confusis
John Morrison. Founder and Team Leader of SFF.N
Original poster
SFF Network
SFF Workshop
SFFn Staff
Backstory;
"Kase", my first server, was originally my first PC, repurposed. An Intel Pentium II 266MHz, 384MB RAM, S3 Virge 3MB AGP GPU and an Intel 440BX based motherboard ran a couple of 80GB HDDs, no RAID, for file storage. The system was named after a good friend's nickname, after I polled my social group for a server name, to perplexed looks. This system lasted a few months, until I had to minimalise my setup when my parents divorced and I moved with my Mum. (I was barely out of High School at this time, so around 2004/2005.)
Recently, I had the pleasure of picking up a HP Microserver N36L off our local auction site, TradeMe. (For those curious, eBay can't get a foothold in NZ because TradeMe is much preferred by us Kiwis.) For the princely sum of NZ$21.50, I collected the server, in a non-working state, as advertised. The previous owner could not fix the unit, and didn't have any further time to waste on it. I grabbed it in hopes for salvaging the Mini-SAS componentry for a future project.
After a few minutes of troubleshooting, I figured out one major issue with the system that was causing it to fail to even spin the fans, let alone boot. Someone put two jumpers in the wrong positions. This fixed, the server and it's 500GB Seagate drive booted. Woohoo!
So, what is this Microserver?
This is a 14.6 litre, SOHO orientated file server based on HP's prowess in the professional server world. Using rather more low end hardware, HP managed to offer a set and forget server for small business and the like. Powered by an AMD Athlon II Neo N36L, this 1.3GHz dual core K10 architecture processor won't set the world alight with it's power, but at 12 watts - 5 watts less than Kase's Pentium II CPU, it's an efficient little embedded CPU. The board has a Mini-SAS connector socket providing SATA connectivity to 4 drives in the welded in drive assembly. A single internal SATA connector is supplied for an optical drive, and a USB2.0 port provides a location for those running NAS software from a USB drive. A PCIe x16 slot and an x1 slot round out expansion.
So, my plans;
Secondly, replacing the PSU. This server was built around 2011, meaning that the included 160W PSU is 7 years old. Wait.. 160W? That sounds familiar.. I know just the combo to replace this, reduce noise, and add a little headroom - A HDPlex 160W AC-DC and a KMPKT 160W DC-ATX power supply. I have a 160W HDPlex AC-DC to hand, and will be buying a 160W KMPKT DC-ATX in the coming week. From there, custom wiring, sleeving and the like will happen, because even though nobody will ever see it, I know it's there!
The final point, aesthetics. Some may cry "but it's a server!", but it's my project, so
. Simple aesthetic mods will occur, mostly replacing the front light up HP logo with a SFFn Impossible Cube, as well as replacing the chassis feet with something more akin to a premium system.
Lastly, some images.
"Kase", my first server, was originally my first PC, repurposed. An Intel Pentium II 266MHz, 384MB RAM, S3 Virge 3MB AGP GPU and an Intel 440BX based motherboard ran a couple of 80GB HDDs, no RAID, for file storage. The system was named after a good friend's nickname, after I polled my social group for a server name, to perplexed looks. This system lasted a few months, until I had to minimalise my setup when my parents divorced and I moved with my Mum. (I was barely out of High School at this time, so around 2004/2005.)
Recently, I had the pleasure of picking up a HP Microserver N36L off our local auction site, TradeMe. (For those curious, eBay can't get a foothold in NZ because TradeMe is much preferred by us Kiwis.) For the princely sum of NZ$21.50, I collected the server, in a non-working state, as advertised. The previous owner could not fix the unit, and didn't have any further time to waste on it. I grabbed it in hopes for salvaging the Mini-SAS componentry for a future project.
After a few minutes of troubleshooting, I figured out one major issue with the system that was causing it to fail to even spin the fans, let alone boot. Someone put two jumpers in the wrong positions. This fixed, the server and it's 500GB Seagate drive booted. Woohoo!
So, what is this Microserver?
This is a 14.6 litre, SOHO orientated file server based on HP's prowess in the professional server world. Using rather more low end hardware, HP managed to offer a set and forget server for small business and the like. Powered by an AMD Athlon II Neo N36L, this 1.3GHz dual core K10 architecture processor won't set the world alight with it's power, but at 12 watts - 5 watts less than Kase's Pentium II CPU, it's an efficient little embedded CPU. The board has a Mini-SAS connector socket providing SATA connectivity to 4 drives in the welded in drive assembly. A single internal SATA connector is supplied for an optical drive, and a USB2.0 port provides a location for those running NAS software from a USB drive. A PCIe x16 slot and an x1 slot round out expansion.
So, my plans;
- Upgrade the 1GB DDR3 RAM to 16GB, because why not? (DONE)
- Install a Silverstone 4x 2.5" bay as well as an HP P400 SAS RAID card (DONE)
- Install drives - 4x 2TB 3.5" drives and 4x 2.5" drives - not sure whether I should go 120GB SSDs or 500GB 5400RPM mechanical drives
- Cable management, modding and replacing the PSU (to come)
- Aesthetic mods.
Secondly, replacing the PSU. This server was built around 2011, meaning that the included 160W PSU is 7 years old. Wait.. 160W? That sounds familiar.. I know just the combo to replace this, reduce noise, and add a little headroom - A HDPlex 160W AC-DC and a KMPKT 160W DC-ATX power supply. I have a 160W HDPlex AC-DC to hand, and will be buying a 160W KMPKT DC-ATX in the coming week. From there, custom wiring, sleeving and the like will happen, because even though nobody will ever see it, I know it's there!
The final point, aesthetics. Some may cry "but it's a server!", but it's my project, so
. Simple aesthetic mods will occur, mostly replacing the front light up HP logo with a SFFn Impossible Cube, as well as replacing the chassis feet with something more akin to a premium system.Lastly, some images.
