HP Microserver+XPEnology

Bradmax57 · 10 Sep 2014 at 20:35

setting up again on new n54l noticed update 5 is out

deuse · 11 Sep 2014 at 08:14

Atari said:
Installed and running an absolute treat, my N54l has been up for a couple of days now. I'm a little concerned that my drives aren't hibernating, the logs show that the USB hard drive I connected up to transfer data back over is going into hibernate, but not the internal drives.

I've tried both un-mounting the USB stick, and removing it but neither seems to result in the internal drives hibernating.

Do I need to do anything else to get them to spin down?

Thanks.

Chose 20 mins for hibernation restart then go back to 10 mins. All so turn on all the logs to see if something is waking it up.

deuse · 11 Sep 2014 at 08:20

DSM Version : 5.0-4493 Update 5 is out.
"(2014/09/10)
Improvement
Improve the stability of file copy to encrypted shared folders.

Fixed Issues
Fixed a vulnerability that could allow servers to accept unauthorized access."

Just about to up. Will post back when done.

All ok. I used the script as normal before updating.

Bradmax57 · 11 Sep 2014 at 08:49

Updated to update 5 in the same way yesterday without any problem, finally got around to getting plex sorted on my atv3 so at least that might get some use now, took a while but got there, need to sort plex connect out on the xpenology tho as at the minute its running on my desktop but sharing the files stored on the xpenolgy, anyone any experience in that?

deuse · 11 Sep 2014 at 13:32

Bradmax57 said:
Updated to update 5 in the same way yesterday without any problem, finally got around to getting plex sorted on my atv3 so at least that might get some use now, took a while but got there, need to sort plex connect out on the xpenology tho as at the minute its running on my desktop but sharing the files stored on the xpenolgy, anyone any experience in that?

What are you trying to do? share files or plex?
If it's plex then they need the app and it will pickup the nas.

Bradmax57 · 11 Sep 2014 at 13:59

I've set the xpenology up as the plex server, its just getting the atv3 to see it properly. setting up the server on my desktop works just fine

deuse · 11 Sep 2014 at 14:33

Bradmax57 said:
I've set the xpenology up as the plex server, its just getting the atv3 to see it properly. setting up the server on my desktop works just fine

Oh apple. Sorry dude never touched a apple tv. Look in one of the media apps and change the compatible hardware option.

Bradmax57 · 11 Sep 2014 at 21:26

It doesn't help its an atv3 which means its totally locked down

eventually managed the plex hack to get that running on it and tbh its doing ok trick is you have to set the dns on the atv to whatever the server is, when I set it to the desktop server its all fine, set it to the xpenology server no go, something to do with the plex connect running through python. tried it via plex app on phone and it works just fine from the xpenology so I might just ditch the atv and get a android tv box

Bradmax57 · 12 Sep 2014 at 19:03

Plex connect now installed and fees my atv3 box perfectly, now to sort everything as its all a bit of a mess on my nas

got it set to go to sleep at 12:30 and come back on at 4pm working good so far

blue_max · 13 Sep 2014 at 07:30

Well, updated to update 5 and had a message about an abnormal temperature on a disk and they were unmounted. Rebooted and no volumes and disks showing as initialised!

However, the next reboot restored everything to normal.

This didn't happen on my other one, so who knows that the difference is. Apart from my other one was not in use - only comes on to backup the main one for an hour a day.

Not a nice feeling, so posting so you guys can be aware.

whiskycycle · 14 Sep 2014 at 15:42

XPen forums have a few snippets of what's happening with the upgrade and why. Holding off on mine for now until I've got time to run through the process uninterrupted and with breathing space to fix if necessary.

Atari · 15 Sep 2014 at 17:06

Mine did the unmounted disk thing too after updating, gave it two reboots and it's been working flawlessly since.

Bradmax57 · 15 Sep 2014 at 22:19

Probably a daft question but I have a dvdrw in my optical bay atm, is there any app available that the xpenology can run to make use of it, backing up files etc?

ci_newman · 16 Sep 2014 at 12:25

Does anyone else have any trouble seeing the default "backup" application? All of the guides say it should be a default App but I can't see it anywhere, I want to configure backup to USB HDD.

MehulLakhani · 16 Sep 2014 at 12:33

Hi All

I too am struggling to get the Xpenology box to back up to an external HDD - any good guides / tips ?

R

mehul

blue_max · 16 Sep 2014 at 13:41

The backup software is accessed by clicking the little square icon on the top left and selecting Backup and Replication. Go through the options to have it do what you need. I have one backing up the other and it works very well. I just have it coming on for an hour, performing the backup and going back to sleep.

Timber · 16 Sep 2014 at 13:43

I currently run a Synology DS211J & separate Linux Server for PLEX & Subsonic. It's creaking at the seams and I need to upgrade the NAS/Storage part of the solution. With the HP N54L being cheap at the moment I'm tempted by this box to replace the Synology and maybe run XPEnology.

I've got a few questions about the HP N54L/XPEnology that hopefully people here will be able to help with:

Does updating XPEnology wipe the Hard Drives? Currently I just run the update feature on DSM to automatically update the OS and it's very quick and easy. I understand that I need to wait for a bootloader and possibly enter some SSH commands to run minor updates.
What are the power saving modes like with this combination? At the moment my Synology going into HDD Hibernation after 20mins and works flawlessly at waking up whenever a network devices needs access. My Ubuntu server is rubbish at power saving/WOL but that's a different story.
I take it QuickConnect doesn't work with XPEnology (I saw this in one of the install guides)?
How quiet is the N54L?
If you use PLEX can this box transcode to multiple mobile or tablets at the same time? Most of my devices do direct play so I can keep transcoding to a minimum but I do have some large 1080p (c.17Mbps) files. I know the CPU isn't really powerful enough for transcoding 1080p video in real-time but wondered what people experience has been like using Android or iOS devices.
I understand the HP N54L Bios can't be undated officially without an HP support contract?

Apologies for all the questions and thanks in advance. I'm tempted by this small box becuase it's about a third of the price of a Synology/QNAP 4 bay unit although it wouldn't be as easy maintenance as either. The key priorities are it's minimal fuss to restore a broken drive without loss of data and it's fairly easy to maintain.

whiskycycle · 16 Sep 2014 at 15:57

Timber said:
<snip snip>

1: No. I've gone to DSM 5.0 4493 U5 without any real niggles.
2: Variable to be honest. Not checked it at the meter, but it's not a 'leccy killer so far.
3: No. Not unless you could clone a valid serial number I suspect. Even then, you'd likely have trouble.
4: Fairly quiet, although I've WD Blacks in mine, so there's a resonance hum that's audible, hence why I'm about to lock mine in the garage! When I had an N40L with WD Greens before a real Synology box, it was pretty much just background noise level.... I'd imagine the N54L will be the same with quieter drives.
5: seems fine with mine, although I've issues when I shuttle through a video whilst on a tablet/phone. Stopping and restarting from last played position usually fixes that. It's mainly streaming to Chromecast x2 and a couple of tablets and phones, but generally it's only the Chromecast x1 in use.
6: as far as I'm aware, yes. Bit of a pain that one really.

I've kept my old 211J as use it to mirror the Microserver at regular intervals. Works a charm.

Timber · 16 Sep 2014 at 16:24

undergroove said:
2: Variable to be honest. Not checked it at the meter, but it's not a 'leccy killer so far.

Thank you for the responses. Really helpful. Sounds like it might be a smidgen louder than my existing Synology but I guess that's to be expected.

With regards your response on question 2, do you mean the drives aren't hibernating or that you find WOL isn't always working when a device is trying to access the N54L?

whiskycycle · 16 Sep 2014 at 20:30

Timber said:
Thank you for the responses. Really helpful. Sounds like it might be a smidgen louder than my existing Synology but I guess that's to be expected.

With regards your response on question 2, do you mean the drives aren't hibernating or that you find WOL isn't always working when a device is trying to access the N54L?

It's definitely louder than the 211J plus two WD Greens.... Trouble is for me, the 211J is tiny and was easy to noise/vibration isolate, whereas the Microserver isn't! It's likely going in another room to be honest, but that's only to create a bit more space to put a printer and easy reach instead of on the floor. My choice of WD Black drives (got a sweet deal) probably doesn't help the noise issue, as I believe it's probably the same reason WD Reds aren't recommended above 5 disks in an array/enclosure.

Haven't bothered with WOL or drive hibernation as such myself. Usage patterns for the box are such that it would end up waking constantly anyway.... saying that, I do need to look into this. The 211J didn't get much sleep either really, for the same reason. Difference between when I got the 211J and now is that I've done a massive change of things light bulbs and other 'leccy-using gear, replacing them with low power kit etc. Been fun trying to nail down a "normal" month in terms of usage.