¶
TAPPaaS uses ZFS for storage management:
- Mirror - Minimum 2 drives, good redundancy
- RAIDZ1 - Minimum 3 drives, single drive fault tolerance
- RAIDZ2 - Minimum 4 drives, two drive fault tolerance
Storage Tiers¶
Consider separating:
- Fast tier - NVMe for VMs and databases
- Bulk tier - HDD for backups and archives
Network Requirements¶
Basic Setup¶
- Single NIC with VLAN support
- Managed switch for VLAN trunking
- Reliable internet connection
Advanced Setup¶
- Dedicated management network
- Separate storage network
- Multiple uplinks for redundancy
Next Steps¶
Once you have selected your hardware:
- Proceed to Preparation
- Begin Foundation installation