38 replies to this topic

[Joe_Miner]

Useful MicroServer links & References:

HP MicroServer Discussed on the Home Server Show #212 <= Check this out!

HP MicroServer N36L/N40L/N54L Wiki <= Check this out!     MicroServer Hardware Links  

Successfully Enabled Port Multiplier on eSATA <<== Read Posts #1, #14, #28 , #60

HP N40L ProLiant MicroServer Tear-Down <= Must view -- This is a video pre show of the Home Server Show Podcast 167. @jcollison and @dieharder were killing time and decided to tear apart the HP Microserver.

 

• HP ProLiant N40L MicroServer Build and BIOS Modification Revisited <= Check this out!
• HP MicroServer N40L Build and BIOS Modification
• Installing Windows Home Server 2011 on a SSD in a HP MicroServer N40L  
• A Look at Seagate's FreeAgent GoFlex 4TB External Disk Drive Western Digital's USB 3.0 PCIe Card in a MicroServer
• The Icy Dock 5.25" Hot Swap Drive Caddy for a 2.5" and a 3.5" SATA Drive -- DuoSwap MB971SP-B in a MicroServer
• Installing Windows Server 2012 Essentials on a HP N40L ProLiant MicroServer
• Storage Spaces Performance in Windows Server 2012 Essentials on a HP N40L ProLiant MicroServer
• HP ProLiant MicroServer CPU Performance Index Comparisons    
• Updating My Windows Home Server 2011 installed on the HP ProLiant N40L MicroServer    
• HP ProLiant N54L G7 MicroServer -- First Look      
• Performance Measurement of the HP ProLiant N40L and N54L G7 MicroServer and Other NAS Devices      
• Performance Comparison of Windows Server 2012 Essentials on the HP ProLiant N40L MicroServer and the HP ProLiant N54L G7 MicroServer  
• Moving my Windows Home Server 2011 to the N54L           
• Performance Comparison of Windows Home Server 2011 on the N40L & N54L         
• Performance Comparison of Modified EX-487 and N40L & N54L

 

 

HP business page for HP ProLiant G7 N54L 1P 2GB-U Non-hot Plug SATA 250GB 150W PS MicroServer
HP business page for HP ProLiant N40L 1P 2GB-U Emb SATA NHP 250GB LFF 150W PS MicroServer

 

HP MicroServer Self Repair Videos <= These are a MUST View (link updated 2/16/13 to HP Services Media Library direct link => Here 2/16/13)

 

ROM Firmware Upgrade from HP <<== HP's Download site for PGM to create USB key to Flash the BIOS with the current FACTORY BIOS -- You want this also if you want to flash the MOD BIOS -- Read Step by Step guide, including a Critical Path Check List at HP ProLiant N40L MicroServer Build and BIOS Modification Revisited Ikon has also posted a useful check list at flash the BIOS with the BIOS-Mods version using a USB stick

 

HP Operating System and Virtualization on ProLiant Servers Info Page the official HP position – check out the MicroServers and see what officially supported under Server Matrices
HP ProLiant MicroServer QuickSpec's <<== includes the N54L
DataSheet Comparing N54L to i5-520M
Windows Server Certification
HP MicroServer Series Overview
MicroServer Driver & Support Info
HP ProLiant MicroServer Installation Sheet
HP ProLiant MicroServer User Guide Dec 2012 Edition: 6 pdf

HP ProLiant MicroServer User Guide
HP ProLiant MicroServer -- Spare Parts

AMD Turion II Neo N54L AMD Turion II Neo N40L

Technical White Paper Implementing Microsoft Windows Server 2012 on HP ProLiant servers
Technical White Paper Implementing Microsoft Windows Server 2012 Essentials on HP ProLiant Servers

SBS Diva's Microserver build for Hyper-V for S2012E (Eventually)
SBS Diva's Play-box for Hyper-V
SBS Diva Confirms the MicroServer will hold 16GB of RAM
SBS Diva's State of the Union of S2012E HSS #217 includes description of her home N40L with Hyper-V Lab and WHS-2011    

 

Using S2012E by Jim Clark on HSS #221          MicrosSoft Windows Home Server 2011 Unleashed

WHS-2011 Resources Datasheets White Papers     S2012E Resources Datasheets White Papers    

 

Windows Server 2012 Essentials: Migrate to Essentials <== Paul Thurrott's article on Migrating to S2012E on a MicroServer

HP ProLiant MicroServer Owners Club OverClockers Australia Forums
N40L Owners Thread #2 N40L Owners Thread #3 N40L Owners Thread #4 N40L Owners Thread #5
Lime Tech -- unRAID Server Community 
AVForums - HP N36L MicroServer Updated AHCI BIOS Support     HP MicroServer N36L/N40L/N54L - Enhanced BIOS WIKI     

Interesting MicroServer build on TheSpicers.net    Guide to the HP ProLiant MicroServer, from purchasing to upgrading to setting up. (Link from HSS 196)
Setting Up a New N40L for DummiesWhirlPool Users Group    Upgrading HP N40L MicroServer with an SSD Drive
A microserver with USB 3.0 and 3TB drives       Create Virtual Machines on Ubuntu             <=NEW

The MicroServer and ESXi ESXi 5 Part 1 ESXi 5 Part 2   Creating(a better) vSphere 5 ESXi embedded USB Stick (HP)   HP's VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5 (ESXi) and Updates  <=NEW          MicroServer and vSphere compatability
Andy’s World – check out his posts on the MicroServers. For something really interesting read about his Cluster of MicroServers running ESXi 5.0
Comparison: Windows Server 2012 Hyper-V vs VMware vSphere 5.1 

 

Edited by Joe_Miner, 22 May 2013 - 06:48 PM.

[jazzerjay]

Thanks Mike! Great links for sure!

[texasPI]

Thanks! It's nice to have them all in one spot.


Erik

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[jcollison]

Diehard also does a tear down with his own servers before show 167. Starts at minute 23

http://www.livestrea...e1-06fec1ee1c17

[texasPI]

Thanks Jim. I was looking for that one but could not find it. I've since torn mine down but useful nonetheless.


Erik

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[Joe_Miner]

Thanks Jim -- I had been trying to find that!

[Joe_Miner]

Added N40L Owners Thread

[Joe_Miner]

Added:


HP Proliant N40L MicroServer Wikia A Wikia just started by some folks over on the Overclockers Australia Forums

It's still missing a lot but this is an early start --

[jmwills]

I finally unpacked the 2nd MicroServer tonight and did find the trick to unlocking the miniSAS cable. You need to get a small thin flat screwdriver and GENTLY insert below the clip you push in at the top. The cable will then slide right out.

I now understand how people are running RAID Cards in these boxes.....one of those DUH moments.

[jmwills]

Joe....where did you get the Dual NC card?

[Joe_Miner]

I got the Intel EXPI9402PTBLK Two Gigabit Copper Server Connections 10/ 100/ 1000Mbps PCI-Express 2 x RJ45 - OEM at newegg.

[jmwills]

Yes, I did finally see the link. I should have read your post first as I too tried to use a regular PCI NIC. Don't know that I am ready to put $130 NIC Card into a box I only paid $180 for.

Looks like it will be a Server 8 box. I did put a 60gig SSD drive in it and possibly a Rocket RAID 2720 card.

[ikon]

LOL, the SSD and 2729 cost more than the microserver

[Joe_Miner]

Yes, I did finally see the link. I should have read your post first as I too tried to use a regular PCI NIC. Don't know that I am ready to put $130 NIC Card into a box I only paid $180 for.

Looks like it will be a Server 8 box. I did put a 60gig SSD drive in it and possibly a Rocket RAID 2720 card.

The dual Intel NIC is overkill in our MicroServers (since when has that stopped us ) -- I plan to use that Dual NIC in a future build that I'm kinda have half planned and will eventually replace it with Intel EXPI9301CTBLK Network Adapter 10/ 100/ 1000Mbps PCI-Express 1 x RJ45 which has gotten a lot of good reviews. I'd keep an eye out -- Newegg seems to cycle thru their discounts/sales on NICs on a regular basis.

I've read of people on other blogs/user groups that have put 2720's in their MicroServers -- a SSD and 2720 is very interesting! That would certainly make the MicroServer Scream performance.

[jmwills]

LOL, the SSD and 2729 cost more than the microserver

Good point.....actually about the same.

The dual Intel NIC is overkill in our MicroServers (since when has that stopped us ) -- I plan to use that Dual NIC in a future build that I'm kinda have half planned and will eventually replace it with Intel EXPI9301CTBLK Network Adapter 10/ 100/ 1000Mbps PCI-Express 1 x RJ45 which has gotten a lot of good reviews. I'd keep an eye out -- Newegg seems to cycle thru their discounts/sales on NICs on a regular basis.

I've read of people on other blogs/user groups that have put 2720's in their MicroServers -- a SSD and 2720 is very interesting! That would certainly make the MicroServer Scream performance.

I could use one for a proposed pfSense/ISA server build...hmmmmmmm To use the RAID card, they just unplugged the SAS cable from the MOBO and connected it to the card, right?

[ikon]

To use the RAID card, they just unplugged the SAS cable from the MOBO and connected it to the card, right?

That's a little confusing sounding. Do you mean, basically, unplug the SSD from the mobo and connect it to the RAID card?

[jmwills]

The SAS cable is connected to the backplane into which the 4 drives are connected. So, instead of connecting that cable directly into the board, connect into an add-on RAID card and have more flexibility. I think the MS can only support RAID 0 & 1 natively.

[ikon]

gotchya..... I think.

[jmwills]

Just think of it as an add-on card vs on-board RAID. The breakout cables connect to the four drives and have only one connector that would either connect to the main board or a RAID card.

[ikon]

Yeah, I have a 3ware 9650SE 4LPML card in my WHS2011. It uses a SFF-8087 breakout cable (actually, the same one the RR 2672 uses). Mind you, I've never myself seen a mobo with an SFF8087 connector. That's the one you guys are all saying is so hard to disconnect, right?