HP ProLiant MicroServer

uck51js9zml2yt · 11-07-2014 07:36PM

I was setting up a few of these earlier in the week in work for a client. A really nice bit of kit ....but I've no room for one(I KNOW its small)

If you press F10 when it appears it will use smart configuration which makes it a doddle.

daveohdave · 11-07-2014 08:03PM

heathersonline wrote: »

I just took the plunge and bought one on dabs, €175 with 4gb ram, happy enough with the Deal as I would have removed the 250gb and bought more ram. This way I can put the cash towards buying drives.

Am a complete beginner when it comes to this kinda thing so will probably have to read this thread from scratch. Planning to use it for plex and maybe some music streaming but gotta try figure out what OS to put on before I even start!

This thread is a mess and it's very focused on buying. You'd be better off with the wiki, below. There's a thread on AVforums too which is much more informative.

http://n40l.wikia.com/wiki/HP_MicroServer_N40L_Wiki

valen · 12-07-2014 10:22AM

Good luck with Plex. I've a slightly slower N36L based on, and I can't use it as a Plex server - even when I disable transcoding video, it still seems to transcode audio, and it isn't fast enough to transcode a single stream. It's OK for 480p stuff with stereo, but 720p with DTS or 5.1 stutters unusably. Seems you'd need a Gen8 to do it smoothly.

blabley · 12-07-2014 02:50PM

valen wrote: »

Good luck with Plex. I've a slightly slower N36L based on, and I can't use it as a Plex server...

Got an N40L with 6Gb RAM on standard SATA 250Gb running Win 8.1 u1, latest Plex Media Server and Plex runs both via the local Plex client and via WiFi perfectly.

daveohdave · 12-07-2014 04:18PM

I never had a problem with my 40 either, or the current 54 of course, and I don't think the 36 was that much slower?

I forgot to turn WiFi on at home the other day and used the Android app over 3G, only noticed because the quality wasn't as good as usual. No choppiness or stutter except when it was getting started. Current machine has 16GB of RAM, which doesn't hurt.

randombar · 15-07-2014 12:05PM

Selling my N40L case if anyone is interested.

Mobo is dead but everything else is fine and dandy.

http://www.adverts.ie/towers/hp-microserver-n40l-for-parts/5889142

Usual boardsie discount applies.

RobTheLad · 15-07-2014 12:07PM

GaryCocs wrote: »

Selling my N40L case if anyone is interested.

Mobo is dead but everything else is fine and dandy.

http://www.adverts.ie/towers/hp-microserver-n40l-for-parts/5889142

Usual boardsie discount applies.

would be interested in the RAM, what type and what speed?

blabley · 15-07-2014 04:05PM

GaryCocs wrote: »

Selling my N40L case if anyone is interested.

Mobo is dead but everything else is fine and dandy.

http://www.adverts.ie/towers/hp-microserver-n40l-for-parts/5889142

Usual boardsie discount applies.

In Cork week after next, will drop you a PM with details.

long_b · 14-08-2014 11:30AM

scartboy wrote: »

Just seen the Gen 7 N54L MicroServer with 4GB RAM (one stick) and no HD or DVD on offer at ServerPlus for £109.95 plus VAT.

Works out at €163.46 before delivery from ServersPlus.

From dabs.ie it's €173.08 including VAT and delivery

For some reason I can't pull the trigger on this lad.
Guess I've got too many old machines kicking around that could be repurposed to do a similar job.

What's the cheapest Windows OS you can buy ?

Explosive_Cornflake · 14-08-2014 03:24PM

Probably against the rules, but I'll be flogging a N36L and a N40L next week. If anyone is interested before then let me know.

stimpson · 14-08-2014 06:13PM

I've just upgraded my drives so I have 3tb across the board.

If anyone is interested in a WD Red 2tb drive that's had an easy life then please PM me

Imported but · 22-08-2014 06:57PM

Did you get any takers on the 2 TB Red? Any warranty left on it?

surpy · 25-08-2014 01:03PM

looking to buy a microserver over the next few months, at what price range would previous purchasers suggest they become bargains again?
i see the original post was 140gbp after cashback and current prices are around that so are these just a general good buy?

p4xel · 25-08-2014 05:36PM

heathersonline wrote: »

I just took the plunge and bought one on dabs, €175 with 4gb ram, happy enough with the Deal as I would have removed the 250gb and bought more ram. This way I can put the cash towards buying drives.

Am a complete beginner when it comes to this kinda thing so will probably have to read this thread from scratch. Planning to use it for plex and maybe some music streaming but gotta try figure out what OS to put on before I even start!

I have mine running Ubuntu Server for over a year now. Not so easy to setup if you don't kow linux, but it is a good way to learn. 14.04 now with 5x2TB (in RAID 5) + 250GB OS + 500GB internal USB drives, 4GB RAM. Software: Sickbeard / Couchpotato / uTorrent / SABNzbd+ / Subsonic / Plex / CrashPlan and OpenVPN

Running like a dream, almost unattended. Couldn't probably run like that on any Windows.

rd1izb7lvpuksx · 25-08-2014 05:38PM

p4xel wrote: »

I have mine running Ubuntu Server for over a year now. Not so easy to setup if you don't kow linux, but it is a good way to learn. 14.04 now with 5x2TB (in RAID 5) + 250GB OS + 500GB internal USB drives, 4GB RAM. Software: Sickbeard / Couchpotato / uTorrent / SABNzbd+ / Subsonic / Plex / CrashPlan and OpenVPN

Running like a dream, almost unattended. Couldn't probably run like that on any Windows.

Can I ask where you fit the fifth HDD? In the ODD slot?

p4xel · 25-08-2014 05:41PM

Foster Large Orangutan wrote: »

Can I ask where you fit the fifth HDD? In the ODD slot?

That is exactly what I did. You can buy a craddle that futs 1x 3.5'' HDD and 2x 2.5'' and install it into ODD slot. Hack a BIOS to enable AHCI on ODD SATA port and you can use eSata as well with eSata-Sata cable. This enables you to install 6 drives in total.

daveohdave · 25-08-2014 06:43PM

I took my 6th drive out, the dangling cable was a kludge too far.

p4xel · 25-08-2014 07:06PM

daveohdave wrote: »

I took my 6th drive out, the dangling cable was a kludge too far.

I was considering replacing eSata port on MB with Sata, but just settled with two inches of cable feeding back into the box. I saw people installing extra SAS cards, but I am OK with SATA performace on my small home network. I just added one extra drive instead of replacing all of them with bigger ones. Occam's razor works for now.

stimpson · 25-08-2014 07:18PM

p4xel wrote: »

I was considering replacing eSata port on MB with Sata, but just settled with two inches of cable feeding back into the box. I saw people installing extra SAS cards, but I am OK with SATA performace on my small home network. I just added one extra drive instead of replacing all of them with bigger ones. Occam's razor works for now.

You can use a port multiplier box on the eSATA if you install the custom BIOS. That will allow you to run 5 drives off the eSATA. I have one waiting for when I run out if space

randombar · 25-08-2014 07:49PM

Reading about the 6TB red drives at the moment, I'm wondering 5x6TB how much more space do you need

JethroC · 25-08-2014 09:12PM

GaryCocs wrote: »

Reading about the 6TB red drives at the moment, I'm wondering 5x6TB how much more space do you need

I'm about to put 5x6TB drives in mine...already have 4 of the 5 drives full.
I'll go through the extra drive in a few months

stimpson · 25-08-2014 09:17PM

GaryCocs wrote: »

Reading about the 6TB red drives at the moment, I'm wondering 5x6TB how much more space do you need

30tb should be enough for anybody?

daveohdave · 25-08-2014 09:20PM

Mate of mine has two Drobos full of 2 or 3 TB disks. Just doesn't believe in deleting.

p4xel · 25-08-2014 09:54PM

stimpson wrote: »

You can use a port multiplier box on the eSATA if you install the custom BIOS. That will allow you to run 5 drives off the eSATA. I have one waiting for when I run out if space

Nope - all those drives will share one channel bandwidth, way too slow to be viable alternative. You want something proper - get some SAS controller and external 8-drive bay.

stimpson wrote: »

30tb should be enough for anybody?

In RAID0? Hell no!

vibe666 · 25-08-2014 10:41PM

daveohdave wrote: »

Mate of mine has two Drobos full of 2 or 3 TB disks. Just doesn't believe in deleting.

deleting? What's that? :pac:

stimpson · 26-08-2014 06:42AM

p4xel wrote: »

Nope - all those drives will share one channel bandwidth, way too slow to be viable alternative. You want something proper - get some SAS controller and external 8-drive bay.

I guess it depends on what you're using it for. If you're just using it as a media server then you're probably only going to spin up one drive at a time.

Stokolan · 26-08-2014 07:00AM

vibe666 wrote: »

deleting? What's that? :pac:

That's where you take out a full Hard drive and pop in an empty one

Quick question:

Would the N54L be a better option to buying a Synology DS1513+?

stimpson · 26-08-2014 08:04AM

Stokolan wrote: »

That's where you take out a full Hard drive and pop in an empty one

Quick question:

Would the N54L be a better option to buying a Synology DS1513+?

Unless you need to bond 4 Ethernet channels you'll be better off with the N54L

Stokolan · 26-08-2014 08:19AM

Cheers for that.

I also found a link that shows you how to turn the N54L into a synology nas. But will probably use linux.

vibe666 · 27-08-2014 10:15AM

Stokolan wrote: »

That's where you take out a full Hard drive and pop in an empty one

Quick question:

Would the N54L be a better option to buying a Synology DS1513+?

the only reason I'd do that is to take all of them out one at a time and replace with bigger ones to expand the raid array.

Also, I've built two freeNAS boxes (7 & 8) and had another pre-built (thecus) NAS, plus windows file servers for my data and I have NEVER been happier since I moved to Synology.

Come to think of it, everyone I personally know with a Synology NAS (6 people off the top of my head) is happier than they were with anything before it.

the only reason to have anything other than a Synology NAS is because you either can't afford one, or you just don't know how good they are and need convincing.

they're brilliant, go buy one!

EDIT: ooh, or turn a microserver into one!

OR get a DS415play (if you're using it at home as a media server) and use the money saved (over the DS1513+) to get bigger disks.

HP ProLiant MicroServer

Comments