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

Hi
Not sure what is happening.
I recently got a N40L and installed WHS2011 on the 250GB drive that was in the server.
I then setup a hardware raid 1 array (2x 2TB disks) using the raid config utility (CTRL+F) and using AMDs RaidXpert could see everything was OK.
Problem is WHS could not show the drive in explorer so I went into disk management and it wanted to initialise a single disk (2TB - which I presumed was the mirror array I set up previously). So I initialised and formatted this disk.
At that point RaidXpert highlighted a critical failure in the raid array. So I tried deleting the raid from the CTRL+F raid setup and recreating and again formatting in WHS2011. Same thing.
Deleted again and setup the raid array again.
This time I went through the WHS2011 dashboard and noticed I had a warning that a AMD RAID1x2 disk was not setup or formatted so I went ahead with this via the dashboard. Again RaidXpert inidcated a critical failure.
Can anyone explain why the hardware raid setup goes OK and is verified via RaidXpert when booted to WHS2011 but for some reason the initialisation/formatting in WHS2011 appears to do it for one of the 2TB disks thus screwing up the raid array i.e. generating the critical warning.
Should the hardware raid not initialise any drives so that WHS simply sees them?
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks

** UPDATE ** Just noticed that in RAIDXpert initialisation is at 0% but not moving. Any idea how long it takes for the hardware raid controller to initialise the array?
 
Just placed an order for one of these, seems to be a perfect little file server. Quick question to those who have already taken the plunge:

- Planning on using WHS 2011, can I just whack in my c60% full media drives and share across the network, or will I encounter problems with this?
 
Flanders said:
Just placed an order for one of these, seems to be a perfect little file server. Quick question to those who have already taken the plunge:

- Planning on using WHS 2011, can I just whack in my c60% full media drives and share across the network, or will I encounter problems with this?
Click to expand...

I did that for my media hard drives, no issues. This was on windows server 08, but its based on the same software so shouldn't be a problem.
 
Gundam God said:
Is it alright to add a 2gb stick from a N40 and add it to the 1gb stick in my N36? Both sticks being ECC.
Click to expand...

It's okay, but it is always better with RAM to do it in twos, e.g. 2 x 1Gb, 2 x 2Gb... RAM is so cheap atm I would just upgrade to 8Gb, cost me about £18.
 
True, was quite surprised at the prices when I looked at ram, especially compared to whats happened to the HDD price market.

Currently using WHSv1 so 4gb limit but hey I may change OS in future. Does WHS 2011 have DE yet? :P
 
Gundam God said:
True, was quite surprised at the prices when I looked at ram, especially compared to whats happened to the HDD price market.

Currently using WHSv1 so 4gb limit but hey I may change OS in future. Does WHS 2011 have DE yet? :P
Click to expand...


Sticking the 1 Gb stick in will be fine

Did the same with 32bit version of FreeNAS and the RAM showed as 3Gb and worked without a hitch

Just changed over to whs 2011 and you have the choice of drive bender or stablebit drivepool as a DE replacement. I'm presently using drivepool, Installed and working no problem. You can choose which folders to duplicate and wether to do the duplication in realtime or let it build the duplicate files in the wee small hours etc.

EDIT

Of course it's a pay for add-in :(
Also a few pages back is a post by a guy using drive bender :)
 
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Hello,

I have scanned through some of this thread but not read it all so apologies in advance if I am asking questions already answered previously.

I am thinking of getting one of these but have the following questions if any one can help:

1. Can I use this drive with no problems "Seagate 3TB Barracuda SATA 6GB/s 64MB 7200RPM 3.5" Hard Drive" I wasn't sure if 3Tb was supported or not?

2. I want to put the server downstairs in a different part of the house from my router and connect to the router via homeplugs. I already have one set of plugs running from the router to a pc upstairs. If I add another pair of plugs(one from the server to the mains, and one in the bedroom connected to an apple tv) should it all work OK (in theory at least)?
I suppose the more specific question is once you have one plug connected do any subsequent plugs see every device connected to the mains circuit?

3. Do I need a graphics card? I am only planning on streaming from the server to an apple tv, mac mini or PC.

4. Is this RAM ok "Kingston 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3 1333MHz DIMM 240-pin CL9" ?

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help.

Also any general tips of what else I might need to get, cables etc would be welcome.

Cheers.
 
Archer said:
1. Can I use this drive with no problems "Seagate 3TB Barracuda SATA 6GB/s 64MB 7200RPM 3.5" Hard Drive" I wasn't sure if 3Tb was supported or not?
Click to expand...

I'm only using 2TB drives myself, but I think 3TB would be fine.

I want to put the server downstairs in a different part of the house from my router and connect to the router via homeplugs. I already have one set of plugs running from the router to a pc upstairs. If I add another pair of plugs(one from the server to the mains, and one in the bedroom connected to an apple tv) should it all work OK (in theory at least)?
I suppose the more specific question is once you have one plug connected do any subsequent plugs see every device connected to the mains circuit?
Click to expand...

Yes, it will work. Be careful which homeplugs you choose though - the whole homeplug network will run at the speed dictated by your slowest device. So if your current homeplugs are only 85mbps, adding a set of 200mbps units will mean they're limited to 85mbps.

Do I need a graphics card? I am only planning on streaming from the server to an apple tv, mac mini or PC.
Click to expand...

Absolutely not - the system has graphics onboard for the basics.

any general tips of what else I might need to get, cables etc would be welcome.
Click to expand...

If you're going to use the top bay then a sata cable and molex>sata power cable will be needed.
 
Thanks NDJ88 for your reply.

I have already got 200mbs homeplugs and have ordered more of the same so that should be cool.

I have left out a graphics card and am not planning on using the top bay yet. What would you put in the top bay? DVD drive or something?

Hopefully it should all be here within the next couple of days and as I'm a n00b at these things I'm sure I'll be back with more questions! :D

Thanks again.
 
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