HP ProLiant MicroServer

[justjaxx]

Unlucky about the passively cooled one, I would've sent it back, but I suppose thats more waiting!!

You know how it is - this thing has taken over my life - wasnt keen on waiting any longer

Im using XBMC Live - downloaded about a month ago - loads on 10.04 Ubuntu I believe.

I tried a new live install yesterday using the above install.
I did update the Nvidia drivers, using the APT-GET:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/x-updates
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install nvidia-current nvidia-current-modaliases nvidia-settings

It ends up installing 270.36 I believe - but still no luck.

Now I didnt mention the full story above, but heres the thing : I did manage to get everything working over the weekend (after updating the Nvidia drivers as above, and hacking a little initially when it would connect to my TV), but when I tried to boot the machine up yesterday it wouldnt connect to my TV. I plugged the unit into my monitor. and noticed that the resolution in XWindows is limited to 640x480 - nothing I tried allows any higher resolution (xrandr lists 640x480 and max res).

We did experience a power failure yesterday morning, so Im wondering if that has something to do with it. Could it be a HW problem ? I suppose if the terminal works at 1280x1024 then the card should be fine, correct ?

Everything was working fine on Sunday night when I shut it down. I made no changes to anything. Then this problem crops up yesterday evening.

When I plug the machine into my TV, I can see it trying to change resolution, so the HDMI out is still alive.

I may have made a change while hacking (mainly trying different xorg.conf entries) that made all the difference, but now I have no idea what that change was as Ive recreated the boot USB.

This is my plan of action for now :
- Remake the USB using the current installation files - will test on both the Quadro and the 210
- Re-download XBMC Live and make a new USB
- update to 270.41 instead of 270.36
- hope and pray

And, thank you for your help...
If you have any more ideas, please share.

[iDOL]

You know how it is - this thing has taken over my life - wasnt keen on waiting any longer

Agreed, I also could not wait another month to order my 2.5" raid enclosure - so just grabbed it from performance pc.

Now to wait another week for express int delivery.

[SomeoneEls]

You know how it is - this thing has taken over my life - wasnt keen on waiting any longer

Im using XBMC Live - downloaded about a month ago - loads on 10.04 Ubuntu I believe.

I tried a new live install yesterday using the above install.
I did update the Nvidia drivers, using the APT-GET:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/x-updates
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install nvidia-current nvidia-current-modaliases nvidia-settings

It ends up installing 270.36 I believe - but still no luck.

Now I didnt mention the full story above, but heres the thing : I did manage to get everything working over the weekend (after updating the Nvidia drivers as above, and hacking a little initially when it would connect to my TV), but when I tried to boot the machine up yesterday it wouldnt connect to my TV. I plugged the unit into my monitor. and noticed that the resolution in XWindows is limited to 640x480 - nothing I tried allows any higher resolution (xrandr lists 640x480 and max res).

We did experience a power failure yesterday morning, so Im wondering if that has something to do with it. Could it be a HW problem ? I suppose if the terminal works at 1280x1024 then the card should be fine, correct ?

Everything was working fine on Sunday night when I shut it down. I made no changes to anything. Then this problem crops up yesterday evening.

When I plug the machine into my TV, I can see it trying to change resolution, so the HDMI out is still alive.

I may have made a change while hacking (mainly trying different xorg.conf entries) that made all the difference, but now I have no idea what that change was as Ive recreated the boot USB.

This is my plan of action for now :
- Remake the USB using the current installation files - will test on both the Quadro and the 210
- Re-download XBMC Live and make a new USB
- update to 270.41 instead of 270.36
- hope and pray

And, thank you for your help...
If you have any more ideas, please share.

This page maybe of use https://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/Config/Resolution

[justjaxx]

This page maybe of use https://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/Config/Resolution

Thanks, what concerns me is that xrandr -q lists 320x200 as the min resolution, and 640x480 as max when connected to my monitor via the VGA connection.

I therefore cannot increase the resolution past 640x480, either via Nvidia-settings nor xrandr.

[justjaxx]

Agreed, I also could not wait another month to order my 2.5" raid enclosure - so just grabbed it from performance pc.

Now to wait another week for express int delivery.

Yep... got the better of me...
Now I really hope the card hasnt gone faulty as there is no warrantee.

[SomeoneEls]

Yep... got the better of me...
Now I really hope the card hasnt gone faulty as there is no warrantee.

That would suck!

Thanks, what concerns me is that xrandr -q lists 320x200 as the min resolution, and 640x480 as max when connected to my monitor via the VGA connection.

I therefore cannot increase the resolution past 640x480, either via Nvidia-settings nor xrandr.

So you can't even add the undetected resolutions manually? Try this:-
xrandr --newmode "1024x768" 63.50 1024 1072 1176 1328
768 771 775 798 -hsync +vsync
xrandr --addmode VGA 1024x768
xrandr --output VGA --mode 1024x768

Very weird that you'd have to as usually X get's supported modes from the monitor via a DDC probe.

If the above worked somethings not right but you may still be able to get it to work!

[justjaxx]

That would suck!



So you can't even add the undetected resolutions manually? Try this:-
xrandr --newmode "1024x768" 63.50 1024 1072 1176 1328
768 771 775 798 -hsync +vsync
xrandr --addmode VGA 1024x768
xrandr --output VGA --mode 1024x768

Very weird that you'd have to as usually X get's supported modes from the monitor via a DDC probe.

If the above worked somethings not right but you may still be able to get it to work!

Thanks again (really!), will try it tonight.
I did try something similar yesterday, but I got an error - something to the effect that the maximum resolution supported was 640x480 - could have been an incorrect parameter though.

[Messugga]

This sounds way more complicated than the experience should be. I assume you're connected via HDMI? It should communicate with the TV to get a resolution and whatnot. Do me a favour and use unetbootin to create a bootable flash drive. Boot into it in live mode (don't install) and tell us what happens.

[SomeoneEls]

This sounds way more complicated than the experience should be. I assume you're connected via HDMI? It should communicate with the TV to get a resolution and whatnot. Do me a favour and use unetbootin to create a bootable flash drive. Boot into it in live mode (don't install) and tell us what happens.

It definitely is way way more complicated than it should be, just throwing ideas out there that may help him get it working again!

[justjaxx]

It definitely is way way more complicated than it should be, just throwing ideas out there that may help him get it working again!

Just a big thanks once again for your troubleshooting advice yesterday...

So, I did more troubleshooting last night (about 3 hours worth), and it turns out to be a faulty graphics card.

As you know, the GeForce210 does not come with low profile brackets. I think that all the plugging and removing of the HDMI and VGA cables has damaged the card. I noticed (purely by chance) that if I uplugged and replugged the VGA cable, and then started XWindows, it would run at 1280x1024 or so. If I exited XWin and restarted, it would start in 640x480. It turned out that removing the VGA plug moved the grpahics card slightly, hence the difference.

In any case the card is now dead - the machine would not boot with the video card seated ( the HP logo stays red on bootup, unless the card is removed).

I am now considering trying the ATI 5450, as this card comes with the low profile brackets, so it is lower risk.

The low profile cards, when installed without brackets, tend to be moved by movement of the HDMI cable which is generally quite stiff (any movement of the cable results in the graphics card moving in the case). So be careful...

Thanks again for the help guys.

[Freaksta]

GREAT! Im glad i found this topic, i would like to do something very similar. I am planning on buying one for NAS and then another for my sister and creating a HTPC, please keep us up to date justjaxx!

What is the best way to create this box into NAS, i would like to fit it with 5x2TB drives and hopefully have some sort of raid setup for redundancy! Please advice if anyone can!

[justjaxx]

GREAT! Im glad i found this topic, i would like to do something very similar. I am planning on buying one for NAS and then another for my sister and creating a HTPC, please keep us up to date justjaxx!

What is the best way to create this box into NAS, i would like to fit it with 5x2TB drives and hopefully have some sort of raid setup for redundancy! Please advice if anyone can!

Will do, but please also see posts from SomeoneEls and Messugga - as they mentioned it is pretty straight-forward - so dont take my experience as being the norm

Im using FreeNas (freenas.org)- havent completed the config yet (yet to get the bigger drives) but it is up and running with 1 250GB drive, which was quite easy for someone with minimal linux experience. Interfacing with XBMC and XP has been a breeze, but there is a known bug with SMB and Vista - might wanna google that.

[iDOL]

Just a big thanks once again for your troubleshooting advice yesterday...

So, I did more troubleshooting last night (about 3 hours worth), and it turns out to be a faulty graphics card.

As you know, the GeForce210 does not come with low profile brackets. I think that all the plugging and removing of the HDMI and VGA cables has damaged the card. I noticed (purely by chance) that if I uplugged and replugged the VGA cable, and then started XWindows, it would run at 1280x1024 or so. If I exited XWin and restarted, it would start in 640x480. It turned out that removing the VGA plug moved the grpahics card slightly, hence the difference.

In any case the card is now dead - the machine would not boot with the video card seated ( the HP logo stays red on bootup, unless the card is removed).

I am now considering trying the ATI 5450, as this card comes with the low profile brackets, so it is lower risk.

The low profile cards, when installed without brackets, tend to be moved by movement of the HDMI cable which is generally quite stiff (any movement of the cable results in the graphics card moving in the case). So be careful...

Thanks again for the help guys.

Ouch - sorry to hear about the card.

Well, I had my own lessons with the ram - purchased a set of Adata modules - dead end.

Now I am onto another pair of kingstons - will see the result this evening.

Compatibility my eye .

500672-B21 - Kingston equivalent = KTH-PL313E/4G

[justjaxx]

Ouch - sorry to hear about the card.

Well, I had my own lessons with the ram - purchased a set of Adata modules - dead end.

Now I am onto another pair of kingstons - will see the result this evening.

Compatibility my eye .

500672-B21 - Kingston equivalent = KTH-PL313E/4G

Thanks man... replacement is already in my boot - GT220 - to be tested tonight.
Was having trouble sourcing an active cooled 210 - this one was available so got it.

[iDOL]

frustration.

well, needless to say KVR1333D3D4R9SK2/8G is not compatible.

my hope to have my vm machine running by this evening thwarted yet again.

i just want to #@$@%(&(&()&*.

will return ram and try again source the one 500672-B21 - Kingston equivalent = KTH-PL313E/4G