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

Very interested in these, I've been looking at getting a NAS for a while and this seems to be a great option. Does it matter where it is bought from? The cashback seems to only be from HP approved suppliers, but it doesn't seem obvious who these are other then HP themselves!!

I found it for £185 from a popular website, however not sure if that would be applicable for cash back!
 
Blinkz said:
Very interested in these, I've been looking at getting a NAS for a while and this seems to be a great option. Does it matter where it is bought from? The cashback seems to only be from HP approved suppliers, but it doesn't seem obvious who these are other then HP themselves!!

I found it for £185 from a popular website, however not sure if that would be applicable for cash back!
Click to expand...

Can you trust me the details?
 
What is the best way for me to setup RAID? I've never done this before.

At the moment, I am running ESXi on this microserver, and have Windows Home Server 2011 installed.
I have 2xWD 2TB hard drives installed. Is software raid the best way for me to do this?

The only confusion I have is that because I am running Home server as a Virtual Machine, would I need to create 2x Virtual disks at 2TB each and then software raid them using Home Server 2011? Is it even possible to RAID virtual disks?

I was unable to add the disks to the VM using RAW mapping as its grey'd out

Any help appreciated
 
Ox1de said:
What is the best way for me to setup RAID? I've never done this before.

At the moment, I am running ESXi on this microserver, and have Windows Home Server 2011 installed.
I have 2xWD 2TB hard drives installed. Is software raid the best way for me to do this?

The only confusion I have is that because I am running Home server as a Virtual Machine, would I need to create 2x Virtual disks at 2TB each and then software raid them using Home Server 2011? Is it even possible to RAID virtual disks?

I was unable to add the disks to the VM using RAW mapping as its grey'd out

Any help appreciated
Click to expand...
Yep, you can RAID virtual disks, the VM doesn't see any difference. Alternatively do it at the hardware level, usually accessed by setting the SATA controller in raid mode in the BIOS and then using a key combination during the boot process to enter the RAID controller BIOS. If you do this the RAID will appear as a single drive to your Hypervisor(ESXi i assume) for you to put a Datastore on and present to the VM as a single drive.
Don't worry too much about RDM, there's next to no performance difference. The main advantage is more flexibility with being able to use the drives on machines that aren't VM's.
 
jamesfreddie said:
I can't find one for £185 only £195 and thats for the older model.

Is the one you found the N40L or N36L??
Click to expand...

Its the N40L. The price seems to fluctuate a lot! I bought it for £185, price then went up to £220 and then down to £200. Its now at £195.
 
for those looking at the current £190~ price with the aim of claiming cashback on it.
there is reports going about that because the stock is EU stock not UK stock then HP are not honouring the cashback deals.
even though it's not in the T&Cs that this is a condition.

Seems that the HP Preferred Partner in question may not be behaving like they should and using UK Distribution.
 
Yes I have read a report or two about that. Although as you say it is not in the T&Cs. I have bought the correct product from a HP Preferred partner, so will argue that! If not well then can always return it!
 
Hope this doesn't break the rules but here goes as I think its important others don't get caught out.....

An email I received from Outbound, HP's partner administrating the cashback deals

Dear MarkyG,

Unfortunately we believe L******* Ltd are selling imported goods from outside of the UK and we are currently unable to honour claims from this partner.
Please go back to your reseller if you have any further questions.


Kind Regards
Adrienne Milburn


Outbound Field Marketing Services Ltd
Waterloo House, Riseley Business Park
Basingstoke Road
Riseley
Berkshire
RG7 1NW


Tel: 0845 634 4070
Fax: 0845 634 4071
Website: www.out-bound.co.uk
 
I just got the same email as well, so will be canceling my order! Doh. Have to find somewhere else to buy it now!
 
MarkyG said:
Hope this doesn't break the rules but here goes as I think its important others don't get caught out.....
Click to expand...

got the email as well
going to try and argue that I complied with the T&Cs as they are a HP Preferred Partner as far as I can tell and there is no exclusions mentioned about source of stock so will see what happens.

should have figured the deal was too good to be true.

just a pain as I've already received the server and feel bad not opening the box lol.
 
Get your cancelations in now...

From a popular "bargain" forum...

Dear Mr *******,



Thank you for your email. I’m afraid we are unable to accept claims for purchases from L*******K at present as their HP Partner status is under review by HP.



Kind Regards
Claire King

Outbound Field Marketing Services Ltd
Waterloo House, Riseley Business Park
Basingstoke Road
Riseley
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
My cancellations already been confirmed. Although I think I might have been a little too eager to cancel it. The cheapest I can find it now is £260. With the rebate thats only £160. I ordered it from this place for £180! Its only £20 difference and it won't take a month for the rebate to arrive!
 
Blinkz said:
My cancellations already been confirmed. Although I think I might have been a little too eager to cancel it. The cheapest I can find it now is £260. With the rebate thats only £160. I ordered it from this place for £180! Its only £20 difference and it won't take a month for the rebate to arrive!
Click to expand...

I was thinking the same thing but then i bought it because I thought I was getting it for £90
cant decide if it's actually worth £200 to me
probably not to be honest.

although i now have 8gb of ram here as well and no use for it lol
 
yea I'm on the fence about that too. I want to use it soley as a NAS/Media server for my music and movies. At the moment I stream from a WD NAS and from my PC which isn't the best setup, I'm also running out of space!

£180 is still substantially cheaper then most NAS, especially with 4/5 hdd slots!
 
Thanks in advance Quick question - will a seperate graphics card help with streaming to TV / Tablet etc over homenetwork wired / wifi would a ATI 5450 improve anything? Thanks
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom