Windows 10: Rescued Blade server from the Tip - how do I attach HDD's

Hi there.

I managed to rescue a WORKING HP BL490c G6 Server Blade System 2X Intel Xeon E5540 CPU’s 72GB RAM from the local Tip !!! - some people have more money than sense.



Any idea how I'd go about neatly adding 4 - 8 HDD bays to this. Power of this server looks like it can easily replace my 2 NAS servers with a single "Box".





If it gets too messy I'll have complaints again !!!

Any ideas for a NEAT setup -- I'm reasonable with Carpentry and metalwork.

:)

 

Bluescreen after USB stick, System Service Exception MeDlpflt.sys

I think you get the (ahem) "Blade" server from Wesley Snipes, don't you?

 

Windows 10 install stuck on restart

I found this same procedure works for me. However, this should NOT be the answer to WHY W-10 does not complete the install/restart on its' own. Even so, this tip works, most of the time. I have noticed that having USB HDD attached, the computer will NOT
reboot normally, no matter HOW MANY times I attempt. Removing the HDD during the install/reboot seems to expedite the reboot. That said, the Keyboard and mouse light up, but will not allow input until I cycle OFF. Thanks for the tip and affirmation.

 

I doubt that you'll find a lot of posters here with experience with this sort of hardware.

Just out of curiosity, I checked online. The blade is intended to work with two internal 2.5" SATA SSDs. It can support multiple SAS 2.5" drives if an optional controller is present. I didn't bother checking whether the SAS interface is one of the dual types that can also be used with SATA.

No idea what is possible, but it sounds like you wish to use the box in a way that God and HP never intended.

 

Hi there
@bobkn

Thing is Lightning fast with 2 internal SSD's -- there were 2 X 250 GB SSD's already installed in there.
I had to get a special SUV cable which allows me to connect to a Monitor and 2 X USB devices (with Power I can use a USB Hub here for connecting HDD's etc) . I'm basically going to use this machine as a decent NAS server so 2 or 3 X decent 2 bay external HDD enclosures will be fast enough.





However server also has provision for 2 X Mezzanine card slots -- so I can install nice 6GB/s RAID controllers and have fast HDD access.

So it looks like I'm in business - cost of 1 SUV cable and 2 X RAID controllers -- I've got enough spare HDD's !!!!.

The internal Video is fairly basic - but I am using this as a headless server and running via RDP / VNC is good enough rather than Native video.

Works perfectly with CENTOS 7 - now I can fire up some VM's (72 GB memory installed).

This stuff is quite fun -- I'd recommend people to see what some businesses are chucking out -- Businesses often upgrade to mega fast stuff as their customer base increases -- but some of the kit they chuck out is More than adequate for using as a Home Lab etc - and the great thing is you can get it for almost NOTHING !!!!!

72GB server with 2 X XEON processors for FREE !!!!! can't complain.

I believe somebody did say "Think Outside the box" -- appropriate in this case. !!

Cheers
jimbo

 

Xeons? Bah. Too difficult to overclock.*Wink

Sounds like you have the wherewithal to make use of it. It may not be pretty, but it'll add to your boffin cred.

 

Hi there
@bobkn


It's hidden away in a cabinet -- replaces 2 X HP ProLiant Gen 8 Micro servers which only had Centrino CPU's in them. Less power consumption too than the 2 Micro servers.

Running 8 VM's, PLEX media server, Logitech (Squeezebox) media server, central file server / Internet gateway, and about to try and create my own VPN - couldn't do it on the old system - not enough "Horse Power".

Having 72 GB of ECC RAM is great also VT Hyperthreading.

OK those XEONS aren't overclockable but I'm not a gamer -- I suspect they are more than fast enough for typical games. The main problem would be that you wouldn't be able to use a LOCAL GPU so you'd have to use it for SERVING the games and running on the client's hardware. - I haven't a CLUE about how any of that would work as I'm not a gamer but I'm sure it could be done.

BTW cost of all components so far -- 85 EUR (SUV cable and a 4 port SAS RAID card -- does support SATA as well) so I've taken 4 HDD's out of one of my old NAS boxes.

Anybody looking for more powerful kit should consider this route --unconventional I know but to CREATE the equivalent computer from new components I'm sure would cost me over 1500 EUR if not more and I'd then have to get an expensive graphics card on top.

These servers BTW need ECC memory so if adding RAM check that the RAM is compatible. This server can't use DDR4 DIMS - but I'm not that advanced !!!!.

"She who must be obeyed" is also happy -- less boxes and cables !! One more box and I'd have come home and found the entire lot in the Bin !!!!!.

Cheers
jimbo