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

I've set my Server up but am running into a few problems sharing media files to my media player, I think it's due to the way I've set up users.
When I turn the microserver on I log on as administrator, there are no other options. Also when I use RDC I can only log on with the username administrator.

However when I view the homegroup from another computer I see 2 users; Administrator and Home Server, pictured below.
My media player sees Home Server, so whatever changes I do under administrator makes no difference.
If I drag a video file into videos under the Home Server user on the left panel my media player plays it fine.

I'm a complete novice when it comes to networking and servers and I think my heads going to explode :(

net.jpg
 
rp2000 said:
By normal OS I assume you mean W7 x64? I would just install Server2008R2 (which is x64). If you install the "Desktop Experience" feature on the server it gives you all the graphical W7 stuff (Aero/Peek etc). If you then do want to do Server type stuff you don't need to reinstall. Any software/drivers that works on W7 will work on 2008R2 afaik.


rp2000
Click to expand...

Oooh that sounds like a plan, I'm guessing that it's available on technet so could always try it before purchasing.

As long as it can still be used as a desktop PC means I can get rid of an entire PC and still have the NAS/Sharing/Server stuff running.

Will this have the grunt to play BR's as well or am I pushing it?
 
Last edited:
_SBradley_ said:
The port on the motherboard is a SATA port (port 4 (zero-based; the main drive bays are SATA 0-3)), but, unless you patch the BIOS, it will run in IDE mode. In other words, if you want to get the maximum performance from that port, you need a patch.

I'm using this patch by AVForums user "TheBay":

http://www.avforums.com/forums/netw...6l-microserver-updated-ahci-bios-support.html

Instructions are in that thread, but you basically set up a USB stick using the HP BIOS tool, replace the ROM file with the patched one, patch the BIOS, reboot, enter the BIOS, disable IDE mode, and reboot.
Click to expand...

Brilliant, just the info I was after - Thank you very much for your help :D
 
Quick question, I'm installing an Intel SSD tonight.

Is it best practice to clone the 160GB stock drive and move that across or do a clean install of Server R2 on the SSD and manually move the data back?

Many thanks.
 
~Divine~Wind~ said:
Oooh that sounds like a plan, I'm guessing that it's available on technet so could always try it before purchasing.

As long as it can still be used as a desktop PC means I can get rid of an entire PC and still have the NAS/Sharing/Server stuff running.

Will this have the grunt to play BR's as well or am I pushing it?
Click to expand...

Providing you used a graphics card it should be fine for BR's.
 
chipperhead said:
I've set my Server up but am running into a few problems sharing media files to my media player, I think it's due to the way I've set up users.
When I turn the microserver on I log on as administrator, there are no other options. Also when I use RDC I can only log on with the username administrator.

However when I view the homegroup from another computer I see 2 users; Administrator and Home Server, pictured below.
My media player sees Home Server, so whatever changes I do under administrator makes no difference.
If I drag a video file into videos under the Home Server user on the left panel my media player plays it fine.

I'm a complete novice when it comes to networking and servers and I think my heads going to explode :(
Click to expand...

What O/S are you running?
 
~Divine~Wind~ said:
Oooh that sounds like a plan, I'm guessing that it's available on technet so could always try it before purchasing.

As long as it can still be used as a desktop PC means I can get rid of an entire PC and still have the NAS/Sharing/Server stuff running.

Will this have the grunt to play BR's as well or am I pushing it?
Click to expand...

In essence it will be the same as running W7 (visually anyway). I am not sure about BR's. Is this something that graphics cards accleration can help with? If so it might work with the 5450/6450 card.
cottoneye said:
Quick question, I'm installing an Intel SSD tonight.

Is it best practice to clone the 160GB stock drive and move that across or do a clean install of Server R2 on the SSD and manually move the data back?

Many thanks.
Click to expand...
I think it is better to format the SSD and do a clean install. I don't know too much about SSDs but I believe the format has to be done to align clusters/partitions or something to optimize the drive. If you just clone another disk, you would get the alignment setup as a mechanical disk, which is slightly different.

Either way, I did a clean install of R2 when I went from mechanical to SSD on my microserver!

Edit: Beaten to both answers:
jamesfreddie said:
Providing you used a graphics card it should be fine for BR's.
Click to expand...

jamesfreddie said:
Use the intel clone software as it realligns the drive.
Click to expand...


rp2000
 
rp2000 said:
In essence it will be the same as running W7 (visually anyway). I am not sure about BR's. Is this something that graphics cards accleration can help with? If so it might work with the 5450/6450 card.
rp2000
Click to expand...

If it can then this will replace an entire PC and also provide the low power Sharing I wanted :)

Aynone got theirs playing BR?
 
5450/6450 have HDMI?
And will they provide sounds over HDMI like their bigger brothers?

It will be given 8GB DDR3 if that will help at all with BR
 
Last edited:
~Divine~Wind~ said:
5450/6450 have HDMI?
And will they provide sounds over HDMI like their bigger brothers?

It will be given 8GB DDR3 if that will help at all with BR
Click to expand...

Here are the minimum specs for Blu-ray playback.

Intel (Minimum):

Pentium 4 541 3.2 GHz, Pentium D 840 3.2 GHz, Pentium D 930 3.0 GHz, 935 3.2GHz or 940 3.2 GHz, Core Duo T2400 1.83 GHz, Pentium M 755 2.0 GHz, Core 2 Duo E4300 1.8 GHz, or T5600 1.83 GHz

AMD (Minimum):

Athlon 64 X2 3800+ 2.0 GHz or 4000+ 2.0 GHz, Turion 64 X2 TL-50 1.6 GHz, TL-52 1.6 GHz or TL-56 1.8 GHz
 
jamesfreddie said:
What O/S are you running?
Click to expand...

Windows Home Server 2011

Sorry if my lost post was confusing I haven't got a clue and I'm going to explode into tiny pieces very soon.

When I view the homegroup network from my main pc I see the HPSERVER twice does this seem correct?

Capture1.jpg


I can only log onto my server as an administrator, I get no other choices however my media server sees Home Server (HPSERVER) from the homegroup network.

However because I am logged in as administrator, for example when I try and add my media and torrent folder to homegroup it does this under administrator not under Home Server were I need it?

I'd really appreciate any help :)
 
chipperhead said:
Windows Home Server 2011

Sorry if my lost post was confusing I haven't got a clue and I'm going to explode into tiny pieces very soon.

When I view the homegroup network from my main pc I see the HPSERVER twice does this seem correct?



I can only log onto my server as an administrator, I get no other choices however my media server sees Home Server (HPSERVER) from the homegroup network.

However because I am logged in as administrator, for example when I try and add my media and torrent folder to homegroup it does this under administrator not under Home Server were I need it?

I'd really appreciate any help :)
Click to expand...

Have you added any more accounts in the launch pad?
 
jamesfreddie said:
Use the intel clone software as it realligns the drive.
Click to expand...

Thanks James, do you know if it would let me save the "image" to a USB drive, re-image the SSD once I've taken the other drive out?

rp2000 said:
...I think it is better to format the SSD and do a clean install. I don't know too much about SSDs but I believe the format has to be done to align clusters/partitions or something to optimize the drive. If you just clone another disk, you would get the alignment setup as a mechanical disk, which is slightly different.

Either way, I did a clean install of R2 when I went from mechanical to SSD on my microserver!
Click to expand...

I was contemplating doing a clean install, just has so many apps/configs setup, wanted to cheat a bit :)
 
Ah so the 1.5Ghz should be fine I would expect.
Just hope I can find a gfx with sound over HDMI too, will look into that now :)

Looks like both the 5450 and 6450 both support 7.1 Aduio over HDMI.
This is looking VERY promising.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom