HP ProLiant MicroServer

Start thinking about your needs and which devices would support it.

The simplest thing, would be to build another HTPC exactly the same as your current one and repeat - if you don't have a TV for it to drive then that can be a secondary purchase :D. Essentially your HTPC2 with Openelec will just be a NAS until you hook it up to another display.

This actually raises an interesting situation that a LOT of guys are experiencing all over the place - How do I synchronize media between the devices, can it run in master slave config between XBMC instances, etc.

Luckily, the guys at Openelec are working on this problem and intend on offering either a master / slave release differentiation and / or a service that will enable a mysql decentralized master library to be hosted, and all other xbmc instances to come and go as they please.

Whut?
If you get a 2nd HP Proliant you don't need to buy a second TV dude...lol :D
Just connect both HP's to the same network via CAT5e cable, and set each XBMC to use the other's media (as well as it's own of course)
(If you do have 2 TV's though, both TV's will be able to access both HP's Media, meaning Everything)

I really have no idea why this should be a problem, what master/slave config you are talking about, why you would need mysql, or "synchronizing" between HTPCs
 
If you get a 2nd HP Proliant you don't need to buy a second TV dude...lol
Just connect both HP's to the same network via CAT5e cable, and set each XBMC to use the other's media (as well as it's own of course)
(If you do have 2 TV's though, both TV's will be able to access both HP's Media, meaning Everything)

exactly what I am doing, just not with 2 MS'

have 1 master NAS in main house with all stored stuff connected to network and in second building have MS on same network, both running XBMC and able to see all the media.

my MS only has it's default 250gig drive atm (until ofc 2TB's become a bit cheaper again).

I even have my PC connected and watch from the main NAS.


btw, did any1 here who bought the old NL36 model, test running a 1080p file with just it's on-board display?
 
btw, did any1 here who bought the old NL36 model, test running a 1080p file with just it's on-board display?

I can tell you now mate, it would be like feeding a Super Sized McFeast Deluxe burger to a 6 year old child - choking, stuttering and going very slowly through the whole ordeal.
360p Junior burgers are okay though :p

Get yourself a cheapo card, then it will play everything. besides, how else are you going to get sound?


PS: Thanks for the confirmation about multiple media centres using XBMC - I think i'm going to get another HP so I can access another 5 drives
(And score a SECOND media player while doing so) :D
 
hehehehehehe

nah I have a gfx card... just wanted to know cause when buds told me that the newer 40 model can play 1080p with just on-board, I was thinking if the 36 could as well.
 
I tried with a VGA cable before I got my gfx card and the N36L graphics wouldn't do 1920x1080 res anyway.
 
Just when I decide to switch from Seagate to Samsung hard drives I can't seem to find any Samsungs anywhere. And the prices are just ridiculous. Looks like I will have to stick to pricey Seagates. How do I add a hard drive to the HP? I'm running OpenElec. Will OpenElec see it and format it?
 
Add the drive itself:

1) Open HP Front Door
2) Remove Alan-key thingy from the door.
3) screw out 4 screws that are located ON the door itself. (I missed this the first time, and used my own screws and a screwdriver - use the included black screws!)
4) press bottom "button" down on an available Drive Bracket, pull top "lever" and it should pop out.
5) slide hard drive in, use alan-key to fasten black screws.
6) slide HDD attached to bracket into bay - it should "pop in" when it makes the connection.

As for the formatting/etc - well, NTFS works great, but it is a little slower than a true linux format (EXT3/etc) when copying from your PC to HP and vice versa.

I prefer NTFS, because even though its a little slower, I can always plug it into my Pc - with ext3, windows won't recognize it at all.
(If for some reason I lose my Samba config or something and have no access to the drive via the network)

Please Note: when you install OpenELEC, you will lose all data on that drive, and it WILL format it to a linux partition. the root OpenELEC drive will not work if you plug it into a windows Pc.
You cannot have OpenELEC installed on NTFS unfortunately.




hope that helps zophas
 
:eek: woooah dude are you serious? If that's true then I gotta take my hat off to the new model

yeah I was like "god dammit, now I need to get me another 40 model just for that" :D

if the guy that tested it was some newbie I would have been suspicious, but he knows what he is talking about.
 
... How do I add a hard drive to the HP? I'm running OpenElec. Will OpenElec see it and format it?

I recently went through this process. Unfortunately Openelec do not have any utilities to partition the disk. I ended up running a GParted Live CD on the hpms box and did it this way. After that Openelec will worked fine with it. It will be automounted under the Media share.
 
Can someone pls give a recap on which graphic cards I can use? So far it looks like the GT210, GT520 and the HD5450? But which models, since the rarely mention the power usage on the sites? Or will any passive model work?
 
Hi, quick question. I want to add another 2gb to the stock 2gb RAM. I reckon 4gb should be enough - just using it as a media server, but 2gb is a bit sluggish with all the services running.

Anything to avoid or would any ECC DDR3 ram work?


EDIT: nevermind, ordered Kingston ValueRam 2GB DDR3 1333 - ECC
 
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Lol, yeah I was considering getting more than one as well but don't want to be greedy :p
 
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