Jump to content
RESET Forums (homeservershow.com)

Modified BIOS for Microserver N40L enables hidden features

diehard

By diehard,
in Microserver N54L, N40L, Etc

 Share

Recommended Posts

VeGeTa-X HSS 1 Post

VeGeTa-X

Posted
Posted

Hi I just received my HP N40L I want to upgrade bios; are their any links on step by step instructions on how to upgrade bios? Right now I am using linux laptop to create bootable usb flash drives with

UNetbootin but that's to create bootable usb flash drives with particular Os does any use any linux software to create bootable usb flash drives to upgrade bios?

Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • Replies 557
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

  • cskenney

    24

  • jmwills

    46

  • ikon

    119

  • Joe_Miner

    62

Popular Days

Top Posters In This Topic

Popular Days

Popular Posts

peteb99
peteb99

Hi Anttech,   I had the same issue and couldn't download it from the german site.   I found a mirror at the following address :   http://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&js=n

karmantyu
karmantyu

Well I upped it to my dropbox. Please serve yourselves.   https://www.dropbox.com/s/qff7abgmt7hau6z/O41100113.ZIP Well I upped it to my dropbox. Please serve yourselves.   https://www.dropbox.co

unmesh
unmesh

Here are the two original versions that I have now posted in dropbox   http://www.dropbox.com/s/u6r1ogp2gt7ju1c/SP64420.exe?dl=0 http://www.dropbox.com/s/m1sisxxaa0oszoc/SP54344.exe?dl=0

Posted Images

mR JoLLy HSS 1 Post

mR JoLLy

Posted
Posted

Gents, I have purchased a Microserver and current configuration is as follows:

 

Upgraded RAM to 8GB (Kingston non ECC)

2 x WD 1GB Green drives

1 x Corsair SSD

 

The plan is to run the 2 WD drives with Raid 1 using the raid controller in the BIOS. The SSD is upstairs in the ODD slot connected to the ATA connecter on the MOBO.

 

OK using the latest standard BIOS from HP (O41072911.ROM) the Optical drive runs at the slower speeds as you all know so I want to ramp it up to the full speed with the "revised" BIOS pointed to us by "DIEHARD" at the top of this thread.

 

Before loading the revised BIOS I did install WHS 2011 onto the SSD no problem and configured the RAID1 after installation. Putting through the new BIOS I have the higher speed for the SSD but the Raid can't be active in the BIOS for the SSD to boot with WHS. BIOS Advanced settings for IDE configuration the SATA controller Mode set to AHCI or IDE I can boot the SSD. With Raid It won't boot. I am checking the boot sequence is correct and ensuring the SSD is the first boot drive.

 

Am I missing something or is it not possible to have the RAID enabled in the BIOS and run the SSD at the higer speeds.

 

Thanks in adcance.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Joe_Miner HSS Legend

Joe_Miner

Posted
Posted

Hi & Welcome to the Forums!

 

Have you tried to follow the procedure in the HP ProLiant MicroServer Users Guide starting on page 28?

 

According to that documentation, if you are planning to set-up a hardware Raid on the MicroServer you would do it in the BIOS first then create a RAID drivers disk to be able to add the RAID drivers when installing the OS.

 

So it would seem the sequence you would need to do is: (1) Flash the BIOS; (2) Set RAID in the BIOS, then (3) Install the OS.

 

But you’ve installed a SSD for the OS. Before I installed my SSD I flashed the BIOS and set every port (0-5) for high Speed AHCI. You may want/need to go that route.

 

In WHS-2011 you can set RAID 1 (Drive Mirrors) up in the software which may be an option to consider.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
mR JoLLy HSS 1 Post

mR JoLLy

Posted
Posted

Thanks for the comments. I'll play with those thoughts and start from the beginning. I'd rather play before I put anything useful on the server :)

 

I am also getting a cable to connect the eSATA to the SSD to see if that is any faster.

 

I have tried installing the OS onto the SSD with AHCI, but then found the BSOD as others have reported trying to move over to make the RAID array in the BIOS. As it is right now I have installed with RAID turned on using the MOD BIOS, created the RAID after installing the OS (in the BIOS) but then notice a dop in performance from the SSD. The difference really is noticable I have to asy and worth having a fight for.

 

I agree that the only practical solution will be a full software RAID. However, I would prefer it to be managed in the BIOS to reduce the load on the OS a little.

 

I'll play on . . .

 

Thanks again

Link to comment
Share on other sites
mR JoLLy HSS 1 Post

mR JoLLy

Posted
Posted

One Idea I have just had is to run the standard BIOS RAID 1and to purchase a low profile PCIe X1 SATA 3 card with internal ports to connect up the SSD. Only thing is I have the remote access card in the PCIe X1 slot and it won't transfer to the X16 slot (tried it and it does not boot up) . . .Not sure why?? I will get a cheap basic X1 card to test that out in the X16 slot. Bit of a compromise but it fits my needs if it works!

 

Nigel

Link to comment
Share on other sites
ikon HSS Elite Genius

ikon

Posted
Posted

One Idea I have just had is to run the standard BIOS RAID 1and to purchase a low profile PCIe X1 SATA 3 card with internal ports to connect up the SSD. Only thing is I have the remote access card in the PCIe X1 slot and it won't transfer to the X16 slot (tried it and it does not boot up) . . .Not sure why?? I will get a cheap basic X1 card to test that out in the X16 slot. Bit of a compromise but it fits my needs if it works!

 

Nigel

 

Given the speciality nature of the remote access card, it may be tied to a specific slot on the mobo. I don't have one so I can't say for sure, but something to consider.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
yodafett HSS Advanced

yodafett

Posted
Posted

Given the speciality nature of the remote access card, it may be tied to a specific slot on the mobo. I don't have one so I can't say for sure, but something to consider.

yes there is an extra slot that the RAC card uses.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
ikon HSS Elite Genius

ikon

Posted
Posted

yes there is an extra slot that the RAC card uses.

 

Thanks for that. It just made sense. I remember the days when virtually every slot on a mobo was dedicated for some specific add-in card. It was a royal PITA (talking 70s here now).

Link to comment
Share on other sites
mR JoLLy HSS 1 Post

mR JoLLy

Posted
Posted

I suspected a special function for the card in the X1 slot when it didn't respond on power up. After power is added it takes a minute to initialize before a green LED starts to flash. This never happened in the X16 slot so attempts to connect diddn't look hopeful (and weren’t) . Back in the X1 slot not and blinking like a good 'n.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Similar Content

    • E3000
      Agentless Management Service
      By E3000
      Does anyone know if it is possible to get Agentless Management Service (AMS) running on Debian/Ubuntu Linux? It is always showing as Not Available in the iLO page and I have only ever seen this active in Windows.
    • E3000
      Latest Gen8 Firmware Versions?
      By E3000
      Hey guys,
       
      As of June 2020, what are the latest versions of firmware for HP Microserver Gen8 to be installed on the system itself? Also do any other components have updatable firmware/os-independent software?
       
      So far my list is as follows:
      BIOS - J06 (04/04/2019) iLO 4 - v2.73 (11/02/2020) Intelligent Provisioning - v1.71 (20/02/2019)  
      and I guess the following could also be added (although both out of date):
      Smart Update Manager (HP SUM) - v8.1.0 (21/12/2017) Service Pack for ProLiant (06/11/2017)  
      Date formated as DD/MM/YYYY.
       
      I believe all the B120i Smart Storage stuff is part of Intelligent Provisioning.
    • AnthonyB
      ProLiant MicroServer Gen8 (J06) Server BIOS 2018.01.22 (5 Mar 2018)
      By AnthonyB
      New BIOS for Gen 8 Server now available that resolves Spectre vulnerability. My server is out of warranty. Anyone able to download and share?
       
      ** CRITICAL ** Online ROM Flash Component for Windows x64 - HP ProLiant MicroServer Gen8 (J06) Servers
      https://support.hpe.com/hpsc/swd/public/detail?sp4ts.oid=5390291&swItemId=MTX_13916b9b87d642bc91029439b8&swEnvOid=4184
       
      Version:2018.01.22 (5 Mar 2018)
      Fixes Upgrade Requirement:
      Critical - HPE requires users update to this version immediately.
       
      Important Notes:
      This revision of the System ROM includes the latest revision of the Intel microcode which, in combination with operating system updates, provides mitigation for Variant 2 of the Side Channel Analysis vulnerability, also known as Spectre. The revision of the microcode included in this System ROM does NOT have issues with more frequent reboots and unpredictable system behavior which impacted the previous Intel microcode which was part of the Spectre Variant 2 mitigation. Additional information is available from Intel’s Security Exploit Newsroom, https://newsroom.intel.com/press-kits/security-exploits-intel-products/.
      Firmware Dependencies:
      None
      Problems Fixed:
      Updated the Intel processor microcode to the latest version.
      Known Issues:
      None
    • DaMenace
      BIOS Question
      By DaMenace
      I have a simple question about my BIOS from iLo4. Look at the picture and you will see a difference in the System ROM and Backup ROM dates.

    • bennybennybenny
      HP Microserver N40L won't boot after BIOS update
      By bennybennybenny
      Hey guys,
      Not sure if this is the correct section to post this, but in a bit of a pickle after attempting to flash my HP Microserver N40L to the modified bios last night.
       
      The story goes - I've had myN40L microserver for the past few years running Windows 8.1 and acting as a media server for the house. I recently upgraded a laptop I have so had a spare Samsung 840 EVO 120gb SSD that I thought I'd throw in the microserver as the boot drive. 
       
      I ghosted the existing windows install (which was on a 250gb mechanical hard drive) over to the SSD, rebooted the computer and everything was working file. When I checked the performance of the SSD using the Samsung Magician software it indicated thatt the SSD wasn't running at full speed due to AHCI being disabled. I then did a bit of research and found that SATA port 5 (normally meant for an optical drive) that the SSD was connected to doesn't run at full speed and in IDE mode. I read that the modified bios that's floating around for Microserver's can fix this.
       
      So I flashed the bios to my machine however now when I boot up it gets to the loading screen for windows and then errors and reboots. This boot loop just continues constantly with no way to get into windows.
       
      I've tried setting the hard drive mode to both IDE and AHCI in BIOS with no success, I've reverted the BIOS back to default settings, took out the CMOS battery overnight, tried to re-flash back to default HP firmware, re-flashed the modded BIOS with no drives in the server and even run the windows 8 startup repair with no success whatsoever, it just continues to error and boot loop.
       
      I did leave all 4 of my other SATA hard drives in the machine when flashing the modded bios originally so don't know if this affected it. I wish I'd just left the original BIOS on there now.
       
      Is there anything I can try to fix this? I'd really prefer not to have to reinstall windows 8 as it took me awhile to set everything up for media (Sonarr, CouchPotato, iTunes, Serviio etc).
       
      Any help is greatly appreciated.
       
      Cheers Benny
×
×
  • Create New...