HP Proliant MicroServer Gen8 - work on the bugs
Almost three years have passed since the review of the first HP Proliant MicroServer .
Following a three-year cycle in updating server lines, Hewlett-Packard released the eighth generation Microserver this summer. Again, one of the first copies fell into my hands, providing an excellent opportunity to compare side by side two generations of this interesting piece of iron.
I propose to look at what has changed and what has become better.
Caution, a lot of pictures.
The first thing that catches the eye: MicroServer has become similar to the older brothers - the front panel design repeats the Security Bezel of the Proliant DL / ML servers.
The server became a little lower, a little wider, bringing its dimensions closer to the cube - 23.24 x 23 x 24.5 cm.
Locked the lock from the front door - now you can close it only with a latch hidden under the case cover. At first glance, this is not the most convenient solution, but it makes it possible to protect the inside of the server from encroachment, with just one lock, not two, as before. Instead, the front door received a magnetic latch and a small bias, which helps it to close on its own from the half-open state.
Also, the server received a tag with a serial number familiar from older models, and default password on iLo.
Detailed specifications can, as always, be found in QuickSpec.
I tabulated the comparison with the previous generation:
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Those who had an old MicroServer will remember how difficult it was to replace / upgrade the memory or install expansion cards. It was necessary to pull out all the wires, unscrew the screws and completely pull out the motherboard. At the same time, expansion cards hung in slots.
In the eighth generation, everything became 100 times better: just remove the cover (two screws are unscrewed by hand) and both memory slots + MicroSD slot + USB port are fully accessible. It is really possible to install an expansion card without even disconnecting the internal cables - it is enough to extend the frame by 10 centimeters.
On the left side you can see a blue latch blocking the front door, and on top is the location for the battery-free protection of the raid controller cache (FBWC).
On the motherboard, a rather large area is allocated to the iLo chip. We were pleased with the protective sticker on the area that may be damaged by the PCIe boards. And the PCIe slot itself is located away from the side walls and other housing structures, which makes it possible to accommodate a board with a large passive radiator. For the old microserver this was a sore point.
The board has a connector for installing an optional TPM module, System Maintenance Switch switches and connectors, the purpose of which is not disclosed in the manuals.
For comparison, the left motherboard past generation.
But the most pleasant update is the iLo Management Engine remote management chip. The functionality is not inferior to adult Proliant: full-featured remote console, remote media, non-agent, OS-independent monitoring of hardware, the same iLo Advanced keys.
Compared with Remote Access Card - heaven and earth.
By the way, the serial number starting with “CZ” indicates that the server was produced at a factory in the Czech Republic.
In my opinion, a great update came out. The price price for the base remained at around $ 500.
The server has become more powerful, more functional, and closer to the commercial market. For use in small offices, they even made a switch to it in the original form factor - HP PS1810. The management interface of this switch can display the Health Status of a microserver next to it.There are rumors of a router with WiFi in the same form factor.
Here is the server with the switch.
Ps. And, our office microserver with a 5-year-old CarePack continues to serve faithfully. Just a couple of years, there’s nothing to worry about - dying screws and droning fans HP service changes in a matter of days.
Following a three-year cycle in updating server lines, Hewlett-Packard released the eighth generation Microserver this summer. Again, one of the first copies fell into my hands, providing an excellent opportunity to compare side by side two generations of this interesting piece of iron.
I propose to look at what has changed and what has become better.
Caution, a lot of pictures.
Appearance.
The first thing that catches the eye: MicroServer has become similar to the older brothers - the front panel design repeats the Security Bezel of the Proliant DL / ML servers.
The server became a little lower, a little wider, bringing its dimensions closer to the cube - 23.24 x 23 x 24.5 cm.
Locked the lock from the front door - now you can close it only with a latch hidden under the case cover. At first glance, this is not the most convenient solution, but it makes it possible to protect the inside of the server from encroachment, with just one lock, not two, as before. Instead, the front door received a magnetic latch and a small bias, which helps it to close on its own from the half-open state.
Also, the server received a tag with a serial number familiar from older models, and default password on iLo.
Specifications.
Detailed specifications can, as always, be found in QuickSpec.
I tabulated the comparison with the previous generation:
| MicroServer Gen8 | Microserver | |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Celeron G1610T (2.3Hz / 2-core / 2MB / 35W) Processor Intel Pentium G2020T (2.5GHz / 2-core / 3MB / 35W) Processor Socket 1155 | AMD Turion II Processor Model Neo N36L (1.30 GHz, 12W, 2MB) AMD Turion II Processor Model Neo N40L (1.50 GHz, 15W, 2MB) AMD Turion II Processor Model Neo N54L (2.20 GHz, 25W, 2MB) (depending on the release date, unsoldered) |
| RAM | 2 slots DDR3 Unbuffered DIMM, PC3-12800, 16Gb (2x8Gb) Max | 2 slots DDR3 Unbuffered DIMM, PC3-10600, 8Gb (2x4Gb) Max |
| Network interfaces | Two ports 1 Gbit Ethernet (332i) | One port 1 Gbit Ethernet (107i) |
| Remote control | iLo Management Engine with dedicated port | Optional Remote Access Card |
| Disk controller | SmartArray B120i optional SmartArray P222 with 512MB FBWC | Embedded SATA Raid |
| Expansion slots | One PCIe x16 slot is half the height. Installation of cards with a high radiator is possible. | One half-height PCIe x16 slot One half-height PCIe x1 slot. |
| External interfaces | 5 USB 2.0 ports 2 USB 3.0 ports microSD slot | 7 USB 2.0 ports 1 eSATA port |
| Power Supply | 150W Non Hot-Plug | 150W Non Hot-Plug |
- Now the processor in the microserver is not decoupled from the motherboard, and replacing the processor is a standard procedure! On the Internet, there are mods with Xeon E3-12 proxy ** - up to 8 cores with Hyper-Threading, support for VT-x and VT-d, as part of the standard TDP.
- Now in the microserver, as in a true enterprise, there is iLo!
Hooray!No more projectors on the mezzanine and stepladders!And with it, and the wonderful operating environment Intelligent Provisioning, and control from your smartphone. In the near future, iLo will learn how to register with Insight Online, and automatically open cases for the replacement of failed components. - Now in the microserver, an excellent Smart Array P222 raid controller with a cache and raid 0,1,10,5,6 support is certified. The SmartArray B120i software is available in the base configuration, which unfortunately does not yet have support in Linux, but it works fine with Windows. Managed, as in the older models, through the Array Configuration Utility.
- Now in the microserver, two gigabit network interfaces with TCP / IP Offload, teaming and support for Jumbo frames.
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Internal layout.
Those who had an old MicroServer will remember how difficult it was to replace / upgrade the memory or install expansion cards. It was necessary to pull out all the wires, unscrew the screws and completely pull out the motherboard. At the same time, expansion cards hung in slots.
In the eighth generation, everything became 100 times better: just remove the cover (two screws are unscrewed by hand) and both memory slots + MicroSD slot + USB port are fully accessible. It is really possible to install an expansion card without even disconnecting the internal cables - it is enough to extend the frame by 10 centimeters.
On the left side you can see a blue latch blocking the front door, and on top is the location for the battery-free protection of the raid controller cache (FBWC).
On the motherboard, a rather large area is allocated to the iLo chip. We were pleased with the protective sticker on the area that may be damaged by the PCIe boards. And the PCIe slot itself is located away from the side walls and other housing structures, which makes it possible to accommodate a board with a large passive radiator. For the old microserver this was a sore point.
The board has a connector for installing an optional TPM module, System Maintenance Switch switches and connectors, the purpose of which is not disclosed in the manuals.
For comparison, the left motherboard past generation.
But the most pleasant update is the iLo Management Engine remote management chip. The functionality is not inferior to adult Proliant: full-featured remote console, remote media, non-agent, OS-independent monitoring of hardware, the same iLo Advanced keys.
Compared with Remote Access Card - heaven and earth.
By the way, the serial number starting with “CZ” indicates that the server was produced at a factory in the Czech Republic.
In my opinion, a great update came out. The price price for the base remained at around $ 500.
The server has become more powerful, more functional, and closer to the commercial market. For use in small offices, they even made a switch to it in the original form factor - HP PS1810. The management interface of this switch can display the Health Status of a microserver next to it.
Here is the server with the switch.
Ps. And, our office microserver with a 5-year-old CarePack continues to serve faithfully. Just a couple of years, there’s nothing to worry about - dying screws and droning fans HP service changes in a matter of days.
Source: https://habr.com/ru/post/198806/
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