LinuxMCE Forums

General => Users => Topic started by: jamo on January 16, 2015, 11:28:25 am

Title: HP Proliant Microserver Gen 8 as core
Post by: jamo on January 16, 2015, 11:28:25 am

http://www8.hp.com/za/en/products/proliant-servers/product-detail.html?oid=5379860

I wonder if anyone has any thoughts on this?

My core got taken out by a lightning strike recently and as I wait, hoping for a positive insurance assessment, I'm happily planning its replacement.

Since my core is headless and runs in the server closet this seems like a great little machine. The primary issue is that it has practically no expansion slots.... however I don't plan on adding any tv-tuners or other cards. I still use my system mostly for media and if I do get into the automation side I imagine I'll work via networked adapters.

What seems to be nice about this machine-

Compact Size - basically 24cm x 24cm x 24cm
Dual onboard network cards
Onboard intel HD graphics - intel graphics seems to be working ok with LMCE at the moment and really it's just needed while setting up before making it headless
Low power proc - the G1610T celeron processor has TDP of only 35w which is great for a server running 24/7
4 SATA bays - for your media drives
Optical bay for blu-ray / dvd drive

Any thoughts on this would be most welcome. I'll post more if I buy the sucker.

I'd love to put an SSD in as the O/S drive to speed up boots of media directors but that's a bit of a scene apparently because the 4 SATA bays require a special adapter for 2.5" drives to align the connectors and if you plug into the ODD instead, apparently the BIOS won't let you boot from there. Some have added a PCI SATA controller to get around this.

Title: Re: HP Proliant Microserver Gen 8 as core
Post by: totallymaxed on January 16, 2015, 05:13:40 pm

I can't see anything obviously wrong with this HP's spec in light of what your planning to do with your system. The only thing I'd say, and I always highlight this, is the acid test of compatibility will be whether the system will boot from a Ubuntu 12.04LTS LiveCD (I would expect it would). If it does your good to go.

Enjoy!

All the best

Andy

Title: Re: HP Proliant Microserver Gen 8 as core
Post by: jamo on January 18, 2015, 10:55:59 am

Thanks, Andy. Yes... almost certain it will as well but I'm sure some focussed googlling will reveal that.

Will report back if I get one.