HP ProLiant MicroServer Owners Club! (Attempting to sell here will result in bans)

I wouldn't fuck around with PCI/e tuner cards. In my experience, even on windows, the USB ones are just less hassle. The HP box has 7x USB ports.

 

good point, I just read that people recommend using low profile ram? is this is a definite?

 

yes, there is very little clearance above the ram sticks

 

Sure can... I am just compiling this now.

 

I took the liberty of uploading the most recent modified BIOS - version O41, modified by Metazoa from the iXBT forums.

http://www.multiupload.com/QMDXWV3V16

 

changed to kingston low profile just incase, $4.09 extra .. meh

 

Sorry I can't find the thread where that is discussed. Can you just clarify what this different BIOS does before I go add it to the first post? Does it just allow the remaining internal SATA port to run at SATAII speeds so that you can connect another drive into the optical bay and get the best performance out of it?

 

sign me up. 2 units - one running Server 2008 R2 with 5x2tb. The other running unraid with 3x2tb, 1x1tb and 1x500gb as a mirror of the other one to take to LANs and lend to friends etc.

 

See this link [avforums.com] for details on using it, but basically it allows the Optical Disk Drive bay's sata port to run at full speed, rather than at IDE speeds.

 

I've got one on order should be here soon..

I've decided I probably need a second anyone know where I can still get one cheap?

 

Isn't that the same thing as modded BIOS posted by someone hundred pages ago?or that's an update of that which gives new feature(?)

 

int13H posted the first modified BIOS here. Basically it allows you to set SATA ports 5 and 6 (the optical drive port and the eSATA port) to AHCI or RAID. By default they are locked to IDE emulation mode.

Metazoa posted a BIOS with the same modifications as int13H's original one, but based off a more recent BIOS from HP. You can see this here.

The file I posted just above (the Multiupload link) is the more recent one from Metazoa.

 

Thanks, top post updated. Got any relevant links/info just post away and I will add it!

Might that explain why I was having hot-swap issues with the controller? I.e. I could only get it to detect new drives if it had a drive connected on boot, then I'd have to do hard SCSI bus resets to get it to recognise changes. I thought eSATA drives would behave just like USB drives do under Linux...

 

now to get someone to add a timed alarm/startup and I'd be well pleased

 

1 micro-server, I'm going to turn it into a media center, by adding an ATI 5450 fan-less video card, a dual-tuner USB DVB, and windows 7. If I get bored of that, probably turn it into an unRaid box

 

It does seem that 3TB drives are usuable in this:

http://usingwindowshomeserver.com/2011/04/19/hp-proliant-microserver-usb-3-0-video-edition/

WHS2K11 with a 3TB Drive mirror.

 

I've put a direct link to the files here for your reference :

http://www.kiiku.com/ocau/HP_N36L/BIOS_UPDATE_ACHI/

HP_EXE : The original HP Executable to create the bootable USB
HP_UNZIPPED : The above executable unzipped
UPDATE_BIOS_041 : Updated Bios

To create the bootable USB

1. run the HPQUSB.exe file from the unzipped HP executable.
__This creates a bootable USB ready to plug in
2. Replace the "O41093010.ROM" file with the updated ROM file from the "UPDATE_BIOS_041" directory.
__*note 1* The O41093010.ROM file in that directory is the same as the O41_AHCI.ROM file. I just renamed it to make it easier.
__*note 2* This is a 1 step slipstream process. The original instructions tell you to update to the HP bios with the USB update then update again (using achi.bat) to the modified bios. By replacing the original file with the O41093010.ROM file in my directory, you're updating to the correct bios on bootup.
3. Plug it in your machine and reboot.

 

Anyone in the owners club with some spares units??

After ordering two, from separate suppliers on Sunday, i received emails from them both today saying my order had been cancelled and refunded!

PM me if any of you is feeling generous

Cheers,
Nash

 

Might be worth adding to first post too. Those are the same size as the included 1GB ram stick.

 

so sata 3 drives will work in this box? If so, which ones do you guys recommend? is the Hitachi 2tb at msy sata 3? Is it worth getting WD 2tb blacks for $175?