Good Cheap Server - HP Proliant Microserver 4 BAY - OWNERS THREAD
- Thread starter dragonuk
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Well when attempting to hook the primary hard drive up, I couldn't find SATA cables to connect the hard drive to. Does anyone know what I'm doing wrong? Is there a spare there that I haven't found yet? Or do I need to purchase one, and if so, where do I need to hook up and run the cable through?!
You will have to purchase a cable. The best bet is to buy a right-angled SATA cable which plugs into the motherboard at its front, slightly left of centre, just behind a white plug. The cable is then threaded up to the top drive bay. You may also need a Molex to SATA power adapter.
The alternative is an eSATA to SATA cable, plugged in the eSATA slot in the back and then threaded into the machine through the slot above.
However, in order to get full speed with both of these connections I believe you'll need to flash the N40L BIOS.
Desk
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So I'm now able to run 3TB x 4 giving me a grand total of 16GB in space?
What hard drives are people recommending these days? I'm looking for something silent, reliable and fairly responsive. I was considering going down the route of Western Digital but I'd like to hear other peoples thoughts on this one! Usually I go with Western Digital Green since they are low on power but are known for taking a while when writing and reading from each disk. The other option was Western Digital Red which from what I'm told are built for NAS systems that run continually day in, day out. Any thoughts?
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Thanks very much for the speedy and informative response. Out of curiosity, which of these would you recommend I carry out? I'm looking to keep my system is neat and tidy as possible so that is really my main concern. I can't imagine I'll have too many issues upgrading the BIOS if it's option B that you recommend I go with.
A link to the specific cable would be much appreciated. I'm not being lazy, I'd just prefer if you point me in the right direction. I don't want to go through the trouble of ordering the wrong cable - it certainly wouldn't be the first time that has happened!
Need a usb stick spare. Use the HP tool to create the bootable usb stick, reboot it, boot from USB, wait a few minutes!
There's a spare SATA slot on the motherboard. Use that plug, and thread the cable up through the rear, above where PCIe slots are at the back, into the 5.25" compartment. This is fiddly, but once done is very neat and tidy.
There's also a molex connector for the DVD drive - you'll need an adaptor to SATA power.
Here are three options for Molex to SATA
YOUR BASKET
1 x NZXT Molex to 2x SATA White Sleeved 20cm Extension Cable - CB-42SATA (BWW) £5.99
1 x BitFenix Alchemy Molex to SATA adapter 45 cm - sleeved white / black £5.98
1 x Akasa SATA to 4pin Molex Adapter (AK-CBPW03-15) £2.99
I included the Molex to 2xSATA there, in case you ever want to add an extra drive like a 2.5" drive below the DVD compartment.
For the sata cable, if you're using the internal sata port, any standard sata data cable will do, as long is it's long enough. If you're using the external eSata port, you'll need an eSata to SATA cable. Examples below.
YOUR BASKET
1 x Akasa SATA-III 50cm Rounded Data Cable (Right-Angle Connectors) (AK-CBSA01-05BK) £5.99
1 x OcUK Value SATA to eSATA 3.0M Data Cable (RB-473) £3.49
1 x Akasa AK-CBSA05-30BL Super slim SATA rev 3.0 data cable with securing latches - 30cm, Blue £3.29
The first one is standard SATA with right angle connector; then SATA with normal connecter, then SATA to eSATA.
I'd recommend looking around - some of the ones I posted above are probably too long. 50cm length is plenty. But I couldn't find the right length on my quick search through OCUK's listing.
I'm still pondering HDD layouts!
So maximum drives is 6 (excluding usb) 5x3.5 and 1x2.5..is that correct? (i take it there's no way to get 6x3.5)
If so I'd like to hear some of your arrangements in respect to the OS location and what model of drive its on.
My latest idea was to put it on a multi TB drive and use it purely for OS and client backups which then backup to the external usb drive (there by having a backup of server OS and backup of client backups)
My other option was considering was putting the OS on the drive that would go in the 2.5 space.
Ideas?
So maximum drives is 6 (excluding usb) 5x3.5 and 1x2.5..is that correct? (i take it there's no way to get 6x3.5)
If so I'd like to hear some of your arrangements in respect to the OS location and what model of drive its on.
My latest idea was to put it on a multi TB drive and use it purely for OS and client backups which then backup to the external usb drive (there by having a backup of server OS and backup of client backups)
My other option was considering was putting the OS on the drive that would go in the 2.5 space.
Ideas?
(Competitior link removed)
You can use a bracket to mount two 3.5" drives in the ODD bay.
Like this:
http://www.nexustek.nl/NXS-doubletwin_hdd_vibration_killer_black_and_white.htm
and you can get 6x3.5, then do what some have done and put and 2.5 or SSD under the top bay above the 4x drives for your os.
Steve
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![[RB]](/styles/overclockers/avatars/4.png){kind=avatar}
Maximum is 6 x 3.5", not 5 x 3.5" and 1x 2.5"
You just need to have two up in the optical bay - I initially had them lay on top of each other with some padding between so they weren't directly touching. You can get a bracket that allows proper installation of the drives in the bay (I have the 'nexus doubletwin' that works perfectly)
I have 5 x 2TB Samsung 204's in mine for data and the 250GB that came with the server has WHS 2011 installed on it. I then have a 500GB portable drive attached to backup the OS partition.
Not to be one to urinate upon ones fire but no links to competitors, a read of the FaQ will clear things up
Glad to know about the dual 3.5 bay things though may come in handy for future expansion...
Not to be one to urinate upon ones fire but no links to competitors, a read of the FaQ will clear things up
Glad to know about the dual 3.5 bay things though may come in handy for future expansion...
Ah, thanks, keep having to remind myself its a sponsored forum!
I read the Faq, but are manufactures link allowed ?
I will edit the original Post.
Steve
Links to manufacturers' product pages are OK, but not to any pages that offer the product for sale (i.e. link to the Asus product pages, but not the Asus shop).
The drives are cool running so don't mind having little ventilation.
24/7? What are the temps?
Certainly are...
I have a N40l running Windows 8 Pro + WMC, 3 x 1TB's for storage and a 250GB boot drive.
It pushes all Music and Videos nicely around my Samsung TV's via a nice little CISCO E3200 router...
I'm guessing they aren't being accessed 24/7..guessing. Looks good for me though
As I get my head around it all its quite fancy. Can call on my media from any device, blu ray rips play fine. Backups are working as they should (although I am having issues restoring them)
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