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

How are you guys finding the NL36 for Vmware?

I'm thinking of having a serious play - is 4GB Ram enough? Anyone got two NL36 for their little farm and doing SRM?
 
I'm going to install esxi 5.1 on a USB stick connected to the motherboard. The 250gb will be used for the VM data store.

I will then install freenas in a VM. I want to dedicate all my 4x 2TB to this, how do I setup RDM?

Still trying to get my head around all this.
 
Well things are going okay with my N54L so far... haven't really started to put together a proper setup yet but as evident by my awful drunken post from last night (looked at it this morning and wondered what I was thinking XD) I did just stick Ubuntu server 12.04 on there just to make sure everything works. Got Ubuntu running from a 4gb usb stick in the internal slot, pretty basic setup at the moment just got a CIFS + NFS share to the 250Gb drive which seems to be working fine...

So initial impressions... it's a little noisier than other people's posts would have suggested, probably still quieter overall than my current server/nas but I certainly couldn't have it as a HTPC (luckily I'm not planning to anyway). I've got a spare noctua fan I could replace the chassis fan with, but it sounds to me like most of the noise is the little PSU fan anyway.

If I have time later I may sign up on the VMWare site and install ESXi to have a mess around with (annoying having to sign up for yet another account somewhere but oh well). I could just stick NAS4Free/freeNAS on it to have a mess about with that but I think my curiosity about ESXi will get the better of me :)

Anybody got WOL to work? BIOS has an option for it but I couldn't get it to respond to a packet
 
uncle_rufus said:
....
So initial impressions... it's a little noisier than other people's posts would have suggested, probably still quieter overall than my current server/nas but I certainly couldn't have it as a HTPC (luckily I'm not planning to anyway). I've got a spare noctua fan I could replace the chassis fan with, but it sounds to me like most of the noise is the little PSU fan anyway.

...
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I found the noise from the PSU more noticeable too, I changed them both it is now silent:

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showpost.php?p=24671250&postcount=6457
 
maddness said:
I found the noise from the PSU more noticeable too, I changed them both it is now silent:

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showpost.php?p=24671250&postcount=6457
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Yes I saw this post before... it's tempting for sure but I'm guessing messing with the PSU fan in this way would completely void my warranty? It sounds like HP are potentially very helpful if things go wrong and so I'd hate to lose out on that just to save on the noise...

Also I managed to get WOL working, seems I had a slight mistake in the MAC address when sending the packet - works perfect now :)
 
B****cks to it!

Bought 2x 2TB WD Red HDDs. Should hopefully get here early next week (did say about Monday but I doubt that). That'll give me 4.25TB of storage. Whack FreeNAS on a USB and setup everything for the Pi...WHOOP

Overall this server, plus HDDs, plus RaspberryPi has set me back about £400 :eek::(:eek: .....good thing I get £100 back!

EDIT:....forgot I'll probably need a new Switch :( :( :( :eek: :eek:
 
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I'm still just messing around with mine at the moment really... after my quick-test install of Ubuntu I tried to put ESXi on there but it seems the 2Gb RAM the server comes with isn't quite enough - oh well, I'll have to come back to that once I buy a bit more... Going to try sticking FreeNAS on it now for a play
 
.temp said:
B****cks to it!

Bought 2x 2TB WD Red HDDs. Should hopefully get here early next week (did say about Monday but I doubt that). That'll give me 4.25TB of storage. Whack FreeNAS on a USB and setup everything for the Pi...WHOOP

Overall this server, plus HDDs, plus RaspberryPi has set me back about £400 :eek::(:eek: .....good thing I get £100 back!

EDIT:....forgot I'll probably need a new Switch :( :( :( :eek: :eek:
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This is the trouble. While the Microserver is excellent value, once you start adding HDD's and additional RAM it soon mounts up! :(
 
cokecan said:
This is the trouble. While the Microserver is excellent value, once you start adding HDD's and additional RAM it soon mounts up! :(
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Indeed, but I guess if you plan to maintain some sort of home setup many of the extras are things which you're going to be able to re-use...

I've got FreeNAS installed now and found it to be really nice to use, it's handy being able to configure pretty much everything through the webUI (although I don't mind doing things myself, it still saves a bit of hassle).

The only problem is I can't seem to setup an NFS share in such a way that my raspberry pi (running raspbmc) can see it - it sees the CIFS share just fine but not NFS. My other server has an NFS share setup and working so I know its possible (I'm just not sure how the WebUI settings relate to what would be in the NFS config files) Anyone got any tips?
 
It does certainly all add up. Seems an amazing idea when you get this little bundle of joy for around £100 after your cash back... but then typically in geekman form you want to up the RAM, add more drives, add a switch and so it begins. I now have a N40, N54 both with 2x2TB reds and RAM upgrades and a Netgear 8 port GB switch. Not adding it all up as it'll be depressing, and if she see's overall costs, I will be battered into next week!

N40L versus N54L. My 54 is DEFINITELY not as silent as my 40. The N40 is a HTPC sitting behind my TV in the living room and never once have I even heard it unless complete silence you can hear it is there. But my 54 sitting here in my office beside me very audible. I can JUST hear it when the house is in silence and I am in the hallway with the office door closed. It's a lot noisier for some reason.
 
I almost threw my N54L down the stairs last night. Had my first play. Microservers aren't half fiddly! Managed to break the lock mechanism so won't be locking it again. How do you fasten the thumb/push screws? I try to push down and tighten but they keep popping up.
 
xibinim said:
I almost threw my N54L down the stairs last night. Had my first play. Microservers aren't half fiddly! Managed to break the lock mechanism so won't be locking it again. How do you fasten the thumb/push screws? I try to push down and tighten but they keep popping up.
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Sounds like you haven't got the motherboard pushed all the way back. Check that the ports at the back are flush against the case.
 
Can anybody advise what or where the serial number required for claiming the cashback can be found? I've got the claim form "plus" ;) the invoice that was emailed to me, but I can't see anything resembling a serial number on it.... any ideas?
 
Can't remember exactly where it was but remember finding it quite easily on the machine itself; white sticker with two or three lines/IDs including "SN".
 
xibinim said:
Can't remember exactly where it was but remember finding it quite easily on the machine itself; white sticker with two or three lines/IDs including "SN".
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paintguy said:
This.

Look on the back and you can't miss it :)
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Many thanks chaps :D I'll take a look when I get home this evening and email the claim tomorrow (I guess if I can't see the SN on the invoice I'll just write it at the top myself)
 
uncle_rufus said:
Many thanks chaps :D I'll take a look when I get home this evening and email the claim tomorrow (I guess if I can't see the SN on the invoice I'll just write it at the top myself)
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It's also on the carboard box it came in on the big white sticker if you can't see it on the server itself :cool:
 
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