HP ProLiant MicroServer Build

Big A said:
set mine up yesterday, and just wanted to say a massive thanks for the guide on here, got me through a few sketchy moments :D

WHS2011 set up, just installing updates now, then need to install my ASUS HD6450 graphics card. Not quite sure where to start with that one as i'm not sure which drivers to use?!?!?
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I'd start with vista/7 drivers from asus site
 
neil_g said:
does anyone else find their microserver sucks in a LOT of dust?

might try swapping out the fan so that it acts like less of a hoover..
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No problem, just Hoover it clean, you know it makes sense:lol:
 
I've had one (N36 version) for a year or two.
Fantastic value with the cashback.
I had a few issues with the major workload I was throwing at it running WHS2011: the onboard NIC is pants and the storage is not that quick.

Added an Intel gigabit PCIe card and forked out for a P410i RAID controller with 512MB RAM. Yes, that cost more than the server, but I have a high-end RAID5 array which can be expanded non-destructively in the future for when I add more drives or migrate to 3-4TB drives.

I have some BluRay ISOs backed up, all of my photos, music, etc, and the PCs backup as well. currently using about 5TB and growing (I blame D800 RAW file sizes!)
 
interesting you say its not that fast, if you go back a page or two i think i was getting 80MB/s sustained transfer over gigabit. a theoretical maximum for gigabit is around 125MB/s. not too bad. for a £200 box.
 
It's not the speed, it's on large transfers where it just "crashes". You'll be copying over a 40GB file, and a few GB in, the copy will appear to stop.

I did try many different drivers and versions of drivers, but people have just put it down to a poor implementation of the Broadcom chipset so I went with the Intel and have never had a problem since.

Copies are now consistently over 100MB/s :)
 
Maybe something changed between N36L and N40L on the networking as I've had no problems either.
 
Another cheap N40L deal here

And also someone saying the long running cashback is ending and so is this model...
 
RobertP said:
Another cheap N40L deal here

And also someone saying the long running cashback is ending and so is this model...
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Closed till 2nd January, so that looks like the cashback up creek too.

Maybe just as well, not totally sure i need one anyway:thinking:
 
So my 2 x 2tb Seagate drives arrived today and havng switched off the N40L and installed the drives on startup it seems one of them may be dead. The first drive has been initialised as you suggested in post#31 but the second drive gets as far as the auto-setup on start up and then:

S.M.A.R.T capable and status = BAD

The server then boots into the BIOS and from there will log into WHS2011 but the (seemingly) dodgy drive is not visible.

any thoughts, is the drive dead on arrival or is there something else i can try? I have moved it from bay 2 to bay 3 but no change.

thanks
 
thanks for the replies guys. getting on the phone to SCAN now to return it, the other drive works perfectly and i've swapped the bays around to confirm that its not an error on the N40L so its going back :)
 
neil_g said:
Go back into option 2 and you can see the created group (I named it DATASTORE)


HP Microserver N40L by neilgates, on Flickr


HP Microserver N40L by neilgates, on Flickr

On exit the unit will reboot into the OS where the disk will need initializing in disk management.


HP Microserver N40L by neilgates, on Flickr

Format and there we go..


HP Microserver N40L by neilgates, on Flickr

3x 2TB RAID0 = ~5.5Tb

Easy peasy!
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Just received my replaced drive from Scan (impressed with their service) so now have 2 x 2tb and have switched on and configured RAID 1 in the BIOS. I'm now in WHS2011 disk management and can see Disk0 (my 250gb drive with OS on) and Disk1 which is 1862.95GB i'm assumng this is my two drives in raid 1 (??) currently it is unallocated do i simply right click and choose 'New Simple Volume' and then assign it a drive letter, then format, then its all done and the drives are all set in RAID1?

Thanks for the guide by the way, massive help so far!!:)
 
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neil_g said:
yup :)
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awesome thanks :)

Its also worth mentioning that i haven't updated the AMD drivers as the links in your post#31 are broken, that said i have booted into WHS2011 no probs so do i need to update them?

Cheers
 
Big A said:
awesome thanks :)

Its also worth mentioning that i haven't updated the AMD drivers as the links in your post#31 are broken, that said i have booted into WHS2011 no probs so do i need to update them?

Cheers
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post 31 was more if you did the initial RAID enable after installing windows and it was causing blue screens at boot.

as long as the AMD raid drivers have been installed at some point or windows has picked them up automatically thats fine (should show as or silmilar to "AMD RAID" or "AMD AHCI RAID" under storage controllers and "AMD RAID SCSI DISK" under disk drives in device manager).
 
Well, the N40L cashback ended with the end of 2012..

The new N54L is coming soon, which is pretty disapointing as it's essentially only a different CPU and a price hike. There may well be cashback deals on that, although personally I think I'll wait for the N54L to be released and try and grab a deal on another N40L...

http://www.wegotserved.com/2012/12/07/hp-proliant-microserver-n54l-full-specs/

side by side specs - http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/uk/en/sm/WF25a/15351-15351-4237916-4237917-4237917-4248009.html?dnr=1
 
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Yeah must admit i was underwhelmed by the N54L which is why i bit the bullet on the N40L when it went down to £90 (after cashback)

Another quick question for anyone that may know, i have a HDD in my old PC which died some time ago (motherboard) can i just put it in one of the spare N40L bays and have it read the data straight off, all other drives have needed initialising/ formatting before the server recognises them.

Cheers

EDIT: thanks for your help on the RAID drivers, seems windows downloaded them automatically :)
 
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if its a sata then pop it in.

if it doesnt appear in windows you might need to create another array but you can select JBOD (just a bunch of disks) which should be fine for a single drive.
 
OK guys i'm having a little issue with trying view files remotely.

I have set up remote access and can log into the server through the website (nynameSPAMerver.com) and i have set up a VPN which seems to connect fine HOWEVER.......

I'm trying to re-path my lightroom photos folder (which is on the server) from my catalog (saved on the laptop) but i have no idea what the file path should be??!?

Essentially my question is, when connecting remotely how can i find out my file path to files on the server.

I'm sure its a simple solution but its got me stumped :lol:
 
Picked up 2 from Ebuyer last week.

Pulled the RAM and 250Gb out of unit 2 to go into unit 1, so it had 4Gb and 2 x 250Gb. The added 2 x 2TB and set up 2 mirrored arrays.

It is now running Server 2012 Essentials as our domain controller (10 users), file server and print server. Love 2012 essentials - Office 365 integration and remote workplace access and love this server.

Waiting on the 8Gb of RAM to stick in the domain controller. Will then install Windows 7 on box 2 (2 x 750Gb and 2 x 2Tb) as the main file server and print server.

Seriously good value and great if you don't need anything heavy.
 
They're rock solid little boxes, definitely going to pick up a 2nd at some point. Ideal for soho. Hopefully the new model will push the n40l down in price again.

Mines picked up a bit of a hum, but I think it's just the drive door vibrating.

Mines now running basic file sharing, allway sync service to the Nas, hyperv, dhcp and dns now.

Apparently you can put 16gb in them, with some modules. I'll dig the info out later at work.
 
neil_g said:
Mines picked up a bit of a hum, but I think it's just the drive door vibrating.
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I did mention previously that mine got louder (it's not actually that loud though) after a week or two. Sounds like bearing noise from the fan to me.

Completely reliable so far though. running WHS 2011 and just there when needed. fit and forget :)
 
dont think my fan is too bad (apart from acting like a hoover), if i give the door a gently poke it stops so think its a rattle somewhere along the line.

yeah rock solid stable, mines currently on a stint of 52 days uptime (post install needing a restart, before that it wasnt rebooted since setup).
 
mine hums as well and its definitely the door. when i leave it slightly open its 'silent.'
 
i have a slightly odd feeling. ive caught myself thinking of selling my beloved Synology DS1010+

basically im approaching 30% remaining on my microserver storage so i've started planning for expansion. my options are:

1) just lob another 2tb into the empty bay on the microserver and worry about running out 6 months down the line. the synology (my on site backup) still has plenty of space for now.

2) sell the synology and get a 2nd N40L (if i can find one at a reasonable price), use the 5 drives from the synology to max out all 8 bays in both microservers. but again 6 months down the line may need readdressing again.

3) sell the synology and fit a startech multi port (Marvell - 88SE9128 based) esata PCIe2 card and get a couple of esata raid DAS. 4 bay options - IcyBox IB-RD3640SU3 or DataTale RC-M4DJ, or slightly more pricey 5 bay options from Sharkoon. loads of expansion, can still have sync'd copies of data etc..

:thinking:
 
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Build a proper server ;)
 
If money is tight how about:

4) Spend some time clearing out unwanted files on your microserver

:D :p
 
arad85 said:
If money is tight how about:

4) Spend some time clearing out unwanted files on your microserver

:D :p
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hey all of my crap files are need.. :bat:

but im not necessarily saying money is tight, id be genuinely interested to see what you could spec for the same money?

the HP cost £150 after cashback with the 8gb memory upgrade, I can probably free up £400 tops from selling stuff like the synology.

if you can spec me up a fairly compact but expandable server (I like my data backed up locally on separate arrays, totally separate controllers :)) for the same cost (OS and hard drives not included, I have 9 drives at the moment by the way and will need more soon) then im all ears.

I expect your response within the hour :D
 
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