HP Microserver - Firmware

[Chuckster]

Is there anybody that has the latest firmware updates for a HP Microserver N36L, N40L or N54L willing to share with me?

 

The problem is I am unable to complete the installation of 2012 R2, as the built-in NIC driver is causing the N36L to stick at 82% of the 'Getting devices ready' screen.

[Davit2005]

Also be interested, I have a N36 & N40 at home.

@Chuckster, there are 2 internal low profile PCIe slots in both the N36 & N40 that a NIC could fit in, I've done this at home.

[newpersn]

Is there anybody that has the latest firmware updates for a HP Microserver N36L, N40L or N54L willing to share with me?

 

The problem is I am unable to complete the installation of 2012 R2, as the built-in NIC driver is causing the N36L to stick at 82% of the 'Getting devices ready' screen.

 

cant you disable it in the bios and enable it once it finishes installing?

[Chuckster]

Also be interested, I have a N36 & N40 at home.

@Chuckster, there are 2 internal low profile PCIe slots in both the N36 & N40 that a NIC could fit in, I've done this at home.

 

I did think about installing a low profile NIC but I don't have any onsite. I would need to purchase one.

 

cant you disable it in the bios and enable it once it finishes installing?

 

Tried that, but I get an error dialog box stating: "The computer restarted unexpectedly..." and if you click OK it will restart and produce the same error again.

[newpersn]

Tried that, but I get an error dialog box stating: "The computer restarted unexpectedly..." and if you click OK it will restart and produce the same error again.

 

From installing from statch? or just letting restart from where it crashed? I would start fresh and see where that will take you.

[Chuckster]

It's a fresh installation that occurred after disabling the onboard NIC.

[Davit2005]

I've seen many a butchered PCI bracket and but would not suggest a butcher of a normal NIC for a production network specially a NIC on a server to make it fit .

 

Maybe if it works as a temp fix jus to get the OS installed may be worth a try, is it a N36 or N40 that you are having problems with BTW.

[Oaktech]

It's a feature...

 

HP are basically holding microserver customers to ransom over this - no warranty/hp carepack - no firmware - no server 2012r2. It's a bit bloody rude.

 

I've got one to install using a startech adapter, but it's not great. It's a realtek based card and it doesn't support vlan's well, you have turn off all forms of checksum offloading and you won't get anywhere near the performance you expect from it. It works well enough for a pure DC, but I wouldn't want to try it on a fileserver.

[casey]

Is it SP64420 you are looking for? I've got a copy I downloaded in May of last year.

I used it successfully on an N40L.

[Chuckster]

See, the thing is, I am using the N36L as a file server for all our media across the school, and it's been working solidly until now, that is.

 

I just need someone with a valid warranty to download the firmware and share with the rest of us

 

The second I stick in a standard NIC is when I'll start seeing problems. Using Windows Server 2008 R2 was a breeze but with the onboard RAID being naff as it is, I wanted to start using Storage Spaces as a way of pooling several disks as one.

[Chuckster]

Is it SP64420 you are looking for? I've got a copy I downloaded in May of last year.

I used it successfully on an N40L.

 

Yes, that's the one I am looking for. Can I request a copy of it, please?

[Oaktech]

Is it SP64420 you are looking for? I've got a copy I downloaded in May of last year.

I used it successfully on an N40L.

 

Yes, that's the one I am looking for. Can I request a copy of it, please?

 

Likewise please.

[Norphy]

HP are basically holding microserver customers to ransom over this - no warranty/hp carepack - no firmware - no server 2012r2. It's a bit bloody rude.

 

Aren't HPE doing this for all of their kit now? No warranty/support pack, no drivers or firmware?

 

I think that'd drive me further towards Dell and the others personally.

[Chuckster]

Aren't HPE doing this for all of their kit now? No warranty/support pack, no drivers or firmware?

 

I think that'd drive me further towards Dell and the others personally.

 

Yup, HP has done this right across the board and I think it's been 2 years since the implementation. Dell is looking like a much healthier option for me when the time comes for hardware refreshes.

[Oaktech]

Aren't HPE doing this for all of their kit now? No warranty/support pack, no drivers or firmware?

 

I think that'd drive me further towards Dell and the others personally.

 

You can get drivers, but certain firmware updates are restricted to warranty customers - It seems mainly the updates that add features rather than just bug fixes.

 

I'm veering towards the Lenovo branded IBM kit at the moment.

[casey]

Chuckster and Oaktech: pm's with link sent.

[Davit2005]

You can get drivers, but certain firmware updates are restricted to warranty customers - It seems mainly the updates that add features rather than just bug fixes.

 

I'm veering towards the Lenovo branded IBM kit at the moment.

 

Yep, I was looking for a cheap low power server for home use and Lenovo had a lot going for it compared to the HP offerings with HP's firmware policies. Dell was the other option.

[3s-gtech]

When I had this issue with my Microserver (fairly old model now, but still absolutely fine) I just ended up buying a decent PCI-E NIC. It wouldn't play ball at all with it otherwise. I hadn't tried a firmware update as this was after the paywall had been implemented.

[Davit2005]

When I had this issue with my Microserver (fairly old model now, but still absolutely fine) I just ended up buying a decent PCI-E NIC. It wouldn't play ball at all with it otherwise. I hadn't tried a firmware update as this was after the paywall had been implemented.

 

Think this is the one I purchased, I'll have to double check though, it is also VMWare compliant.

 

HP NC360T PCI-E Dual Port Gigabit Server Adapter (412648-B21) | HP® Africa

[Dos_Box]

It's a feature...

 

HP are basically holding microserver customers to ransom over this - no warranty/hp carepack - no firmware - no server 2012r2. It's a bit bloody rude.

 

I've got one to install using a startech adapter, but it's not great. It's a realtek based card and it doesn't support vlan's well, you have turn off all forms of checksum offloading and you won't get anywhere near the performance you expect from it. It works well enough for a pure DC, but I wouldn't want to try it on a fileserver.

 

Yeah, it's annoying. We have two Gen 8 Microservers (and very capable they are too) but I wouldn't class them as enterprise level kit. More small office/home appliances and when you only get 12 months worth of firmware updates it's a bit cheap IMO, espcially given the cost of support.

My other gripe with the Microserver support is the downloads site. My PC desktop isn't the most tidy of places, in fact it seems to be overflow from the recycle bin mostly, but it's still more navigable than the HP site which is not only painfully slow, but full of irrelevent drivers.

For instance, the Gen8 Microservers come with three integrated NIC's as standard. 2x GB LAN and an iLO (remote management) port. These are standard on all models.

Yet the Gen8 Microserver download page NIC section looks like this:

 

 

And none of those correspond to what is actually listed in Device manager!!

 

 

It's the same over several other areas as well with storage drivers being just as bad. Come on HP please sort it out. We like your kit, we really do, but your support site needs a major shake-up.

 

 

*Luckily there have been no more firmware or paid for updates since our warranties ran out last summer!

[Arthur]

I just need someone with a valid warranty to download the firmware and share with the rest of us

... or just download this: http://homeservershow.com/forums/index.php?/topic/9590-new-proliant-service-pack-2015060/?p=103714

[Chuckster]

I can confirm that the firmware @casey provided did the trick. Thank you!

[Oaktech]

Yeah, it's annoying. We have two Gen 8 Microservers (and very capable they are too) but I wouldn't class them as enterprise level kit. More small office/home appliances and when you only get 12 months worth of firmware updates it's a bit cheap IMO, espcially given the cost of support.

My other gripe with the Microserver support is the downloads site. My PC desktop isn't the most tidy of places, in fact it seems to be overflow from the recycle bin mostly, but it's still more navigable than the HP site which is not only painfully slow, but full of irrelevent drivers.

For instance, the Gen8 Microservers come with three integrated NIC's as standard. 2x GB LAN and an iLO (remote management) port. These are standard on all models.

Yet the Gen8 Microserver download page NIC section looks like this:

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]35544[/ATTACH]

 

And none of those correspond to what is actually listed in Device manager!!

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]35545[/ATTACH]

 

It's the same over several other areas as well with storage drivers being just as bad. Come on HP please sort it out. We like your kit, we really do, but your support site needs a major shake-up.

 

 

*Luckily there have been no more firmware or paid for updates since our warranties ran out last summer!

 

I think HP's entire support offering needs work. From how much it costs, to how the site is laid out.

 

I mean, you built the bloody kit HP, you ought to know what hardware it went out the door with. If you ask me for the serial of the kit, don't then offer me a driver for every iteration you ever made, offer me the drivers that my kit needs!

[Davit2005]

Chuckster and Oaktech: pm's with link sent.

 

Can you pm me a link as well :-)

[googlemad]

Could I also have a PM please? Timely as I've just put my home N40L back together and want to do a fresh install although getting very tempted by the Gen 8 edition now they're going for peanuts!