38 replies to this topic

[mattd390]

I had the pleasure of fiddling with that SAS connector myself this past weekend. I use a precision screwdriver to pop in the little "teeth" at the top of the bracket that were resisting.

[Joe_Miner]

SBS Diva's Hyper-V Thread that shows her process of installing Hyper-V on a MicroServer

[Joe_Miner]

Interesting MicroServer build on TheSpicers.net

[Joe_Miner]

I think Andrew Barnes has a pretty interesting solution to installing a SSD in a MicroServer

[jmwills]

Seems like the waste of a drive bay

[Joe_Miner]

Added link to SBS Diva's Playbox for Hyper-V

[ikon]

OK, guys, at this point I think it's time for an intervention. Joe_Miner is obsessed with N40L MicroServers. As his online and, in some cases, in-person friends, it is out duty to step in and try to prevent him from losing everything due to an unhealthy addiction to a piece of tech.

I propose we challenge Joe_Miner to refrain from mentioning, thinking about, reading about, or playing with N40L MicroServers for an entire week, to see if he can break the addiction. We owe it to his friends and family.... think of his poor grand-children, growing up without their grand-father. Oh the horror, the horror



heehee. Thought this was kind of appropriate on Hallowe'en.

[Joe_Miner]

SBS Diva Confirms the N40L MicroServer will hold 16GB of RAM http://msmvps.com/bl..._medium=twitter

[cskenney]

SBS Diva Confirms the N40L MicroServer will hold 16GB of RAM http://msmvps.com/bl..._medium=twitter

How is that post on her blog any more a confirmation than you showing 16GB in your Microserver?

[Joe_Miner]

How is that post on her blog any more a confirmation than you showing 16GB in your Microserver?

I saw it as confirmation because SBS-Diva used Corsair RAM while I used G.Skill (listed in my Parts List at http://homeserversho...-mb971sp-b.html and http://homeserversho..._100#entry47788 and my System Info Screen at Message #125 at http://homeserversho..._120#entry45957 ) It's nice to see that a diversity of RAM manufactures works for people I feel I actually know -- OK, I don't know her at all but she has been on the HSS several times.

Edited by Joe_Miner, 31 October 2012 - 09:18 AM.

[ikon]

I agree; the more testimonials about compatible RAM, the better.

[a15457]

Weird, I've seen a few posts about people having issues unplugging the Mini-SAS connector from the motherboard. I never had any issues, Just came out nice n easy and then straight into my RAID card.

[ikon]

Weird, I've seen a few posts about people having issues unplugging the Mini-SAS connector from the motherboard. I never had any issues, Just came out nice n easy and then straight into my RAID card.

It has a couple of tangs that lock it in. Sometimes you need a small screwdriver, or suchlike, to release the tangs.

[a15457]

Yeah that's what I'd read ... but it just came out so easy peasy for me. Just lucky I guess!

[ikon]

I got the N40L today

First order of business?: flash the BIOS with the BIOS-Mods version using a USB stick.

I have to admit, I had some trouble following the tips and instructions in this thread. There was almost too much info. But, never fear, I persevered and finally figured it out....... SUCCESS!

For those who, unfortunately, are on a similarly low IQ plane as me, I offer my own 2 cent guide:

• download from diehard's SkyDrive 2 files: System Rompaq Firmware.... (the full name is System Rompaq Firmware (USB Key Media).exe) and Flash (full name is Flash.zip). You download them by right-clicking on the name and choosing Download.
  .
• run System Rompaq Firmware (USB Key Media).exe. When it asks for a location, pick an empty directory on your hard drive (if necessary, create a new directory).
  .
• Extract o41072911.rom from the Flash.zip file you downloaded.
  . .
• go to the directory you used in step 2 and locate the USB Key directory. Delete all the rest; this directory has everything you need.
  .
• copy o41072911.rom to the directory, overwriting the O41072911.ROM that's already there.
  .
• insert a USB key you can spare into your computer.
  .
• from the USB Key directory (step 3), run HPQUSB.exe. When it brings up the window to select a destination, choose the USB stick you just inserted.
  .
• eject the USB stick, stick it into one of the USB ports on your N40L (I used one on the front).
  .
• I'm not certain this is required, but I removed all hard drives from the N40L
  .
• Boot the N40L. It should automatically boot from the USB stick and flash the BIOS. It all takes less than 2 min. At the end you are presented with a C:\ prompt.
  .
• Remove the USB stick and Ctrl-Alt-Del the N40L. Use F10, when prompted, to enter the BIOS and make the changes needed to get the extra features.

EDIT. I've updated the instructions because I forgot a crucial step.

[Joe_Miner]

I got the N40L today

First order of business?: flash the BIOS with the BIOS-Mods version using a USB stick.

I have to admit, I had some trouble following the tips and instructions in this thread. There was almost too much info. But, never fear, I persevered and finally figured it out....... SUCCESS!

For those who, unfortunately, are on a similarly low IQ plane as me, I offer my own 2 cent guide:

• download from diehard's SkyDrive the file named System Rompaq Firmware.... (the full name is System Rompaq Firmware (USB Key Media).exe)
  .
• run System Rompaq Firmware (USB Key Media).exe. When it asks for a location, pick an empty directory on your hard drive (if necessary, create a new directory).
  .
• go to the directory you used in step 2 and locate the USB Key directory. Delete all the rest; this directory has everything you need.
  .
• insert a USB key you can spare into your computer.
  .
• from the USB Key directory (step 3), run HPQUSB.exe. When it brings up the window to select a destination, choose the USB stick you just inserted.
  .
• eject the USB stick, stick it into one of the USB ports on your N40L (I used one on the front).
  .
• I'm not certain this is required, but I removed all hard drives from the N40L
  .
• Boot the N40L. It should automatically boot from the USB stick and flash the BIOS. It all takes less than 2 min. At the end you are presented with a C:\ prompt.
  .
• Remove the USB stick and Ctrl-Alt-Del the N40L. Use F10, when prompted, to enter the BIOS and make the changes needed to get the extra features.

Didn't you follow the Step by Step http://homeserversho..._100#entry45899

or message #117 linked below with the additional info in 241 & 242 (below)

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 in Message #117 Here as well as the information in Messages #241 & #242

[ikon]

I tried but I got lost. The links were helpful as I followed yours to diehard's post to diehard's Skydrive where I got the RomPaq

[ikon]

I've run into an interesting and worrisome issue. Since I flashed the N40L to the Mod BIOS I've noticed it's having trouble reading disks, exactly like it's unable to handle SATA II (3Gbps) properly. Likely, I've missed one or more BIOS settings that should be changed, because I haven't gone through them all yet. Tomorrow I will dig into it deeper.

[ikon]

Well, I've certainly been having some fun with the N40L. I think I tracked down the disk reading issue: I suspect the ISO image on my Zalman VE200 is corrupt. I've been putting the Zalman to a lot of use lately and perhaps something got corrupted because I yanked it out of a USB port before I should have. I'm SpinRiting it now, and will refresh the ISO files on it after SpinRite finishes. Then I will test installing onto the N40L again.

The next issue was that I was having trouble getting into the BIOS. I would hit F10 but the unit would just keep on trying to boot. I think this is a flaky F10 key on the keyboard I was using. The key isn't completely broken, just finicky about how you press it.

Finally, I resorted to installing from a USB Blu-Ray drive, using a genuine WHS2011 OEM DVD. This worked, although it took an awful long time. I messed around with WHS2011 a bit; created a Server Backup profile, then did a backup and restore by booting up from the WHS2011 DVD again. It worked great.

I noticed something odd in the HP BIOS. In the IDE SATA configuration item it showed 1.5Gb and 3Gb data rates. I thought the HP BIOS was limited to 1.5Gb. Perhaps HP updated the BIOS they're supplying? Anyone?

My biggest issue at the moment is that I'm having trouble doing subsequent Server Backups. I keep getting an error saying that there is insufficient space for the VSS. I could really use some help on this one. I've searched MS and the web for ideas but none have worked so far.

I've decided, in the meantime, to do a reinstall, to get a fresh start. I will try to make a backup of it and then see if I can do further backups. Jump in here guys; I know almost nothing about VSS.