How does adding Hard Drives and RAM to HP ProLiant ML350 affect the warranty

[Major_Disaster]

Hey,

Id appreciate some advice from you experts.

We are a small business and have traditionally used Dell hardware (currently using PowerEdge 840), but as ive been browsing these forums and online ive become more and more impressed by HP - even to the point where im thinking of going for a ML350 to replace our current Dell. But buying HP doesnt seem as easy as buying a Dell.

Im interested in the 470064-610 model, but notice i need to add hard drives and RAM. I was thinking 4 x 160GB SATA drives (RAID10) and 8GB RAM - but i dont know how to buy them. Do i just buy them third party (say from OCUK) or is there some official way through HP? If i do buy third party, how does that affect my warranty with HP?

And on the subject of warranty, what is the standard one like? Is it worth upgrading (can i upgrade?)

Sorry for all the questions... once i get going its hard to shut me up! (Why cant HP have a configuration page with their servers like Dell...?)

Regards

 

[Major_Disaster]

Thanks for the replies.

So, would you recommended buying from HP direct, or use a preferred partner? Who gives better service / value?

Also, a general question on the ML350's themselves... what do you think of them hands on? Would you consider that a good move, instead of say, a PowerEdge 1900?

I see the G6 is coming out... interesting!

 

[Major_Disaster]

Thanks for all the responses (especially Origin).

Theres just two questions i have remaining:

1st: Im assuming that OS wise, i should be buying OEM with the machine?

2nd: What is the deal with iLO? I know its a remote management card. But whats the difference between "HP ProLiant Onboard Administrator" and "Integrated Lights-Out 2 Advanced". Which come standard? Do need a licence / hardware upgrade?

Thanks again.