Good Cheap Server - HP Proliant Microserver 4 BAY - OWNERS THREAD
- Thread starter dragonuk
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Soldato
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- 24 Apr 2006
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I plan to throw a few more 3TB drives in my microserver and run Stablebit Drive pool to pool the drives together for a nice file server. I already have it running Windows Server 2012 and it performs very well.
I was contemplating going down the ESXi route as it's so flexible, but I have been turned off by using datastores for a file server as I want the ability to be able to pull the drives and still be able to read the data from them in another PC if required.
I've learned that it is possible to run storage in Raw Device Mapping (RDM) mode. But, is this a sensible/good idea for a file server? Should I just stick with running a flat install of Windows Server 2012?
I'd appreciate your thoughts.
I was contemplating going down the ESXi route as it's so flexible, but I have been turned off by using datastores for a file server as I want the ability to be able to pull the drives and still be able to read the data from them in another PC if required.
I've learned that it is possible to run storage in Raw Device Mapping (RDM) mode. But, is this a sensible/good idea for a file server? Should I just stick with running a flat install of Windows Server 2012?
I'd appreciate your thoughts.
Some people have no issues with ESXi and enjoy its flexibility, others like me didn't get on with it and went for a bare metal install (then ended up buying another to run a 2nd OS and so on)
When I used ESXi I had issues running a linux software raid over the datastores, this was corrected by running linux on the server instead.
I dont like RDM, just had a machine lose the ability to see one of its own partitions, other machines can still see it in the data store but the machine that should use it cant even see it when you try to add the vmdk to the VM, mount it to another machine and it appears as an unknown partition...
bit of an issue with transfer speeds.....
Switch my server and pc are hooked up to is a Netgear GS605 Gigabit switch....the router is a default PlusNet Technicolor TG582nl (100MBps).
Surely the switch is what they're both using and not the router
Switch my server and pc are hooked up to is a Netgear GS605 Gigabit switch....the router is a default PlusNet Technicolor TG582nl (100MBps).
Surely the switch is what they're both using and not the router
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bit of an issue with transfer speeds.....
Switch my server and pc are hooked up to is a Netgear GS605 Gigabit switch....the router is a default PlusNet Technicolor TG582nl (100MBps).
Surely the switch is what they're both using and not the router
I have a bit of an issue too with transfer speeds on my gen8. ESXI 5.5, tested with both server 2008 and 2012, both are the same. When i transfer a file between it's own disks it starts very fast (over 200MB/s) then drops to 30ish, and sometimes stops for brief moments.
Does anyone else have this issue?
Downlaoded terracopy...hopefully that will help. If anything at least it's giving me more detailed explanation of what is happening.
i had speed issues and it turned out to be my netgear switch.
I went enterprise switches and not had any issues since. I also put a quad port NIC in the microserverIm using mine as iSCSI storage for my vmware box.
I've got a CISCO 1800 series switch at home...but its only 100MB/s not gigabit
Soldato
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I've just got xpenology installed direct but it saturates a 1Gpbs link reading or writing to a single drive. That's with pc and and server on a gigabit switch and a superhub router
Read
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had the router disconnected and tried again
it was quicker using Win7 copy and paste...but couldn't guarantee it. Will leave it on over night and try and report back tomorrow with findings. I'll be out the house from 5am - 6pm so plenty of time to get files over.
it was quicker using Win7 copy and paste...but couldn't guarantee it. Will leave it on over night and try and report back tomorrow with findings. I'll be out the house from 5am - 6pm so plenty of time to get files over.
Soldato
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- 20 Oct 2008
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Is the PID (e.g. 612275-421) printed on the back panel? Google it.
My N54L turned up yesterday but turns out I didn't order the one with a 250GB hard drive, but it does have 4GB instead of 2GB RAM 
So a bit annoyed that I'll now have to spent another £20-30 on a small HD for the operating system.
I checked and the only difference I can see between the two is one (mine) has 4GB RAM and no drive and the other had 2GB RAM and a 250GB drive.
So a bit annoyed that I'll now have to spent another £20-30 on a small HD for the operating system.
I checked and the only difference I can see between the two is one (mine) has 4GB RAM and no drive and the other had 2GB RAM and a 250GB drive.
My N54L turned up yesterday but turns out I didn't order the one with a 250GB hard drive, but it does have 4GB instead of 2GB RAM
So a bit annoyed that I'll now have to spent another £20-30 on a small HD for the operating system.
I checked and the only difference I can see between the two is one (mine) has 4GB RAM and no drive and the other had 2GB RAM and a 250GB drive.
I'm in the same boat - I've had about 10 of these boxes for various bits and bobs and I've just checked the listing.
Pretty sure I have a spare on the shelf but I'm still a little bit miffed as its only going to be a 2008 file server so really doesnt need the 4GB.
Possibly a stupid question but can I use ESXI to install a version of windows server with xbmc on while having other VMs on there aswell, e.g give the xbmc VM full video card access etc by default and then have the other VMs just running "invisible"?
I currently use VMware within Windows server but would like to play with ESXI.
I currently use VMware within Windows server but would like to play with ESXI.