Good Cheap Server - HP Proliant Microserver 4 BAY - OWNERS THREAD

crinkleshoes said:
Maybe you happened to get a unit with a faulty disk controller...
Click to expand...

Well I downloaded Window Server R2 2012 Essentials (180 day trial) and used "intelligent Provisioning.

Set to use Raid controller
Installed on DVD SATA slot (bay 5)

It all installed OK - except I don't understand how it works! And it seems you have to use a domain to share - which Win 7 HP and Win 10 upgrade don't support! So I don't see how I can use it anyway?

Looking at the drivers they are identical to the ones installed for Win 7.

First impressions - same issue - but I have "cleaned" 1 x 3TB drive in DISKPART - inserted it - deleted array - remade array - made a new volume - formatted it. copied a few GB across - OK. It's now sitting there doing nothing!

Soak test underway. Going to Gym to hit something!

If this fails - it's going back! (with an assumed faulty disk controller)

Mel
 
Register a case with HP - it's a server so the warranty is quite good. If they diagnose an issue they'll either send the parts to self repair or they'll send someone to repair it if self-repair isn't an option. If it's self repair there are comprehensive instructions and videos on their website.

But... they might not want to diagnose it with non-HP drives...
 
Gman said:
Anyone recommend an expansion solution for the microserver? what do you guys do once you've filled up the drive slots? Is there anything out their to say connect to the external sata port and give you x number of bays? or is it a case of just running a 2nd microserver?
Click to expand...

You can fit 9 drives in a gen8 - 4x3.5 and 5x2.5 (there's no eSATA on a gen8).

1 of the 2.5" goes where the DVD would go, and you can actually get 4 2.5" in the side with a Schoondoggy bracket and a second RAID card (either a P222 or a P420.

A P222 also allows an external disk shelf or similar so you can actually hang LOTS of discs off a microserver!
 
pepp77 said:
You would be after a DAS. They come in eSata or USB varieties. I have two 5 bay units to give me space for 10 HDDs outside the case. Both of mine are eSATA ones, one connected to the built in eSATA port on the microserver and one connected to a PCI-e expansion card.

They do not seem very common and would set you back about £100-£160 at last check.
Click to expand...

Gman said:
thanks.
Click to expand...

It depends on the speed of data access that you want.

Bear in mind that all those drives would be sharing a single connection to the server, so it's only really suitable for minimal access or longer term data backup.

Given that the price of a second microserver would only be £105 after cashback and they use minimal amounts of power... I'd go the extra server route, personally...
 
Mel_P said:
Well I downloaded Window Server R2 2012 Essentials (180 day trial) and used "intelligent Provisioning.

Set to use Raid controller
Installed on DVD SATA slot (bay 5)

It all installed OK - except I don't understand how it works! And it seems you have to use a domain to share - which Win 7 HP and Win 10 upgrade don't support! So I don't see how I can use it anyway?

Looking at the drivers they are identical to the ones installed for Win 7.

First impressions - same issue - but I have "cleaned" 1 x 3TB drive in DISKPART - inserted it - deleted array - remade array - made a new volume - formatted it. copied a few GB across - OK. It's now sitting there doing nothing!

Soak test underway. Going to Gym to hit something!

If this fails - it's going back! (with an assumed faulty disk controller)

Mel
Click to expand...

You do not have to be on a domain for sharing.

Setup a manual share and ad "guests" group to have access... done ;)
 
crinkleshoes said:
You do not have to be on a domain for sharing.

Setup a manual share and ad "guests" group to have access... done ;)
Click to expand...

It doesn't seem possible to set up Windows server 2012 without being on a domain. It can't just be a workgroup member so although I have set up a folder as shared it's only shared on the Server, and cannot be seen on the network.

Mel
 
Mel_P said:
Well I downloaded Window Server R2 2012 Essentials (180 day trial) and used "intelligent Provisioning.

Set to use Raid controller
Installed on DVD SATA slot (bay 5)

It all installed OK - except I don't understand how it works! And it seems you have to use a domain to share - which Win 7 HP and Win 10 upgrade don't support! So I don't see how I can use it anyway?

Looking at the drivers they are identical to the ones installed for Win 7.

First impressions - same issue - but I have "cleaned" 1 x 3TB drive in DISKPART - inserted it - deleted array - remade array - made a new volume - formatted it. copied a few GB across - OK. It's now sitting there doing nothing!

Soak test underway. Going to Gym to hit something!

If this fails - it's going back! (with an assumed faulty disk controller)

Mel
Click to expand...

Well it sat there with 2 x 2TB HDDs in bays 1 and 2. Not doing anything - quite happy.

So I thought - I'll copy 1TB of photos (about 25MB each) -set it going - after 5 minutes it stopped saying could find a folder - one on the drives had disappeared. Rebooted and drive reconnected. Event viewer showed disk error.

SO - I shut down - put the same 2 drives in my Win 7 i7 pc on 2 SATA connectors. Set them copying - copied exactly same set of photos with no errors. Something amiss somewhere!

Going back!

Mel
 
Mel_P said:
It doesn't seem possible to set up Windows server 2012 without being on a domain. It can't just be a workgroup member so although I have set up a folder as shared it's only shared on the Server, and cannot be seen on the network.

Mel
Click to expand...

It doesn't have to be a domain member/controller - I've got a 2012R2 VM on my Microserver which is a stand alone server in a workgroup and I can access the shares on it just fine.
 
nutcase_1uk said:
Register a case with HP - it's a server so the warranty is quite good. If they diagnose an issue they'll either send the parts to self repair or they'll send someone to repair it if self-repair isn't an option. If it's self repair there are comprehensive instructions and videos on their website.

But... they might not want to diagnose it with non-HP drives...
Click to expand...

Bummer! HP Say from the health info on my server the server is OK - it must be incompatibility with the WD drives. If I get the same error with HP drives they will accept a return. If not they won't authorise it!

Mel
 
Mel_P said:
It doesn't seem possible to set up Windows server 2012 without being on a domain. It can't just be a workgroup member so although I have set up a folder as shared it's only shared on the Server, and cannot be seen on the network.

Mel
Click to expand...

I'm sorry but I'm 100% certain that it is possible dude, I use Server 2012 and other server OSes a lot... ;)

Mel_P said:
Well it sat there with 2 x 2TB HDDs in bays 1 and 2. Not doing anything - quite happy.

So I thought - I'll copy 1TB of photos (about 25MB each) -set it going - after 5 minutes it stopped saying could find a folder - one on the drives had disappeared. Rebooted and drive reconnected. Event viewer showed disk error.

SO - I shut down - put the same 2 drives in my Win 7 i7 pc on 2 SATA connectors. Set them copying - copied exactly same set of photos with no errors. Something amiss somewhere!

Going back!

Mel
Click to expand...

Sounds like the drive controller.

the-evaluator said:
It doesn't have to be a domain member/controller - I've got a 2012R2 VM on my Microserver which is a stand alone server in a workgroup and I can access the shares on it just fine.
Click to expand...

Correct, domain member/controller is a setup that you have to manually configure separate from the primary installation.

Mel_P said:
Bummer! HP Say from the health info on my server the server is OK - it must be incompatibility with the WD drives. If I get the same error with HP drives they will accept a return. If not they won't authorise it!

Mel
Click to expand...

LOL!

Return it to the retailer then :)
 
Mel_P said:
Bummer! HP Say from the health info on my server the server is OK - it must be incompatibility with the WD drives. If I get the same error with HP drives they will accept a return. If not they won't authorise it!

Mel
Click to expand...

I own or run 3 microservers with WD drives and a fourth with HGST - they are compatible. But *something* isn't happy. As someone has said, might be easier to return to where you bought it from :(
 
I think things are going from worse to even worse. I put the windows 7 HDD back in and it wouldn't run so I thought I would at least reinstall windows 7

NOW the Virtual install disc doesn't appear so windows can find the drive to install - what is going on here - reset BIOS to set VID to appear and rebooted - no VID! I think I need a holiday!

PS can anybody please confirm the BIOS reset jumper position in the middle of the board please?

Having rebooted with it so NO VID - I think VID is there (it shows drive 0, 256MB, the system isn't seeing the HDD. Why not!
 
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rotor said:
You need to send this back to the retailer ASAP.
Click to expand...

Disappearance of "VID" - mea culpa! I reset the BIOS to get a clean install and this wipes VID!!

Re-installed VID from iso file off HP site - now hunky dory.

You learn from things that go wrong!
 
Before my purchase I did have a look into the Gen9. HP have the fully sized Gen9 servers out, however they won't release any details of a possible Gen9 until they've fully decided they want to make one.

Either way it will fore-fill my needs for the foreseeable future, low power, quiet fans, raid and that's about all i need.
 
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