# Proxmox Backup Server (Xeon D-1518)

> This system serves as a dedicated Proxmox Backup Server (PBS) node, providing reliable, always-on backup storage for the virtualization environment.

Status: active · Kind: snapshot · Last verified: 2026-07-20 · Date: 2025-12-01

> Status: active
> Last verified: 2026-07-20 (against the current backup-host inventory and backup service record)
> Scope: public hardware configuration and dedicated backup role

## System Overview

This system serves as a dedicated Proxmox Backup Server (PBS) node,
providing reliable, always-on backup storage for the virtualization
environment.

The platform prioritizes stability, low power consumption, and integrated
high-speed networking over raw compute performance.

> Design principles: see **[Lab Philosophy](/homelab/philosophy)**.

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## Hardware Configuration

### Platform

- **Chassis**: Supermicro SYS-5018D-FN8T (1U short-depth)
- **Motherboard**: Supermicro X10SDV-TP8F
- **CPU**: Intel Xeon D-1518  
  - 4 cores / 8 threads  
  - Base 2.2 GHz  
  - Broadwell-DE SoC
- **Memory**: 32 GB DDR4 ECC  
  - 2 × 16 GB Hynix RDIMM  
  - Remaining slots intentionally empty

### Storage

- **ZFS Pool**: `pbs`
  - 2 × Micron 5300 series SSDs in mirror
- **Hot Spare**
  - 1 × Micron 5300 series SSD (pre-partitioned)
- **Design Notes**
  - Mirror layout chosen for fast resilvering and predictable failure modes
  - Capacity is sized for retention policy rather than growth

### Networking

- **Onboard Networking**
  - 2 × 10 GbE SFP+ (Intel X552-AT2)
  - 4 × 1 GbE (Intel i350)
  - 2 × 1 GbE (Intel i210)
- **Management**
  - Dedicated IPMI NIC (AST2400 BMC)

### Expansion

- PCIe expansion intentionally unused
- NVMe slot occupied by the operating-system disk

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## Operational Role

- Dedicated Proxmox Backup Server
- Receives backups from the virtualization hosts
- No virtualization workloads
- No user-facing services

This system is intentionally isolated to ensure that backup integrity
is not impacted by production workload behavior.

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## Design Notes

- Xeon D platform selected for:
  - Integrated 10 GbE
  - Low idle power
  - Proven long-term stability
- Short-depth chassis allows flexible rack placement
- Storage and networking are favored over CPU expansion

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## Status

- **Lifecycle**: Active
- **Role**: Tier-1 backup infrastructure
- **Last major change**: Storage refresh + spare added