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

[#Chri5#]

How does power consumption compare.

I'm still running a 40NL but only use it for file storage and plex.

I'll try to remember to have look at the power stat's on the UPS management software when I'm home. Hopefully once I turn off the MS I can see the difference to work out what the new server is pulling. I'd guess the i5 uses more power but I've gone from RAID controller with 2 x HDD and 2 x SDD to 2 x NVME so hopefully offsets the CPU.

 

[Trig]

I'm about to retire my Gen10 MS after it's been chugging away for about 6.5 years. I had two R1 arrays hanging off a P420 controller - 2TB HD and 500GB SSD. A few months back the VMs on it starting running really slow and I eventually worked out one of the SSDs had died. I ordered a new SSD from OCUK to collect the next morning but overnight the second SSD decided to drop out the array (even though the HP SSA tool reported it was healthy). I spent a while trying to get the VMFS partition on the SSDs back online but without success.

I decided to replaced it with a new setup, so went for a micro ATX build based on an i5-12400. I spent a while looking at RAID options but couldn't bothered with potential faff trying to get older (cheaper!) cards booting properly in UEFI, so I've just shoved in two NVME drives in so VMs are split between them and image the whole server to a USB HD every night. Going from 2 cores at 1.6Ghz with 24GB RAM to 6C/12T and 64GB RAM is nice - VMs fly now, especially if patching anything Windows based.

I went from the Gen8 to the custom build route after there was no Gen9 and the 10 was missing things compared to the Gen8, it certainly gives you better options and more flexibility, especially as its all now sat in an NR200..

 

[IanAG]

The PSU in my Gen7 died last week, as much as I've been waiting to replace it there just doesn't seem to be anything cheap enough to justify the spend or give enough bang for the buck; so ~£35 and 24 hours later replacement PSU swapped in and all working again.

I still think the Gen7 serves a purpose for sure as a basic NAS. Got plenty of other more powerful machines, but being able to put 6 drives into a small and low power chassis is far too useful for me to get rid.

 

[niggyg]

If you were replacing an older N40L now what would you get?

Skip the still old Gen7/8/9?

 

[Mel_P]

Gen 8 (but I only use mine straight back up photo / file storage).

 

[dymetrie]

Is anyone running Windows on a base spec (g1610t CPU & 4gb ram) gen 8 micro server?

Considering a switch from Ubuntu so I can drop prtg onto it rather than have a separate box but will it need more grunt?

Generally just running it as a Plex server, so nothing strenuous.

 

[Trig]

Personally I dont, but I do remote manage a mates who's running the base CPU, he's got 6gb of RAM in his though.
All he uses it for is file storage/backing up his laptop and Plex..

 

[dymetrie]

Personally I dont, but I do remote manage a mates who's running the base CPU, he's got 6gb of RAM in his though.
All he uses it for is file storage/backing up his laptop and Plex..

Cheers.

Which flavour of Windows is it, and does it chug on 6gb or run ok?

Think I'll need at least a new SSD as 64gb is always tight for windows, suspect a RAM bump would be sensible, too. But if I don't have to change the CPU then that's a cost/pain point I can avoid.

 

[Trig]

Cheers.

Which flavour of Windows is it, and does it chug on 6gb or run ok?

Think I'll need at least a new SSD as 64gb is always tight for windows, suspect a RAM bump would be sensible, too. But if I don't have to change the CPU then that's a cost/pain point I can avoid.

Running Windows 10, has FileZilla Server running on it and Plex, that's all, its fine for what it is, literally just runs Plex out to his TV's in the house and I fire stuff over via FTP once in a while.

 

[dymetrie]

Accidentally ordered a pair of 8GB sticks to upgrade it from 4 to 16GB

 

[Trig]

Haha, I've got a couple of sets of 8gb sticks, did a 'price check' thread after a load of guys on here said they wanted some, but nobody replied lol

 

[dymetrie]

Aha! I remember that, and then lost access to the member's market

 

[Cyber-Mav]

Does gen7 take ECC ram?

 

[dymetrie]

Does gen7 take ECC ram?

All the stuff I can find on google reckons it needs ECC, yes.

 

[Cyber-Mav]

Hmm maybe it does I can't remember but mine came with 4gb ram and it may have been ecc.

 

[Trig]

The sticks I have that work on Gen7 and Gen8 are ECC.
KVR13E9L/8 check the specs of those to confirm yourself.

 

[Armageus]

Does gen7 take ECC ram?

ECC Unbuffered - part numbers normally ending "E" e.g. PC3-10600E, as opposed to the far more common "R"

 

[Cyber-Mav]

ECC Unbuffered - part numbers normally ending "E" e.g. PC3-10600E, as opposed to the far more common "R"

That's it yep I remember now. It will take unbuffered ecc and not registered ram

 

[Steveocee]

Is anyone running Windows on a base spec (g1610t CPU & 4gb ram) gen 8 micro server?

Considering a switch from Ubuntu so I can drop prtg onto it rather than have a separate box but will it need more grunt?

Generally just running it as a Plex server, so nothing strenuous.

Get ProxMox installed, slap 16GB ram in and enjoy the flexibility.

Older e3 chips are super cheap these days as well so go whole hog

 

[dymetrie]

Get ProxMox installed, slap 16GB ram in and enjoy the flexibility.

Older e3 chips are super cheap these days as well so go whole hog

Thanks for the steer, ProxMox looks pretty cool and would be able to run #allofthethings

The 16GB of RAM is on the way, have been eyeing up a 1265L, but it's getting the time to do the CPU swap.

I've also looked at numbers. My microserver currently only runs 6-18 hours a day (6hrs m-f, 18hrs at weekends), with a tiny Dell Wyse running PRTG 24/7. The energy cost to switch to having the server 24/7 is more than the current setup and adding a beefier CPU into the mix would push that higher.

Might well be a change I make in the future, but right now I think I'm sticking with my current setup, just with more RAM.

Definitely adding ProxMox and multiple VMs on a beefier setup into the mix, though