Installing Windows Home Server 2011 on a SSD in a HP MicroServer N40L
At the end of HP MicroServer N40L Build and BIOS Modification from March 22, 2012, I concluded that the MicroServer is a great little file server for the small business and the home. I’ve found it to be very reliable and easy (and fun!) to work on.
I’ve experimented with a number of OS’s as host’s on the MicroServer and as VM’s in Hyper-V. Recently, after experiencing some problems with my WHS-V1 (EX-487), I decided it was time to move to the next step and rebuild my MicroServer specifically to be a low cost WHS-2011 machine.
Parts List
· 8 GB RAM
· 5 * ST3000DM001 Barracuda 3TB Drives
Installation of the OS
Before following the instructions detailed in the article How To Install Windows Home Server 2011 I went to the article Installing WHS 2011 on SSD or SATA Hard Drives smaller than 160GB for directions on installing WHS-2011 on a SSD smaller than 160GB (the default minimum size hardwired in the WHS-2011 installer).
Using Keller’s article as a “template” I followed the steps below to install WHS-2011 on a 60GB SSD in my MicroServer:
[Disclaimer: This is what worked for me with my MicroServer as it has been configured by me with the modified BIOS and other modification/additions that I had written about earlier. Your experience may be different with a different setup or a MicroServer from a different production run.]
1. Removed all hard drives from the MicroServer except for the 60GB that will be my WHS-2011 OS drive. (The SSD is attached to the SATA II port on the Mother-Board and is positioned below the ODD bay and above the 4 drive cage – held in place with blue electrical tape)
2. Formatted a NTFS USB Flash Drive, and create a file on it using notepad in the root called cfg.ini. (Insuring there is nothing else on the USB)
3. Opened the cfg.ini in notepad.
4. Cut and Paste the following into the cfg.ini file below:
[WinPE]
ConfigDisk=1
CheckReqs=0
WindowsPartitionSize=MAX
NOTE: If the SSD is bigger than 104GB you will have to change “WindowsPartitionSize=” from “MAX” to a number less than 104132 – “MAX” will not work if your SSD is bigger than 104GB!
5. Closed the file and save it on the USB Flash Drive.
6. Insert the USB Flash Drive with the cfg.ini file into an empty USB port on the front of the MicroServer.
7. Attached my external DVD burner/player into another empty USB port on the front of the MicroServer with the WHS-2011 install DVD in it.
8. Powered up the MicroServer.
9. Hit the “F10” repeatedly to go into the BIOS setup for the MicroServer.
10. Check the Boot Order of the MicroServer (It took a lot of fails for me to figure this out) and make sure the order is: SSD, DVD drive, USB – before starting I had removed both volumes from the SSD — I assigned the USB Device Boot Priority to [Low] in the BIOS
11. Once the Server had booted off the install DVD the Installer read the CFG.ini file and began the automated install process. NO User Input was required. If it asks if this is a New Installation or Repair an Existing installation – something is wrong.
12. When the “Installing Windows” screen was displayed and “Copying Windows Files” said that it was about 5% done — I pulled out the USB Flash Drive.
13. From that point on the install went like any other.
14. The installer did not need drivers for the MicroServer – Once the installation was done the NIC was already active.
NOTE: If for any reason the install fails be sure to check the cfg.ini file and be sure it only has the instructions above (if the installer had already processed the ini file it will add a line of code, “Processed=true” at the end of the instructions that you will need to remove before trying again). If the install did fail I would guess it is most likely the BIOS boot order or your tried a SSD bigger than 104GB without changing the “WindowsPartitionSize” variable.
Other Software Installed
Because of my experience with Stablebit Scanner on my WHS-V1 there was no question in my mind – I installed Stablebit Scanner onto my WHS-2011. I was looking for an alternative to software or hardware RAID 1 that would have relatively high performance/reliability. I’ve found that Stablebit DrivePool met my needs and it’s performance, as you’ll see later was outstanding.
Additionally, I installed Allway Sync onto my WHS-2011 in order to keep my files synched between my WHS-V1 and WHS-2011. Later I will install Acronis 2012 True Image Home.
Installation Pictures
Installing the OS onto the SSD. The SSD is laying loose in the ODD bay – later it will be taped down onto the platform below the ODD bay (behind the light). This picture was taken shortly after the flash drive had been pulled. The Samsung external DVD drive is visible in the lower right.
The MicroServer with 5 3TB Seagate ST3000DM001 drives and the Corsair Force 3 60GB SSD – the blue SATA II cable from the Mother-Board to the SSD is clearly visible.
The back of the MicroServer. The US B 3.0 ports of the WD PCIe card is visible as is the eSATA to SATA cable that is run into the case to the HD (3TB Drive H:) in the ODD bay on top.
19TB of Storage – 15TB in the MicroServer plus 4TB in the attached Seagate GoFlex. The 1.5TB WD Green drive is also attached for Server OS Backup.
Performance
System information of the MicroServer
The performance of my OS drive – Corsair Force 3 60GB SSD. The Corsair Performs substantially better on a SATA III port but none are available in the MicroServer. For a SATA II this is good performance for the Corsair and is substantially better than the Crucial M4 128GB I used earlier in HP Microserver N40L Build and Bios Modification.
The performance of Drive D: — Drive D is one of 5 Seagate 3TB ST3000DM001 in the MicroServer (4 in the main drive cage and one in the ODD drive – Drives D, E, F, G, & H). The Seagate ST3000DM001 has amazing performance.
Pool statistics. Drives E & G were recently added to the pool.
The performance of DrivePool (Drive J:). The performance of the DrivePool is better (slightly) than the individual ST3000DM001’s that make up the Pool.
Network Performance
This is my network performance from a folder in the WHS-2012 StableBit DrivePool (Drive J: on my MicroServer) to a folder on my WHS-V1 running on a EX-487. When I was running WHS-2011 in a Hyper-V VM last Spring on the MicroServer the performance was lower.
This is the network performance from a folder in the WHS-2012 StableBit DrivePool (Drive J: on my MicroServer) to a folder on my HTPC.
For Reference
HP Microserver N40L Build and Bios Modification Revisited
Updating My Windows Home Server 2011 Installed on the HP ProLiant N40L MicroServer
Moving my Windows Home Server 2011 to the HP ProLiant N54L G7 MicroServer
Useful MicroServer Links & References
Performance Measurement of the HP ProLiant N40L and N54L G7 MicroServer and Other NAS Devices
Network Performance — MicroServer to EX-487
Installing WHS 2011 on SSD or SATA Hard Drives smaller than 160GB
How To Install Windows Home Server 2011
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Category: Hard Drives, HP Microserver, Review, SSD, Windows Home Server
A question has been asked about what eSATA to SATA cable I used in my build.
Check out the detailed description in the Forums and please do join in and tell us about your build(s) and join in the discussions: http://homeservershow.com/forums/index.php?/topic…
Hi. Nice mods there. I'd like to keep the OS (WHS) on the supplied 250Gb drive but add 3x3Tb drives in the other three bays as well as another 3Tb drive in a cage in the DVD bay using a SATA cable making 12Gb of storage aside from the OS drive. Will this work? Some are saying that each bay will take a maximum 2Tb and others say that the whole total drive capacity must not exceed 8Tb. WHS can address way more than 8Tb so what's the truth here? I'd also have thought that external USB drives could be added using the USB ports as well as at least one eSATA drive using that port. I'm still not clear about storage limitations or if there are any. Help appreciated. Thanks.
Thanks for the comments. Your config should work as far as I can tell though the supplied 250GB drive is somewhere between a half to a fourth of the speed of a SSD. Since my configuration works the 2TB and the 8TB sayings by some is obviously not correct. Join us in the forums at http://homeservershow.com/forums/ and http://homeservershow.com/forums/index.php?/forum… and tell us about your system and plans for input/feedback from a lot of folks who use MicroServers and/or WHS.
You would find the HSS Forum Thread http://homeservershow.com/forums/index.php?/topic… interesting about how many drives you could add to our versatile little machines.
Joe, thanks for posting this, I installed a 128GB OCZ Vertex 3 drive in a bespoke WHS2011 I have built. Its been running on the SSD for 3 weeks now without any issues, I did have a couple of challenges to start with as I don't have an external CD drive, I had a bootable image of the WHS2011 on a USB key which I have used several times to re-build the server over the past couple of months whilst I was playing around with it before I made it my production box, needless to say that didn't work wth the 2 USB Keys in place, so I ripped a CD drive out of another PC and tried again, no luck, so back to your instructions to ensure I hadn't missed anything and then I read your note saying the file is updated with “Processed=true”, opened up the file, removed the statement and from there on worked seemlessly, thanks for adding that piece of info, probably wouldn't have checked the file had been modified.
I'm glad my paper was useful. You're certainly welcomed to join us in the forums — I'd like to hear more about your system. http://homeservershow.com/forums/ and http://homeservershow.com/forums/index.php?/forum…
Hi there,
Nice article. I've posted my solution for installing the SSD on my blog here http://scriptimus.wordpress.com/2012/09/04/testla…
Wow, cool solution. Thanks for sharing. Join us in the Forums, I'm sure many would like to hear about your systems.
Wow, ive just purchased a N40L and was wondering about placing an extra drive in the ODD bay. my concern with having the box "loaded" is heat. Have you had any issues? I was also wonder about power usage?
It has been running Continuous since setup in July and looking right now at Crystal Disk Info — all 5 of my ST3000DM001's are between 33 and 34 degrees C. The 60G SSD is at 30 degrees C. Stablebit Scanner is reporting the same results.
If you're in the Indianapolis Area on Oct 20th I'll have another N40L at the HSS Meetup that I plan to take apart and "fiddle" with. Right now I have on it 3 ST3000DM001's, a 128GB M4 SSD, 16G RAM, USB 3.0 PCIe Card, and a Intel 2 NIC PCIe card. Running Server 2012 Storage Server Std on it with NIC teaming just for fun. http://homeservershow.com/almost-here-the-2nd-ann…
Be sure to also join us in the forums to ask questions and tell us about your setup http://homeservershow.com/forums/index.php?/forum…
Here's the set-up that was demo'd in Indy http://homeservershow.com/the-icy-dock-5-25-hot-s…
How did are the 3tb Seagates partitioned? GPT or MBR. If GPT are you having any issues with backing them up?
No issues. You just can NOT back-up 3TB drives in WHS-2011. I copy the folders with AllwaySync.
Thanks, the N40L is setup and running well, thanks to your excellent posts. (2) 2TB drives, (2) 3tb drives, (1) 250mb, & (1) 120mb SSD for the OS. Using StableBit DrivePool to pool all HDs together. Using AllwaysSync & FreeFileSync to backup and verify data. It's a Sweet setup!
Hi WHB. Greetings from the Netherlands. I have up and running my HP MS n40l with 1x SDD 128Gb attached to the ODD port 1x free eSATA port and 4x 3TB WD-Red's. I have configurated the BIOS SATA controller mode to AHCI otherwise the SDD won't boot. To have maximum disk capacity i have activated the RAID5 option within SBS 2011 Standard. Now i have 9TB storage and Windows Backup. I would like to hear yours opinion or advises to setup my configuration better. I also would like to know how you have setup your BIOS (also upgraded it like mine?) Which software is most used for performance tests etc.? I would like to compare. Greetings Marcel.
Hi WHB! Sorry for the delay in reply — apparently I wasn't receiving auto notification of comments and replys. Join us in the Forums if you like — I'm sure many would like to hear about your build!
Joe
http://homeservershow.com/forums/index.php?/forum…
[...] I assumed it would be possible to install S2012E on a 60GB OS Drive as I had done with WHS-2011 in Installing Windows Home Server 2011 on a SSD in a HP MicroServer N40L. The effort failed and the install became stuck on the following [...]
Thants done kind of complicated, you could have jumped over the external DVD part and just installed it from your USB stick using the Windows 7 USB DVD download tool, works at least great with WS 2012 Standard
Hi Felix!
Sorry for the delay in reply — apparently I wasn't receiving auto notification of comments and replys.
You make a good point — since I already had the retail/OEM copy of WHS2011 I had the DVD so it was less work to use the External DVD Player to do my install.
Join us in the Forums if you like — I'm sure many would like to hear about your build!
Joe
http://homeservershow.com/forums/index.php?/forum…
thanks for posting this, I installed a 128GB OCZ Vertex 3 drive in a bespoke WHS2011 I have built.
Hi Use4Video!
Sorry for the delay in reply — apparently I wasn't receiving auto notification of comments and replys. Join us in the Forums if you like — I'm sure many would like to hear about your build!
Joe
http://homeservershow.com/forums/index.php?/forum…
Hi guy's greetings from the Netherlands. I have up and running my HP MS n40l with 1x SDD 128Gb attached to the ODD port 1x free eSATA port and 4x 3TB WD-Red's. I have configurated the BIOS SATA controller mode to AHCI otherwise the SDD won't boot. To have maximum disk capacity i have activated the RAID5 option within SBS 2011 Standard. Now i have 9TB storage and Windows Backup. I would like to hear yours opinion or advises to setup my configuration better. Which software is most used for performance tests etc.? I would like to compare. Greetings Marcel.
Hi Marcel Dings!
That sounds like a great set-up!!
Sorry for the delay in reply — apparently I wasn't receiving auto notification of comments and replys. Join us in the Forums if you like — I'm sure many would like to hear about your build!
Joe
http://homeservershow.com/forums/index.php?/forum…
[...] · Installing Windows Home Server 2011 on a SSD in a HP MicroServer [...]
Hi Joe, many thanks for this post and also the bios mod post. I seem to be having issues with installing WHS2011. The first one is my boot priority, I have done the bios mod but when I set the boot priority I don't have both the SSD and the USB, it's one or the other, have I missed something?
Hi Nick! You want the SSD or whatever your OS drive is to be the 1st drive the MicroServer looks to boot from.
For quicker responses: Join us in the Forums and post any more questions you may have or just to let us know how your build is coming along.
Best wishes!
Joe
http://homeservershow.com/forums/index.php?/forum…
Hi – you mentioned drivepool? What drivepool software are you using in WHS2011? I just bought an N40L a month ago and running WHS2011 but really want to pool all my drives into 1.
Thanks
Ahh just noticed you're using stablebit. Is that the best then? I have their demo and have 13days left. Been contemplating whether to purchase it if there's a free alternative.
Hi Patrick!
I have been using Stablebit Scanner in my WHS-V1 and really liked it so it was the first thing I wanted to add to WHS-2011 and with the 1 month free trial available with Stablebit DrivePool I tried that too and really liked how well Stablebit Scanner and DrivePool worked together and liked the ability to set-it-and-forget-it of DrivePool so I bought both for WHS-2011.
It so happens this will be discussed on the next Home Server Show Podcast #216 that is live this Wednesday Night March 13th at 8PM Eastern/7PM Central Time — be sure to join the chat room if you can http://homeservershow.com/live
and after the show there will links to the show notes as well as the audio and video's of the show at http://homeservershow.com/
Join us in the Forums to discuss your build and answer questions http://homeservershow.com/forums/index.php?/forum…
[...] Installing Windows Home Server 2011 on a SSD in a HP MicroServer N40L How I Re-Installing the OS Drive then restoring the existing DrivePool in WHS-2011 The StableBit Manual instructions for Re-Installing the OS Drive and Restoring the Pool [...]
What if I would like to move from regular hdd to a sdd?. Can I clone the disk I have to a sdd instead? Or do I have to do a clean installation. I have WHS2011 on my HP N40L. I was thinkin of buying a Intel 520 Series 120GB SSD. I would prefer to clone the disk if that's possible.
Hi Rlcatho! Yes, cloning a HDD to a SDD can be done Easily — see PCDoc's blog posting on the Process at http://homeservershow.com/running-an-ssd-on-whs.h…
Just installed a Corsair force 3 60gb ssd on a N54L on a stock bios. Bit tricky and could not do it as laid out here for the N40L. USB thumb drive up front with cfg.ini file and a USB dvd rom up front.
Stock Bios gives a boot priority list first. Below that is a HDD priority. Below that a DVD/CD priority. In stock config if you go right to the Boot Priority it lists options 1,2,3 and you can config each setting. : USB DRIVE, DVD and the Network Card as the options in all three boot positions. The SSD does not show up.
If you leave it this way it will start windows and at stage 1 of install and says 0% then immediately get an error. The error log says the Unattended installer failed right after reading the cfg.ini file and passing.
If you go out and config the HDD boot priority you'll see SSD and USB drive only. Select #1 ssd and #2 USB, esc.
Go to DVD/CD config and there's only one choice.
Set USB priority to low.
Back up to BOOT Priority to set up your 1, 2,3. Set first to SSd, 2nd to DVD and Third all there is is the network card. No USB?? Hmmm. Seems the HDD setting gives you only one choice. One voids the other when you go back to the Boot priority. If you try to install from here you get a No MBR error.
Solution?
Set the HDD boot priority to SSD. Now go back to primary Boot Priority so you get the following: 1st SSD, 2nd DVD, 3rd SSD. USB LOW priority. That's right, no USB boot option as Bios won't allow it. Save and exit. Reset your cfg.ini file on the usb. Now restart. I pulled the USB stick out as soon as stage 1 of the Install showed and was still at 0%. Left the DVD in the drive too and restarted several times as normal. In about 10 minutes I had a desktop.
Seems setting the Boot Priority needs to loop from SSD, DVD, SSD to allow the install. Bit hard to explain, but hope it helps.
[...] July, 2012, I wrote about how I Installed Windows Home Server 2011 on a 60GB SSD in a HP ProLiant N40L MicroServer and using that as my primary home server. During Home Server Show 216 I talked about several [...]
I have the "New Installation or Repair an Existing installation" problem with my unattended file. I've been following instructions for an EX495. http://sbs.seandaniel.com/2011/04/how-to-install-…
How do I fix the problem?
Update: I found I have the "New Installation or Repair an Existing installation" problem if USB is ordered before the Harddrive. However if the Harddrive is ordered before the USB I have another problem in that the USB isn't accessed once the harddrive attempt fails. This means it's not entirely unattended. On my test system I changed the order when it reboots but I don't know how to do this on the EX495.
Hi No-One! You may want to post you questions in the Forums — there are a few people who have installed WHS-2011 onto a MediaSmart Server who may be able to help you http://homeservershow.com/forums/
I've only installed it in a MicroServer.
[...] A great read which is full of tips and performance data which you can find here. [...]
[...] I assumed it would be possible to install S2012E on a 60GB OS Drive as I had done with WHS-2011 in Installing Windows Home Server 2011 on a SSD in a HP MicroServer N40L. The effort failed and the install became stuck on the following [...]
[...] July, 2012, I wrote about how I Installed Windows Home Server 2011 on a 60GB SSD in a HP ProLiant N40L MicroServer and using that as my primary home server. More recently in March, 2013, I wrote about Updating my [...]
[...] the article Installing Windows Home Server 2011 on a SSD in a HP MicroServer N40L from July 25, 2012, I described how I set up the MicroServer with 5 3TB drives plus an SSD [...]