HP Gen 8 OMV build

  • Hi all,


    I have a GEN 8 Microserver that I want to make use as a NAS. I narrowed it down between Freenas (ZFS is overkill for me and without it Freenas doesn't make much sense) and Ubuntu Server (probably too much maintenance for me right now). It has 8GB of ECC RAM and will have 2 x 3TB drives in in. Plan is to use it for backups and media storage. I have a Surface Pro 3, Desktop machine Windows 10, Apple TV, Mac Pro, ESXI Server, Chromecast, PS4 and Samsung Tab S between me and the other half to serve up.


    I've read that some use the HDD as opposed to an SSD for Storage by installing Debian on RAID then OMV packages on top. Processor is G1610T. I'd eventually like to access the device from the internet via my PFsense box and use it as cloud.


    Presume baremetal is the way to go? Would use SNAPRAID to sync the disks for important data (music, photographs and documents). Presume you all would chose OMV over Freenas?


    Thanks,


    Dan

  • I suggest OMV installed onto a tiny dedicated SSD or HD.


    I am using a 30GB SSD because that was the smallest one I could find. OMV is currently using less than 2GB of that.


    This is a very straightforward approach that leaves both of your 3TB drives available for data and snapRaid parity.

    --
    Google is your friend and Bob's your uncle!


    OMV AMD64 7.x on headless Chenbro NR12000 1U 1x 8m Quad Core E3-1220 3.1GHz 32GB ECC RAM.

  • I'm running, just installed, on a GEN7. I'm currently running OMV on a USB drive. I will be installing it on a 16GB SSD instead of the USB Drive when it arrives.


    What I did was pull the HD(Raid drives) out, installed the OMV USB internally, and the USB install OMV outside the GEN7. Installed it onto the Internal USB Drive.
    I'm planning on using a external SSD drive connected via the USB. Instead of installing in the empty CD bay. Until I get a chance to upgrade the BIOS and get the proper wiring.


    I have my system setup right now as Raid1 on just the 2 drives. I have in it now.


    I looked at FreeNas and OMV. But was thinking that FreeNAS was overkill for my needs. So far I have been very happy with OMV. Easy to admin it.
    I was actually running Synology for 6 months and just found it a pain in the butt to do any hacky things. Like shell access and running/Developing scripts.

  • Hi both,


    Thanks for the replies. I have a 60GB SSD laying about. If I install it, does that mean when OMV takes over the entire disk that I can still install plugins into the same drive? Not worried about data as will have sufficient HDD space.


    Presume 8GB will be enough to run most plugins. What do you recommend or swear by?

  • When OMV is installed to a drive it takes over the entire disk. OMV plugins are stored on the same drive, and you can install other Debian packages you want on the drive too. What you can't do is change the partition layout, at least not easily. I have 16GB of RAM, but it will run in less.

    --
    Google is your friend and Bob's your uncle!


    OMV AMD64 7.x on headless Chenbro NR12000 1U 1x 8m Quad Core E3-1220 3.1GHz 32GB ECC RAM.

  • Since this is exactly the same model as I have, I thought it was good to ask my questions here, instead of making new thread with the same name :P


    So I bought exactly the same HP Gen8 Microserver, with 2 WD Red's (raid 1). A SanDisk Extreme USB 3.0 Flash Drive is arriving tomorrow, which will be used as a cheap fast drive to install OVM on.
    I booted the server once, setting up the raid 1, and messed with the configuration pannels. One thing I got stuck on, is that I couldn't update, since it said it couldn't connect to the HP website.
    Continuing I got to the "install OS" wizard, but I saw that it only "supported" some paid popular windows/linux distributions, thus not allowing me to install OVM that way.
    I have experience with OVM (Virtualbox), and I got to the conclusion, that Grub would not wanna install on the sdb drive. When I swapped them over(sda <-> sdb), it installed to sda (the drive that was sdb) just fine.


    So, my questions are:


    1. How can I update the server to the latest version?


    2. How can I install OVM? Just the normal way? (having an usb stick plugged in, booting from that, installing on the Sandisk flashdrive), and will it even install to a usb stick the normal way?

  • I'm running aa similar setup


    - HP Gen8 (G2020T) + 8Gb ECC RAM
    - OS Drive is a SSD 60Gb on the ODD bay - with molex > sata adapter for power connecter to the Sata port on Motherboard.
    - 3 x 4Tb Seagate 4K HDDs in Stripped ZFS (analog to a Raid 0) - whenever I buy the last 4th HD, i will migrate to a RaidZ1 or something. - but since I have a WD NAS, I back it all up to it using SnapRAID today.


    READ HERE on how to Boot from ODD BAY: http://homeservershow.com/foru…d-from-optical-drive-bay/


    Very first thing you do is, boot it up, press F10 and update all drivers and firmware.
    Then, with your single SSD drive on ODD Bay, create a Raid 0 array and add it to it - Now you can boot from the SSD and install OMV from a simple USB Disk.


    install your OMV, connect your data disks on the 4 bays, and start loading that little beast with plugins and huge amounts of data.


    :D :D

  • Also, bookmark this page:


    http://homeservershow.com/foru…t-microserver-gen8-links/


    it is a MUST for us, teh HP Gen8 owners.


    THis one here has better instructions on putting an SSD on your drive bay and booting it..


    http://homeservershow.com/atta…ant-gen8-microserver.html



    http://homeservershow.com/atta…ant-gen8-microserver.html
    If you want to take it to a whole new level:


    Install a Hypervisor (ESXi 5.5 Host) and:


    - Create one VM and run pfsense as your router with eth0 network port (incoming from WAN)
    - Create another VM and run OMV your NAS solution, bypass the disk drives directly to the VM, and map it to the second gigabit port (eth1) which is then connected to the rest of your LAN via a swicth.


    So your HP becomes your router, and your LAN NAS at the same time. :)


    :D

  • To install the GRUB, follow the instructions on here under "Unable to install GRUB in /dev/sda"


    http://wiki.openmediavault.org/index.php?title=Installation



    Since this is exactly the same model as I have, I thought it was good to ask my questions here, instead of making new thread with the same name <img src="http://forums.openmediavault.org/wcf/images/smilies/tongue.png" alt=":P" />


    So I bought exactly the same HP Gen8 Microserver, with 2 WD Red's (raid 1). A SanDisk Extreme USB 3.0 Flash…

  • I have experience with OVM (Virtualbox), and I got to the conclusion, that Grub would not wanna install on the sdb drive. When I swapped them over(sda <-> sdb), it installed to sda (the drive that was sdb) just fine.


    I have an easier fix for this... when GRUB install appears, and fails, just unplug the USB drive from the server - all files are already loaded / cached, after you remove it, it will identify your disk as sda from that point on, and not sdb.


    Hit enter and continue installing, works like a charm.


    :D :D much easier.

  • Hi all,


    Thanks for the replies thus far. I am aware of the ODD trick in the HP Gen8 and will be using it.


    Reading more last evening I have come across MythTV and that looks very useful. Anyone here using this?

  • Quote from JustRamon: “I have experience with OVM (Virtualbox), and I got to the conclusion, that Grub would not wanna install on the sdb drive. When I swapped them over(sda &lt;-&gt; sdb), it installed to sda (the drive that was sdb) just fine.”


    I have…


    Great! Now for the updating problem: Was it my internet, or is the update server disabled for some reason?


    Also, in the quickstart poster I read that only the USB 2.0 at the back will load before the OS loads. So. Does this mean I can't plug my superfast usb in 3.0, to boot from it? :"(

  • Also, in the quickstart poster I read that only the USB 2.0 at the back will load before the OS loads. So. Does this mean I can't plug my superfast usb in 3.0, to boot from it? :"(


    Use the ILO advanced application, and use your server on a headless manner - mine sits on the rack in the living room next to my hometheater and internet modem.


    while booting, press F8 and change the sequence of what you're trying to boot from - if physically connected something on the server, OR


    use the easy method - mount the image via ILO and boot from there :)


    THis is how I access my HP server at home when i need to reboot, power, or do any HP related maintenance.
    You can even see the boot post and messages by using the ILO.



    you server came with a little TAG sticker attached to its back... well, use it.

  • Quote from JustRamon: “Also, in the quickstart poster I read that only the USB 2.0 at the back will load before the OS loads. So. Does this mean I can't plug my superfast usb in 3.0, to boot from it? :&quot;(”


    Use the ILO advanced application, and use…


    So, does this mean I can let it boot from an image on my pc? Or should I still buy an ssd to boot? And what about the updates failing?

  • And I have no idea on how to get that console program, isn't it paid? I looked everywhere but I can only find tutorials &amp; such.


    You get a free trial of iLo which is HP's remote admin software. It only runs on PC or you can get an iphone/ipad app.


    After your trial ends you can't use remote console.


    I performed the whole install by linking my drive up to my laptop and used virtualbox to set up a Debian VM and installed using that.

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