HP's New micro Server (mod plans)

Z

zer0gravity

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Dec 8, 2008
Messages
1,129
HP just launched a new product the HP ProLiant MicroServer. Looks like a good idea for people bridging the gap between the EX495 / Datavault line and building a NAS. The micro only supports raid 0/1 but I'm sure people running zfs or installing a raid card would look past this. It also has two pci-e slots (16x, 1x) and looks like room for 4 internal drives. Seems like a good base to start, and I think can be followed by adding an external sas / e-sata enclosure to really get a good NAS setup.


http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF05a/15351-15351-4237916-4237918-4237917-4248009.html

c02435946.jpg


Anyone got any input on how they feel about this box? Discuss....

Modding ideas:
Install raid card with external sas and power a Norco box
Max on Ram to 8gb and run vm's to use as untangle box / Nas / media server
Install pci-e GFX and use as htpc / xbmc
 
Last edited:
That is pretty cool. It even has Unbuffered ECC RAM which ZFS requires. I would like to know if OpenSolaris (and its successor whatever that may be) support the onboard hardware. You could just throw on in a 1068E SAS controller anyway. It also seems to have an optional Remote Access PCI card. It would take up one PCI slot. I wonder if it's a standard IPMI device.
 
an interested little device indeed. It is also rather cheap for being a complete, SFF server. Certainly a nice choice for an SMB NAS solution. One odd thing is that I see the option to get extra MS licenses but I didnt see any mention of the OS itself, kind of strange.
 
Very cool. Seems like a much better and much more expandable MediaSmart Server. I would actually like to use that as a replacement for my WHS as it is more capable.

-Cool-
 
Specs.....

$329 (starting I think)

Processor
Processor family
AMD Athlon™ II

Number of processors
1

Processor core available
2

Memory
Maximum memory
8 GB

Memory slots
2 DIMM slots

Memory type
PC3 DDR3

I/O
Expansion slots
1 half-height, half-length PCIe x16 Gen 2, 1 half-height, half-length PCIe x1 Gen 2

Network Controller
1GbE NC107i 1 Port

Storage
Maximum drive bays
(4) LFF SATA

Supported drives
Non-hot plug 3.5-inch SATA

Storage Controller
Integrated 4 port SATA RAID
Click to expand...
 
I ordered one and a 4GB stick of RAM from Kingston for $123. Going to test out Vail on it.

edit: I'm tempted to try out ZFS and sub.mesa's web UI for it. I have no experience with ZFS but I'd give it a shot if the HW is compatible.
 
I wonder if you can disable the onboard RAID? Or if you can re-wire the SATA drives internally to use a PCI-Express card. It says it can support up to 8TB - though 2 2 drive RAID0's would get you there ... that's something I'd rather not do.

This would work great for me - I've been wanting something small, yet with a bit of power to it. I was trying to avoid small NAS boxes, yet servers that ran Windows or Linux based operating systems were WHS or much larger. This fits perfect.

danman: Let us know how it goes - I'll have a few questions you might have to answer.
 
Looks interesting, case looks like it might be metal, but probably plastic. Seems like it would be great for WHS.
 
nice box. I wonly wish it came with USB 3.0

Also, is that a 92mm or 120mm fan on the back?
 
danman said:
I ordered one and a 4GB stick of RAM from Kingston for $123. Going to test out Vail on it.

edit: I'm tempted to try out ZFS and sub.mesa's web UI for it. I have no experience with ZFS but I'd give it a shot if the HW is compatible.
Click to expand...

Let us know how it goes?
 
Shit, now I want to buy one. :( I'm sure I'd save the money in electric bills by retiring my P4 Northwood.
 
Yes, do let us know how it goes danman. I for one would be interested to know if FreeNAS 0.7.2 will install? I don't expect it will recognise the on-board LAN (not too big an issue) but will it even support the on-board SATA controller?

cheers
 
I got it yesterday and put in a 4GB stick of RAM and the HP IPMI card. Right now I'm installing Vail on it (for the second time as I broke part of the OS tweaking it). I had to create a bootable USB stick and configure it to bypass the Vail checks as Vail requires a 1.4 Ghz proc and this one is 1.3Ghz. With 4 2TB Hitachi drives the thing is really quiet.

Its also extremely easy to take apart. Open the door and two toolless screws to loosen and the motherboard slides right out.
 
what is great is the 3 year next day warranty for parts... that is huge and for $300+ it is a better deal than their WHS build....
 
Are the drives showing up in Windows as just plain-old drives? I read that you could use RAID 1 or 0 only.
 
Modding ideas:
Install raid card with external sas and power a Norco box
Click to expand...

At that point I would have bought a motherboard, cpu, memory and powersupply for less than this box instead of having them external.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top