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diehard

Modified BIOS for Microserver N40L enables hidden features

By diehard, in Microserver N54L, N40L, Etc

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diehard    42

diehard
Posted

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://homeservershow.com/forums/index.php?/topic/3397-modified-bios-for-microserver-n40l-enables-hidden-features/page__st__100#entry45899

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jcollison    24

jcollison
Posted

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

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Joe_Miner    251

Joe_Miner
Posted (edited)

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 5-29-2013 => Check out HP ProLiant N40L MicroServer Build and BIOS Modification REVISITED for the latest step-by-step guide AND

EDIT 8-12-2013 => the Video on the BIOS-MOD Flash at http://homeservershow.com/forums/index.php?/topic/3397-modified-bios-for-microserver-n40l-enables-hidden-features/?p=65910


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

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jmwills    284

jmwills
Posted

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

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ikon    436

ikon
Posted

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.

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diehard    42

diehard
Posted

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.

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Joe_Miner    251

Joe_Miner
Posted (edited)

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:

  1. Enter BIOS with F10
  2. Go to the Chipset Menu > Southbridge Configuration > SB SATA Configuration (New Menu!)
  3. 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.
  4. 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

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diehard    42

diehard
Posted

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

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texasPI    6

texasPI
Posted

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.

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ikon    436

ikon
Posted

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?

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