HP Memory/HDDs in HP Server?

burns · 18 Apr 2011 at 09:52

I'm in the process of ordering a new server for my employers, we're getting an HP ProLiant DL160. I need some more memory and another SATA drive to run in RAID, as a rule do people always tend to buy the HP parts or do you just buy the cheapest compatible stuff? I'm tempted to cheap out on the RAM, what about HDDs, it seems a bit unwise to buy a caddy and just stuff a identically spec'd drive in it.

Any thoughts?

Dashik · 18 Apr 2011 at 11:08

Its good to save money.

Here's a question. If the server craps out and you lose data or productivity will the saving on the ram still be worth it? Will your employer be ok with saving a few pounds on the ram?

Now I know that HP stuff goes faulty like everything else but at least if you've bought the official stuff you can say well I bought the right kit.

Will HP honor your service contract(if you buy one) if the server has non-authorised spares in it?

Sometimes saving a few pounds is more trouble than its worth. Having said that I bought Kingston ram for my HP Lab server but then again its not running a business.

When you consider that any money you spend on the IT kit you can write off against your company tax bill its hard to justify not getting the official gear. You either buy kit or give the money to the Tax man. I know what I would do

Skidilliplop · 18 Apr 2011 at 13:32

In theory using non-HP approved parts invalidates the warranty. Whether they notice if you don't tell them is a risk that's up to you to take. You can get cheaper parts from people like kingston who validate their parts for use with certain kit. As long as these are approved parts they don't invalidate support.

If a job is worth doing, do it properly. If this is for a business there's no good reason not to get HP approved parts. Because what you don't pay now you'll pay double or more when it goes **** up and HP turn around and tell you you're on your own.

burns · 18 Apr 2011 at 13:47

I would be inclined to agree with you both, I think we could save in the region of £100 which does not seem worth it really. I couldn't find anything that said it would invalidate the warranty using non-approved parts, do you know if this is actually the case?

n3vrmind · 22 Apr 2011 at 16:11

Well if you are looking at the server as a whole, HP probably wouldnt be too happy about it using unauthorised spares

However HP server ram 9 times out of 10 is micron, micron are also known as crucial so if you are advised by the crucial website as to what ram specifically applies to your HP server you should be pretty confident you are getting an item that is to the correct spec

Id never advocate putting 'cheap' parts into a server since the point of buying a server is the reliability and stability you wont get from a PC, a lot more testing has been done on a server to ensure the selected parts work together and is well supported by the drivers but in the case of the above id consider making an exception as you are likely installing the same part as you would get from HP themselves

Next time i have a HP server in bits i spose i should check the PN on the ram vs the PN on the crucial website to see if they do actually coincide

Yamahahahahaha · 22 Apr 2011 at 20:28

On the subject of warranty coverage:
http://h40059.www4.hp.com/warranty/information/faq.php#31

HP said:
Like all non-HP upgrades and options, if a problem occurs with your system that is found to originate from the use of a non-HP option, you must contact the supplier of your option or upgrade for warranty service.

If HP is required to demonstrate that a system experiencing problems with non-HP memory installed. Then, operates correctly with HP supplied memory, any such activity may be chargeable to the customer.

I read that as:
"It's ok to use non-HP memory, but if you start having memory related problems, take it out and make sure it's the original HP modules causing the issue before calling us."
This is the same as the Dell policy in my experience.
IBM on the other hand will use any excuse to invalidate the warranty.

As for brand, go with Kingston.
As far as I know they're the only company that fully tests all outgoing modules.
I couldn't find enough information on Crucial's site to confirm whether they do or not.

matthab · 23 Apr 2011 at 18:06

Id say order it all as per spec from HP. 2 Scenarios:

1) You order 2 500gb WD RE drives. 1 Fails to get a replacement 2-3 days or longer depending how you do it.

2) You order the server with 2 500gb drives. 1 Fails, ring HP and they send you a disk on 4hr dispatch or next day.

In mission crytical servers the later is what id rather have. Support contracts with HP are very good to have.

Rotty · 23 Apr 2011 at 20:16

Skidilliplop said:
In theory using non-HP approved parts invalidates the warranty. Whether they notice if you don't tell them is a risk that's up to you to take. You can get cheaper parts from people like kingston who validate their parts for use with certain kit. As long as these are approved parts they don't invalidate support.

.

yes they will tell as when you log a call and you are asked to send the system info/logs in it will be obvious

#Chri5# · 24 Apr 2011 at 22:09

matthab said:
Id say order it all as per spec from HP. 2 Scenarios:

1) You order 2 500gb WD RE drives. 1 Fails to get a replacement 2-3 days or longer depending how you do it.

2) You order the server with 2 500gb drives. 1 Fails, ring HP and they send you a disk on 4hr dispatch or next day.

In mission crytical servers the later is what id rather have. Support contracts with HP are very good to have.

Bit of devil's advocate...

WD RE4 500GB - £45
HP 500GB SATA Midline (458941-B21) - £135

So you can afford to buy two spares to let you swap and get WD RMAs at your leisure. Not to mention that HP only give 1 year on midline HDs (despite the fact the a lot of the drives still have the WD RE sticker on the top). WD give you 5 years on the RE4.

Yamahahahahaha · 25 Apr 2011 at 12:44

You will need the cradles and chassis to go with the drives, which may make it a false economy.

#Chri5# said:
Not to mention that HP only give 1 year on midline HDs (despite the fact the a lot of the drives still have the WD RE sticker on the top). WD give you 5 years on the RE4.

Would the carepack not cover all official HP components bought with or for a server?

In my opinion, if it's worth spending thousands on a server, it's worth just buying the parts which are covered by warranty.
It's worth having a think about the business cost of not having a 4 hour replace and repair service - unless you want to have loads of spare parts sitting around 'just in case'.

#Chri5# · 25 Apr 2011 at 21:17

Yamahahahahaha said:
You will need the cradles and chassis to go with the drives, which may make it a false economy.

Would the carepack not cover all official HP components bought with or for a server?

In my opinion, if it's worth spending thousands on a server, it's worth just buying the parts which are covered by warranty.
It's worth having a think about the business cost of not having a 4 hour replace and repair service - unless you want to have loads of spare parts sitting around 'just in case'.

If you take a Care Pack on a server then, AFAIK, that uplifts the warranty on 1 year entry / midline HDs to that of the Care Pack. If your server has a 3 year warranty as standard (which you don't upgrade), then I believe a 1 year warranty HD stays at 1 year cover.

For my RE4 example I was talking low-end 100 series ProLiants with NHP HDs. I have sourced some "HP" 2.5" SAS trays via The Bay from the Far East just to see what they are like. They fitted fine but to date have always stuck with HP drives for SAS based ProLiants.

Careful sourcing can drop the price difference between OEM and HP down. Distribution want £230 for a HP SFF SAS 300GB 10k. I can source them for £165 elsewhere, whilst a Seagate Savvio HD (still 300GB 10k SFF SAS) is £122. Add in the drive tray and then it's not worth the hassle IMHO.

#Chri5# · 25 Apr 2011 at 21:19

Here's a bit I've just found in HP QuickSpecs:

NOTE: All drives are protected by a Pre-Failure Alert when used with a HP Smart Array controller and Systems Insight Manager, allowing hard drives to be replaced before failure under warranty. In addition, all drives are covered by a 1 or 3 year limited on-site warranty, regardless of the warranty period of the system in which they are installed. However, the drive warranty is automatically uplifted when used in a server or MSA for which a care pack is purchased. Please see the below HP Care Pack Information section for additional services.
NOTE: SATA hard drives have a 1 year limited warranty regardless of the warranty period for the system in which they are installed

Clear as mud

burns · 26 Apr 2011 at 09:42

Thanks for all your opinions, we decided that considering possible downtime it was best to go with all HP parts. The way I read the T&Cs doing so means that those parts are also covered by the extended on-site warranty.

Dashik · 26 Apr 2011 at 11:52

Great! Now we are all just waiting on our commission cheques from HP

Seriously though, I think that's the right decision. In my home lab its not so important so I just chucked Kingston Ram in. But then if it goes down its not like I have 30 users sitting around doing nothing.....

matthab · 26 Apr 2011 at 13:27

When you have a room full of HP servers it just nice to know you can call and they will be there to help

.

Id also recommend speaking to people like Hardware.com to see what deal they can do you.