381 replies to this topic

[diehard]

If you want to try a modified BIOS for your HO Microserver N40L, take a look at this post.

http://www.bios-mods...er-AMI-BIOS-MOD

leave your comments here.

http://www.bios-mods...nt.php?aid=3276


UPDATE :

Here's a link to my SkyDrive folder and the HP Flash Drive software you need to modify with the bios-mods rom. ( The Link at cvscorp seems to go down quite often)

https://skydrive.liv...368D1A96947!169

Here is the completed flash drive content including the modded BIOS https://skydrive.liv...368D1A96947!169


UPDATE (1 Dec 2012) : If you are looking for the step by step instructions for updating your BIOS then jump to this post. http://homeserversho..._100#entry45899

[jcollison]

Thanks John. You must have heard me on the Home Tech Podcast?

[Joe_Miner]

Does anyone know of or have an "idiot's Guide" to flashing the BIOS on the MicroServer. [BTW -- I'm the idiot I'm thinking about ]


EDIT 2-7-2013 => Check out the Useful MicroServer Links & Referencesfor an assortment of Manuals and How-To guides and References as well as the many threads in HP MicroServer

Edited by Joe_Miner, 07 February 2013 - 05:58 PM.

[jmwills]

At a quick glance I only saw references to WOL, which does not interest me at all, at least not for a server.

[ikon]

At a quick glance I only saw references to WOL, which does not interest me at all, at least not for a server.

I tend to agree. My server doesn't go to sleep.

[diehard]

Use this link to create the bootable thumb drive http://cvscorp.homeserver.com/Microserver/System%20Rompaq%20Firmware%20(USB%20Key%20Media).exe but replace and rename the BIOS bin file with the one from BIOS-MODS.

You should only have to reboot the server with the thumb drive and it will do all the work.

Look under the tab for Southbrige stuff there is a lot of stuff there. That's where I found stuff for the ESATA port to recognise my DROBO.

[Joe_Miner]

Use this link to create the bootable thumb drive http://cvscorp.homes...ey%20Media).exe but replace and rename the BIOS bin file with the one from BIOS-MODS.

You should only have to reboot the server with the thumb drive and it will do all the work.

Look under the tab for Southbrige stuff there is a lot of stuff there. That's where I found stuff for the ESATA port to recognise my DROBO.

You rock DieHard!

Set up the Flash and it took me to a C:\ prompt

Reboot and hit F10 to get into the BIOS -- Realized I made a mistake not checking the BIOS before flashing it

it Looks like all ports 0-5 are set for AHCI in the Advanced Menu -- does that sound right?

under IDE Configuration in the advanced Menu it has the option of setting AHCI speed to Auto, 1.5, & 3 -- I left it on Auto.

at southbridge I saw at this location http://forums.overcl...8216324&page=41

tht says:

In bios under Chipset / SouthBridge Configuration / SB Sata Configuration

Disable "SATA IDE Combined Mode" - sets port 5 and 6 to use AHCI
Enable "SATA ESP on all PORT" - sets all ports to be external SATA ports

The SATA ESP on all PORT makes all SATA ports hot swapable (has anyone else here done that?)

I've taken some pictures of the BIOS if you'd like to see (it's kind of a chore to load pics to photobucket and link em in etc)

====================

Update: at http://terabyt.es/20...exenta-napp-it/

I found the following instructions/recommendations:

• Enter BIOS with F10
• Go to the Chipset Menu > Southbridge Configuration > SB SATA Configuration (New Menu!)
• Enable OnChip Sata Channel, OnChip IDE Type to IDE, Sata ID Combined Mode to Disabled and SATA ESP and SATA Power on all PORT to Enabled.
• While you’re in BIOS, ensure that video memory is set to 32mb to save your ram getting eaten by a video card you aren’t using.

===================

Thanks again for the "idiots Guide" to BIOS upgrade!

Edited by Joe_Miner, 15 February 2012 - 09:29 PM.

[diehard]

it Looks like all ports 0-5 are set for AHCI in the Advanced Menu -- does that sound right?

yes, if your installing WHS2011 set that to AHCI, if your installing WHSv1 set it to IDE or else the server will continously reboot.

I set the option of setting AHCI speed to Auto, 1.5, & 3 to 3, I don't have any sloweer drives, looks like no support for 6GB/sec

[texasPI]

it Looks like all ports 0-5 are set for AHCI in the Advanced Menu -- does that sound right?

yes, if your installing WHS2011 set that to AHCI, if your installing WHSv1 set it to IDE or else the server will continously reboot.

I set the option of setting AHCI speed to Auto, 1.5, & 3 to 3, I don't have any sloweer drives, looks like no support for 6GB/sec

Strange. When I migrated my WHS 2011 installation to the N40L, the default setting was ACHI and it would boot loop. I switched it to IDE and it boot just fine and I've been using it with that setting for a couple of weeks or so. I just tried ACHI again and it still boot loops.

[ikon]

The SATA ESP on all PORT makes all SATA ports hot swapable (has anyone else here done that?)

I wonder, does it also make them multi-port aware?

[Joe_Miner]

[/font][/color]
I wonder, does it also make them multi-port aware?

it says so in the BIOS (the New BIOS) -- I don't have the equipment to test that though.

[ikon]

Wow, that would be pretty awesome. Typically, a multi-port eSATA can handle up to 5 drives, so your little box could theoretically have 6x5 drives attached

[diehard]

As mentioned earlier, with this BIOS mod, I can now see my DROBO S esata. But it hangs during a boot if the DROBO is powered on. So I have to wait until the server boots up, then power up the DROBO.

I have a Sans Digital TR4M that's esata, I'll give that a try and report back.

[diehard]

Looks like only 1 drive is visable from the Sans Digital TR4M, so it's as if it's a regular single hard drive connected externally. Bummer. Looks like I would have to install a esata port multiplier card in the PCIx slot.

At least the DROBO-S is visable as 1 drive, but that's a premuim device.

[Joe_Miner]

Looks like only 1 drive is visable from the Sans Digital TR4M, so it's as if it's a regular single hard drive connected externally. Bummer. Looks like I would have to install a esata port multiplier card in the PCIx slot.

At least the DROBO-S is visable as 1 drive, but that's a premuim device.

Thanks for checking it out!

[ikon]

Looks like only 1 drive is visable from the Sans Digital TR4M, so it's as if it's a regular single hard drive connected externally. Bummer. Looks like I would have to install a esata port multiplier card in the PCIx slot.

At least the DROBO-S is visable as 1 drive, but that's a premuim device.

I assume the Sans Digital is set up as JBOD??

[jmwills]

Installed the 5th drive in my HPMS (sorry no duct tape), flashed the BIOS to update 041 but did not see the path mentioned above.

[Joe_Miner]

Installed the 5th drive in my HPMS (sorry no duct tape), flashed the BIOS to update 041 but did not see the path mentioned above.

If you flash with the BIOS-MODS Bios will will find some extra items in the Bios menu.

In the Chipset menu you'll find the SouthBridge Menu




From the SouthBridge Menu you'll want to go to the SATA Menu and set it up like below:

it Looks like all ports 0-5 are set for AHCI in the Advanced Menu -- does that sound right?

yes, if your installing WHS2011 set that to AHCI, if your installing WHSv1 set it to IDE or else the server will continously reboot.

I set the option of setting AHCI speed to Auto, 1.5, & 3 to 3, I don't have any sloweer drives, looks like no support for 6GB/sec

I set my AHCI speed to 3 also:

[ikon]

nice work Joe_Miner.

[jmwills]

Grazie.....