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

spanglemaker · 11 Jul 2011 at 12:40

HarryPainful said:
Is it in the same room as your TV? Just use W7 and run XBMC on it, put in a cheap ATI low profile card and then connect it with HDMI.

Sorted.

I have mine as the above, filesharing, download box, burning DVDs when I need them box, does not break a sweat running a 30GB+ 1080p mkv, this is while downloading at 6.2MB/sec!

Which post is that replying to, Harry?

HarryPainful · 11 Jul 2011 at 12:42

Yours, the one above mine.

spanglemaker · 11 Jul 2011 at 13:22

HarryPainful said:
Yours, the one above mine.

Ah, ok. Confused me, you obviously missed the bit "I'm running XBMC live........"

It's running very nicely, low profile graphics card, HDMI, samba shares, torrent client. I was asking about automatic startup and shutdown, like Tempest I don't really have a need for it running 24/7.

fbuk · 12 Jul 2011 at 22:02

Can i install/boot windows using a drive connected to the ESATA port.

TheBiznes · 13 Jul 2011 at 19:43

Apparently my friend can boot off the esata no problems, but he has applied the hacked bios. He just changed the boot order in the bios.

aspirin · 13 Jul 2011 at 22:29

Darryn said:
Not sure exactly what everyone else used, but I stuck in a cheapo version of This and it works very well, but I'm going to be trying to get a 2nd HDD installed up there so will be changing that soon.

Hi Darryn,
Can I ask if this fits into the existing case with the blanking plate on? I'm not going to mount a second drive and I want something simple and cheap.

Thanks,

TheBiznes · 13 Jul 2011 at 23:10

Simplest and cheapest would be 5/14 to 3.5inch metal brackets. With this you can still keep the blanking plate and bezel in place intact.

These are around £2.50

[URL=http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/15/mountsj.jpg/]

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TigerUK · 13 Jul 2011 at 23:14

anyone know what's the best way to stream movies off the microsever onto the TV set without connecting it directly?

I would like some sort of media hub that can connect to WHS2011 and access certain folders on it. I don't want to display from the WHS2011 directly becaause it will use the up the system resources on it.

Look for less than £150 kit, less than £100 preferred.

Thanks

KIA · 13 Jul 2011 at 23:17

TigerUK said:
anyone know what's the best way to stream movies off the microsever onto the TV set without connecting it directly?

XBMC will do the job. You can run it on devices like the Apple TV.

TigerUK · 14 Jul 2011 at 01:01

fluff said:
XBMC will do the job. You can run it on devices like the Apple TV.

thanks, looks like I can really cut down on cost using xbmc..

Is there any real advantage of using an appletv? what would happen if I installed xbmc onto an original xbox, which is better?

I'm not really an apple fanboy, I have an iphone and that's about it.

Darryn · 14 Jul 2011 at 01:24

TigerUK said:
anyone know what's the best way to stream movies off the microsever onto the TV set without connecting it directly?

I would like some sort of media hub that can connect to WHS2011 and access certain folders on it. I don't want to display from the WHS2011 directly becaause it will use the up the system resources on it.

Look for less than £150 kit, less than £100 preferred.

Thanks

The WDTV Live would do this, i havent got one, but it shouldnt have a problem streaming directly off the Microserver. I myself will be using a Macmini to give me a full webbrowser etc, im just waiting for the refresh which is due in the next 2-3weeks.

aspirin said:
Hi Darryn,
Can I ask if this fits into the existing case with the blanking plate on? I'm not going to mount a second drive and I want something simple and cheap.

Thanks,

Yup, my current setup mounts deeper inside the case, meaning i havent removed the blanking plate or the internal metal snap-off blanking plate.

TheBiznes · 15 Jul 2011 at 09:42

Has anyone fitted a Nvidia 210 in one of these for Linux xbmc and if so whats the performance like?

I have fitted a 5450 and its perfect in windows. Just would like to know if any other card would be better supported and perform better for Linux than the 5450?

Nikumba · 15 Jul 2011 at 09:45

I have installed a 210 under 10.4 ubuntu and I didnt have any issues with XBMC playing 1080p content, though I have moved the card to a windows box now as my plans for HTPC changed

Kimbie

TheBiznes · 15 Jul 2011 at 09:48

Thanks just what i wanted to hear.

ubern00b · 15 Jul 2011 at 09:54

TigerUK said:
thanks, looks like I can really cut down on cost using xbmc..

I dont understand how you can "save" on cost by not using what you already have, and purchasing an £80 device. An HD5450 is £25 and will offload all decoding to the GPU when using XBMC, so "using up" system resources isnt an issue.

Saying that, I am buying an ATV2 for this exact purpose, its a sleek solution

awaybreaktoday · 15 Jul 2011 at 15:11

Those that are using freenas on there Microserver, which version of freenas are you using?

8.0
7
or 8.0.1 beta4

I notice 8.0.1 beta 4 now allow you to create zpool vols on top of raidz....

_SBradley_ · 15 Jul 2011 at 16:33

I'm using FreeNAS 0.7.2.6694 (and not planning on switching to v8 anytime soon -- if ever).

awaybreaktoday · 15 Jul 2011 at 16:38

_SBradley_ said:
I'm using FreeNAS 0.7.2.6694 (and not planning on switching to v8 anytime soon -- if ever).

Why not?

Darryn · 15 Jul 2011 at 17:01

Im using 8.0 on both of mine, no problems so far, so very happy, will probably update to the latest beta when I need to rebuild them with more HDDs.

Murney · 16 Jul 2011 at 11:28

How much are these servers going for now days? New and used ?