HP ML115 G5 - Can I use any SATA hard drives?

feenster99 · 10 Apr 2009 at 09:56

Hi,
I've just bought a HP ML115 G5 for a very bargainous price. However, it only comes with 1 x 160GB SATA and I want to put 4 drives in and setup with RAID-5.

Does anyone know if I can put non-HP drives in? They are all internal (non hot-swap) so I don't think they'd come in caddies.

Cheers,
Matt

feenster99 · 10 Apr 2009 at 16:03

Hi,
Thanks for the replies. Glad to hear I don't have to pay HP's prices then. Will take my chances as to whether they'll work with RAID-5.

The ML115 is a great bit of kit for the price now. Only paid £179 + VAT. Should be a nice ESXi/VMWare Server box

Matt

feenster99 · 10 Apr 2009 at 19:00

Well, I haven't decided - I would prefer to go for a base install of Ubuntu Server with VMWare Server on top, so I can still use our Tape Drive and some other bits for backup with spending extra money.

I've found a good guide to putting ESXi on it if I decide to, which uses an internal USB drive to run ESXi. Once installed, the RAID card is detected OK it seems.

Thanks for the heads-up on the price, but it's been shipped now, so will just stick with it.

Matt

feenster99 · 11 Apr 2009 at 09:01

Cheers - i'll keep my nose to the ground

feenster99 · 17 Apr 2009 at 22:41

Just thought i'd post back with an update. Have fitted 3 x 500GB SATA drives (non-HP branded) to the Server, and it's working fine. Decided against using the onboard RAID-5 in the end, as Ubuntu Server install didn't detect it properly.

The drives slot in once you've taken the front of the case off and removed a metal grid covering them (one torx screw). There are 16 spare torx screws on the front panel that you can put onto the hard drives to use as guides - you then slot the drive into the drive bay and it clicks in place. Simple