HP Microserver £263.94 down to £97.94 (after £166 cashback) @ ServerPlus

If you are in any doubt to how useful this server is, then search previous HUKD posts and read the comments or google to see how many different websites/wiki sites are dedicated to this little box.

This IS the Raspberry Pi of the server world.

However, it does have it's limitations and it's not for everybody: -
- It won't bring you tea in bed.
- It's not an iPhone
- It hasn't brought about world peace.
- It's dangerously addictive; you buy one, you NEED more.

chinesoul

Was this server sold at £79 (after £100 cashback), eight months ago?How c … Was this server sold at £79 (after £100 cashback), eight months ago?How could this be hot, without using the 'time machine' answer?Read lessRead more

Great - can you buy one for £79? no? Is this the cheapest price around (for the past 8 months) yep.

Sounds hot to me

Smuggling Pnuts

Can you turn this into a NAS with Plex?

Yes- I've done exactly that- it can even transcode 1080p without too much issue

Got one for £80 last year and it's one of the best things I've bought in years. Have stuck 6 HDs in it (There are 4 bays, but you can fit another 2 in the space for the optical drive - google it) for 12 TB of storage.

To give people an idea of what it can do, here's what I've got running so far on mine:

Ubuntu OS
Samba + AFP - to serve files up to PCs and Macs around the house
SABNZBD, Couchpotato, Sickbeard - to automatically download, extract and organise any films, tv shows I want as soon as they come out
Timemachine server - to automatically back up my Macs
Plex - to serve up films/tv shows to pretty much any device in the house - TVs, media players, iPads, iPhones + remote viewing from a browser
Shairport + USB soundcard - to use as an Airplay server and instantly stream music to my hifi straight from my Mac/ipad/iphone
Google Cloud print server - can now print to the printer connected to it from anywhere (eg from work)

And some stuff I'm planning to get set up shortly:
CCTV recording server - add a couple cheap IP cams and the right software
Headphones + Mopidy - automatically download any music it thinks I might like and then serve local + spotify music as one library
libimobiledevice.org - Automated wireless iphone sync/backup (not sure if possible yet)
Offsite backup - sync certain data to a friend's server and vise-versa

And if anyone else has any other ideas of how it could be used, that'd be great!

ordered 3....jeezus....

Finally I understand. THIS deal should be marked hot, not the other one!
But I don't need three microservers, do I?
Actually they also list a low profile 2 port usb3 pci express card for about £10 ex vat which I would be tempted to buy though I did pay a lot less on Ebay for one, its cheaper than a heavy duty decal kit, wwwhhhaattt!:)


(edited)

jasee

Finally I understand. THIS deal should be marked hot, not the other … Finally I understand. THIS deal should be marked hot, not the other one!But I don't need three microservers, do I?Read lessRead more

Welcome to the party

great little server. Hot deal!

I run mine with ESX VSphere with 3 virtual machines.

VM1
PFSense to control my home network and handle my ADSL convection

VM2
Freenas with 2 HDs in a ZFS raid for all my media

VM3
Ubuntu minimal running all my downloading tools. sabnzb, sickbeard, couch potato, Mylar

Runs brilliantly. I added more ram and a dual gig Intel NIC.

the only negative is the super bright as the sun HP blue light on the front.

I was looking to get an android stick so I can use it to watch xbmc, a bit of gaming, browsing etc. Can a micro server be used for this purpose?

Looking at the website, it's the standard £100 cash back. You only get the additional £66 if you add the extended 3 year warranty, which appears to be £96 on top....unless I'm missing something?

"Include a 3 Year Warranty Upgrade and get an extra £66 cash back! In support of this offer, buy this 3 Year HP Care Pack Upgrade (UR482E) and claim a further £66 cash back. With our exclusive Microserver 3 Year Warranty Bundle below, this effectively gives you the warranty free of charge!"

VengeceVapourX

how long does it take on average for the cash back to sit back into our … how long does it take on average for the cash back to sit back into our pockets, i am seriously tempted but the price has me going if the cash back isnt honoured which i fear it wont be from hearing other customers and there situations.Read lessRead more

If your at all worried you can email the company which deals with the cashback via promotions@out-bound.co.uk
If I remember rightly it took little over a month from confirmation to the check through the post.
You can email them the claims form directly (using the above email address) and it will be processed within a few hours.

Smuggling Pnuts

Can you turn this into a NAS with Plex?

I have an older HP Microserver running Vortexbox if you add an optical drive it will then automatically rip any disc inserted - DVD and Blu-ray in Vob format (can be mirrored to mp4) and CD's to lossless flac files (can be mirrored to mp3), it has Plex Server built in as well as many other features. - I'd definitely recommend it, a little linux knowledge is handy but they do have very helpful discussion boards, being a techy though I was able to solve any issues I had by Googling.

My microserver has an internal USB port in which I have a 32GB USB flash stick running the OS, freeing up all 4 bays to be used for NAS storage. If this has the same internal port then it does make it more flexible.

Also if you do go the Plex route, you can use a NowTV box as a client and sideload the Plex for Roku app (instuctions are easy to follow and a quick google should bring up all you need to do it)

I bought my older model a couple of years a go for around £110 after cashback and it is still one of my best ever purchases.

quote=moozoo]What do you use the dual gig NIC for?

be_vigilant

great little server. Hot deal! I run mine with ESX VSphere with 3 virtual … great little server. Hot deal! I run mine with ESX VSphere with 3 virtual machines.VM1PFSense to control my home network and handle my ADSL convectionVM2Freenas with 2 HDs in a ZFS raid for all my mediaVM3Ubuntu minimal running all my downloading tools. sabnzb, sickbeard, couch potato, MylarRuns brilliantly. I added more ram and a dual gig Intel NIC. the only negative is the super bright as the sun HP blue light on the front. Read lessRead more

[/quote]

1 NIC is the input from my ADSL modem in bridge mode.

2 NIC is out to a gig switch

I was reading the onboard NIC can give trouble in freebsd. I went with the safe option of a 2nd Intel NIC I knew would play nice in ESX

Thanks for the info about my virtual fw. as this is only for home use I am not too fussed. I also installed the snort plugin. also want to look at as blocking now :-) I love this little server.

Thanks for the 1p and tape trick too. I will block out the LED when I get home.

madmackem

Ordered, Thanks OP :-) however my wife wont be happy!!

Tell me about it, went to bed at midnight and by the time she woke up at 6am i'd got one. I just got a blank look from her, no excitment at all oO

Just bought mine finally, after all the procrastination.

Now to convince herself we need it... haha maybe i did that in the wrong order...

platinums

Just bought mine finally, after all the procrastination. Now to convince … Just bought mine finally, after all the procrastination. Now to convince herself we need it... haha maybe i did that in the wrong order...Read lessRead more

I'm in the same boat with you mate.

getknk

Voted hot for the server and its priceany idea of the required power? … Voted hot for the server and its priceany idea of the required power? (i'm already paying £130 quid for electricity a month, don't want to cross the £200 mark)Read lessRead more

My N40L uses about 50w, although this one is supposed to use a little bit more. I'd say mine costs around a fiver a month to leave on 24/7.

Reading through this.....it all sounds interesting but is there any guides?

I was thinking to use it as a media server / file storage place.

Like others use it with

Plex
Couchpotato
Sick Beard

Can I use VLC on it to transcoding for streaming?

Do I even need attach a monitor/keyboard/mouse to it?
What else would I need to buy for it to make it work....hardware and software?

Could I put it in a little quiet corner and leave it on...just connect it to the adsl router?
Can I use it as a DHCP server?


Sorry for all the questions, just trying to think if its worth it for me.

Any help is much appreciated.
(edited)

RudeYute

Ordered. Now to decide which OS to install on it. I want to run … Ordered. Now to decide which OS to install on it. I want to run multiple OS using vSphere, but what do people recommend for the base OS?Read lessRead more

ESXi (vSphere Hypervisor) *IS* the base OS you don't install it on top of anything else. Other options if you want a usable base OS would be to use KVM or Xen on Ubuntu (or other distro).

Email address: promotions@out-bound.co.uk

MisterMadHatter

I had to open the box to get the serial number for the claim form. Where … I had to open the box to get the serial number for the claim form. Where did you buy your X-Ray glasses from? Read lessRead more

The label on the outside has the serial number (or mine has at least)

Siddy

Reading spec last night I see it can only handle 12TB so looking at … Reading spec last night I see it can only handle 12TB so looking at Youngy above is it worth putting 4gigs in as you cant raid them as using 4off 3tb.Other issues is my nas runs 1200 till 2300 for access. Can the HP be told to slepp between times or is it a case of remote logging on to power it down. Read is low noise and thing behind tv where the nas is and use tv as a monitor and gig router there as well.is the 250gig it's own drive plus 4 bays?Have funRead lessRead more

This is the 3TB scan.co.uk/pro…4x7

The 250GB is in one of the 4 bays, most people just take it out. But you can fit another drive into the optical drive bay using an enclosure.

redarrowrules

Where is the cheapest place right now to get some RAM to upgrade? Would … Where is the cheapest place right now to get some RAM to upgrade? Would ideally like to get either 8GB if possible as will be running a few VM's for a test lab.Read lessRead more

i got mine on amazon. Only got 8gb and non ecc (so it wont work with the 2gb installed) but cheaper than ecc.

It was the cheapest i could find inc delivery but that was a few days ago

Siddy

Advice - Ordered a SSD to replace the 250gig and place in the cd space. … Advice - Ordered a SSD to replace the 250gig and place in the cd space. What leads do i need? Also a 4gig memory.Will it see a external cd drive to be able to install win server?Read lessRead more

I used an external bd/dvd rom to install windows on mine no problem.

ESXi and XPEnology: cyanlabs.net/Thr…SXi

I would use this to install ESXi, and then the following for XPEnology, as it is a newer version, and nanoboot is newer than gnoboot.

cyanlabs.net/Thr…SXI

This seams like a great deal

Chuckles1001

This seams like a great deal

Yep, an expensive bad nights sleep for me

Looks good.

Outline and details of the care package are here

But I think Hp have little to worry about. They're very cool running. One hard disk, maybe.

Thanks

Can you turn this into a NAS with Plex?

I must resist, I must resist

Ive got 3 already LOL

jasee

Finally I understand. THIS deal should be marked hot, not the other … Finally I understand. THIS deal should be marked hot, not the other one!But I don't need three microservers, do I?Actually they also list a low profile 2 port usb3 pci express card for about £10 ex vat which I would be tempted to buy though I did pay a lot less on Ebay for one, its cheaper than a heavy duty decal kit, wwwhhhaattt!:)Read lessRead more

Indeed welcome to the party. I love my N40L microserver, using it for media storage and backups, set-up in the loft. I loved it so much that I bought another (N54L) - although it has yet to see any use, apart from testing that it works about four months ago. But at around £90 or so after cashback I really "needed" another.!

Good price and heat added.

Great deal. I just don't know whether to bite now or hold off for a slightly better deal (like the Ballibum deal). I can't see this supplier being the only ones to offer this February £100 cashback deal. Decisions decisions....

Am so tempted my N40L microserver has been amazing I just don't need, but am thinking about it. would prefer £75 no service contract. Maybe that will be doable this month.

be_vigilant

the only negative is the super bright as the sun HP blue light on the … the only negative is the super bright as the sun HP blue light on the front. Read lessRead more

The top panel comes off and away from the led. I'm sure you could blank the back if the logo somehow, if the light can't be disconnected easily.

Anyone know if this can do dual screen/two monitors?

Or how to dual monitor with this?

It only has VGA, but there are some low profile graphics cards that fit that would give you more outputs.

I'm guessing it has all the necessary drivers for linux, Does HP still cover it with there warrenty? Im tempted to upgrade my home server to this.

Good stuff. The Chinese standoff is over and server+ gave in first. A bit more cash off. Hot