hp proliantmicroserver for dummies

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HP ProLiant Microserver

by John Paul Mueller

Special Edition

HP ProLiant MicroServer For Dummies, Special EditionPublished by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River St. Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774 www.wiley.com

Copyright 2015 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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Table of ContentsIntroduction ....................................................... 1

About This Book ........................................................................ 1Icons Used in This Book ............................................................ 1

Chapter 1: Understanding Why You Need a Server . . . .3Defining the Benefits of a Server .............................................. 3Understanding How Servers Are Used .................................... 5

Chapter 2: Defining Server Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7Defining a Server as a Physical Entity ..................................... 7Considering the USB .................................................................. 9Understanding NICs ................................................................. 10Defining the PCIe Bus .............................................................. 12Understanding SATA Drives ................................................... 12Understanding RAID ................................................................ 13DDR3 Unbuffered Memory ...................................................... 14

Chapter 3: Defining Network Basics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15Routers: Your Networks Traffic Cop .................................... 15Switches: Extending Your Network Intelligently .................. 17

Chapter 4: Introducing the HP Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19Why HP Servers Give You Confidence .................................. 20Defining the Benefits of the HP Just Right IT Solution ........ 20

Chapter 5: Detailing the HP ProLiant MicroServer Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Considering the ProLiant MicroServer Gen8 Features........ 28Considering the PS110 11n Wireless VPN Router

Features ................................................................................. 36Looking at the PS1810 Switch Features ................................. 37

Chapter 6: Ten Benefits of ProLiant MicroServer Gen8, PS110 11n, and PS1810-8G . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39

Data Consolidation .................................................................. 39Security ..................................................................................... 40Quiet .......................................................................................... 40Small Footprint ......................................................................... 40

HP ProLiant MicroServer For Dummies, Special Edition _________iv


Integrated with HP Networking Devices ............................... 41Low Power Footprint ............................................................... 42Easy to Set Up ........................................................................... 42Easy to Manage ........................................................................ 43Easy to Service ......................................................................... 43Access to Superior HP Support .............................................. 44


Introduction

T he HP ProLiant MicroServer Gen8 is a small, quiet, and uniquely designed server thats great as a first server solution for micro and small businesses. With server class performance in a form factor thats easy to use and service, the MicroServer Gen8 helps you drive down expenses while improving productivity and efficiency. And best of all, you dont need a server room to have a server.

About This BookIn this book, you discover the ins and outs of the HP ProLiant MicroServer Gen8 along with its counterparts the PS110 11nWireless VPN Router and the PS1810-8G Switch. When combined as one solution, you get a multitude of benefits. Asyou dig further into this book from here, you find out more about the benefits of this solution and why you even need a server. We start with some server and networking basics to whet your appetite, and then introduce to you why we think you will enjoy the HP product solution.

You can really start anywhere you like in the book from here, depending on your level of understanding. If you want to touch on the nitty-gritty of servers and networking, we recom-mend starting at page one and reading all the way through. If youre more well-versed on the basics, then jump to Chapter4 and start seeing why the HP solution is right for you!

Icons Used in This BookThis book uses icons to alert you to useful and important information. Youll see these icons in the margins as you read. You cant miss them!

HP ProLiant MicroServer For Dummies, Special Edition _________2


This icon gives you extra information that helps you make sense of some of the more technical aspects of small office servers.

This icon points out helpful and useful information. You might even save some time and/or money!

When you see this icon, pay attention. You get super-important information thats worth remembering.


Chapter 1

Understanding Why You Need a Server

In This Chapter Looking at server benefits

Understanding how servers are used

F or a business to thrive, it needs better ways to coordinate the efforts of everyone involved so it can remain efficient and competitive. This means ensuring that the businesss computer systems remain stable and available: that you can access files 24/7 (even when someone is away), that the system can recover from failure (which is known as resiliency in the IT world), and that the data remains secure.

Unfortunately, many businesses store data and information across many computing devices with no centralized backup and no security. Stop for a second and think how your business could be impacted by the loss of your data. If such a mishap would be devastating, maybe its time to upgrade to a server.

Defining the Benefits of a ServerA server is much more resilient and reliable than a single PC or Mac or even a distributed system with a few backup devices connected. PCs need to be powered down every night or at least rebooted regularly. They arent designed for 24/7 operation, and if they did, most would likely have a short shelf life, suffer poor performance, and be vulnerable to memory errors.



Servers like the HP ProLiant MicroServer Gen8 have resiliency and reliability features built in. A server is less susceptible to crashes especially disk crashes in which you would kiss your files and data goodbye. And if the disk crashes in a laptop containing vital information, it could cost almost as much to have someone recover your files as it would to just buy a server. Even with regular backups of a laptop, some data will very likely be lost.

Servers make it easier for you to focus on your business instead of managing the resources required to support your business. People who are more productive tend to work better together and come up with truly amazing ideas.

The idea that centralizing data and sharing resources makes things easier can be expressed as return on investment (ROI). Businesses need to focus on the ROI that every purchase pro-vides to ensure money is invested wisely. After all, a purchase represents an investment in the business, and that investment needs to benefit the business in multiple ways. The following list provides an overview of the most common benefits that businesses obtain by moving to a server:

Enhancing efficiency and productivity: Having a server saves both time and money. Instead of spending an hour tracking down an important spreadsheet your vacation-ing coworker neglected to send out before he left, you can centralize everything on a server so everyone can work together more easily. A server improves productivity by making it possible for people to exchange information faster and to collaborate with greater ease. Any time you make communication easier, you improve the output of a group as a whole. Without a server, people have to search for the information they need to perform essential tasks.

Ensuring authorized access to your data and resources: Not only do people have to locate the data required to perform the task, but also its necessary to gain access to resources such as printers and other devices used to create output. A server improves individual productivity by making it possible for people to find and access the things they need much faster. Having a server allows you to set policies to manage authorized access.

Keeping data safe: Theres no question you need to back up your data. Its much easier to back up your important business information from a central location. Storing business information on multiple individual systems

Chapter 1: Understanding Why You Need a Server 5


exposes your data to potential damage, loss, and unau-thorized access. By doing a single backup of a centralized server, you save money by not having to buy everyone his or her own direct-attached storage device.

Accessing the central server using multiple devices: Users want to use their own devices to work with data. In addition, a single user may use more than one device a smartphone while on the run, a tablet at home, and a PC at work. Your employees can access the info on the server from multiple client devices whether theyre on premise or remote (if allowed). If an important busi-ness file is located on someones laptop, it can only be accessed from that device by using a server, you can access the information from multiple client devices.

Maintaining control over data: Government regulations require that you keep certain kinds of information secure for a certain period of time and ensure only authorized access to it. For example, a doctors or dentists office must maintain the privacy of patient records, so you need some method for ensuring that happens. Even if you dont have legal or other reasons to maintain strict data integrity, competitive reasons exist for maintaining control. Servers make it possible to improve control over the entire computing environment.

Understanding How Servers Are Used

Servers provide services that fulfill particular needs. These needs are called use cases. Each of these services helps achieve one or more of the benefits described in the preced-ing section. In order to fully understand what a server pro-vides, you need to know the most common use cases.

File and print servicesOften servers provide both file and print services to their users. The file and print services can be combined into one system or on separate servers. A file server makes data accessi-ble to multiple end users, and it provides a central data store. Users can rely on access to the data wherever its needed. For example, when you need access to the latest business plan



that the department is working on, the file server has this in a central location. Having the data stored in a central location also makes it easier to ensure the data is secure.

A print server is one that allows multiple users to share a printer. However, the term now applies to any output device that tends to be expensive and used only occasionally by any given user. For example, a law office may need to print out documents for a court case on a high-quality printer, so cen-tralizing this process and sharing resources saves money by having the capability to prioritize and manage multiple print output requests.

Backup servicesStoring your data in a centralized location makes it possible to secure the data and improve efficiency by allowing quick access by multiple users. Note, the data is still susceptible to loss from hardware failures and natural disasters. Having a centralized file store makes it simpler to back up the data to another location for protection. Additionally, most users/employees still have working files and data on their individual laptops and desktops. A key use for a server is as a dedicated backup server for all the client devices. In case a user experiences a failure of her laptop, her data can be recovered from the backup server.

Database servicesDatabases make it possible to organize, manipulate, and ana-lyze similar types of data. Businesses need to know all sorts of things about their customers in order to serve them better. For example, you might want to find out the average amount a customer will spend when making an order. A database makes this sort of analysis possible. However, in order to fully real-ize the benefits a database can provide, you need a server to store the data it manages in a central location.

Application servicesA centralized server can host common small-business appli-cations so everyone can have easy access. For example, run-ning Intuit QuickBooks on a server can help organize all your accounting data and store it in one centralized location.


Chapter 2

Defining Server BasicsIn This Chapter

Looking at the server as a physical entity

Working with the universal serial bus

Getting to know network interface cards

Defining the peripheral component interconnect express bus

Taking a look at serial advanced technology attachment drives

Protecting your data investment with a redundant array of inexpensive disks

Learning more about DDR3 unbuffered memory

F or many people, a server is a dark mysterious box that sits in a room somewhere. As with any other unknown, its easy to view the server as something to fear, or at least steer clear of, lest you upset something and lose your data. Servers are like any other computer, except that theyre configured specially to make it easy to perform the tasks discussed in Chapter1 (for example, file and print, backup, database, and application services). So the better you under-stand your server as a physical device and what its used for, the easier you can make decisions about buying precisely the right server to meet your needs and to work with the server once you own one.

Defining a Server as a Physical Entity

Servers generally lack features that are used to support information exchange with a user, such as a display, key-board, and mouse. In addition, the internal features of



a server focus more on memory, hard drive space, and processing cycles versus a desktop PC. The precise configu-ration of a server depends on the tasks that you decide it should perform.

In the past, servers usually came in huge boxes. Because of the way servers were designed, these boxes required a number of noisy fans to keep things cool. The combination of the large box size and the fans used to cool components meant that servers required their own room to keep the noise from annoying users performing work. Fortunately, modern servers are smaller and quieter (as shown in Figure2-1), so you can place them anywhere within a room. This server is 9.15 inches tall, 9.06 inches wide, and 9.65 inches deep (23.24 cm x 23 cm x 24.5 cm).

Figure2-1: Modern servers are quiet and relatively small.

Unlike desktop systems, where a user may want to add or remove devices or accessories after setup and during use, servers are usually set up and then left as is. Consequently, servers typically have their connectors located on the back of the system. In addition, because the purpose of a server is to communicate in various ways, it usually has multiple input/output (I/O) connections, as shown in Figure2-2. Dont worry about the specific purpose of these connectors for now the remainder of the chapter tells you about them.

Chapter 2: Defining Server Basics 9


Considering the USBThe universal serial bus (USB) ports on the back of the server provide the means to connect various devices. Its also pos-sible to use USB to create network connections, but the high-speed nature of servers makes this use less likely. A server needs to connect with the network using a high-speed con-nection so it can support multiple clients. A USB connection would slow things down too much.

A server normally has shared or centralized devices con-nected to it through the USB ports. For example, you may decide that you want to connect an expensive printer to the network through the server. In addition, you may attach your server to a security system to provide centralized monitoring of conditions in your office. There are all sorts of devices you can connect to your server, but for the most part, these devices benefit everyone, rather than a particular individual.

Servers typically support two common types of USB ports to ensure that each device you plug in has the functionality it requires. Many differences exist between port standards, but the main differences are that newer ports, e.g. USB 3.0, support higher speed data transfers and offer more power to connected devices to perform tasks such as charging

Figure2-2: Servers have a number of con-nectors that normally are located on the back.



batteries. Older ports, e.g. USB 2.0, are supplied so that older devices can find the level of support originally defined for that device. USB 3.0 provides faster speed (10x) and more power efficiency than USB 2.0 and is backwards compat-ible with USB 2.0 devices. However, if USB 3.0 is used with a USB2.0 device, it will operate at USB 2.0 speeds.

Understanding NICsA network interface controller (NIC) connects the server to the rest of the network. In order for computers to communicate with each other, they must have a network connection. The connection can be wired (physical) or wireless (relying on radio waves), but there must be a connection. Otherwise, its as if the computer is enclosed in a soundproof room unable to talk with the outside world.

The server typically uses a physical connection, rather than a wireless connection, because the physical connection pro-vides greater reliability, better security, and higher speed. In addition, you typically wont move a server between locations while its in use, so a wireless connection doesnt provide any advantage for server configurations.

For the most part, working with a NIC consists of plugging in a cable to the server and then plugging the other end of the cable into a router or switch. The connector looks much like the one used to connect a landline phone to the telephone connector on a wall but a little bit bigger and referred to as a RJ-45 connector. This section describes some special fea-tures of NICs that are handy to know about when working with a server.



Connecting at the correct speedAn important consideration for working with servers is con-necting to the network at the correct speed. A server provides services of various sorts to a number of clients (desktops, laptops, tablets, or other devices that rely on the server). The higher the connection speed, the easier it is for clients to gain access to the functionality that a server provides.

A server used for a small- to medium-sized business will typi-cally provide a 1 gigabit per second (Gbps) Ethernet connec-tion. Ethernet is a technology for local computing networks or Local Area Networks (LANs). A 1Gbps connection means the server can send and receive Ethernet frames at 1 billion bits of information each second. There are 8 bits in each byte, and 2 bytes hold a single character, so the server can transmit 62,500,000 characters each second. Thats akin to sending ten copies of War and Peace to your server every second (assum-ing a word count of 587,287 and 10 or so characters in the average word).

In order to make the connection work, you must have the right kind of cable and a network router or switch designed to operate at the same speed as the NIC. Its usually a good idea to get the router and/or switch and the server at the same time so you can be certain the two will work together.

Monitoring NIC activityYour server could suddenly stop communicating with the network cables get unplugged, hardware fails, software causes crashes, and even acts of nature can become involved. Because you want to get your network running again quickly, its important to have some means of monitoring NIC activity.

A server will typically have a light associated with each NIC connection. The light shows whether you have an active con-nection, including a properly connected cable, as well as indi-cating if data is being transmitted.



Defining the PCIe BusA server is made up of a number of discrete parts. You dont really need to know much about these parts (such as the CPU, memory, disk drives, and I/O slots) except that they are main subsystems of the server. The peripheral component intercon-nect express (PCIe) bus provides the connections between these various discrete parts. Without this bus, the various parts wouldnt be able to talk to each other, and the server wouldnt do anything for you.

Many different kinds of busses are used to create connec-tions between components in servers. There are a number of PCIe levels. The important thing to remember is that a 2.0 bus transfers information at 5 giga-transfers-per-second (GT/s), while a 3.0 bus runs at 8 GT/s, which means that the 3.0 bus works faster. In addition, the devices that attach to the bus can use multiple data lanes. A device that supports eight lanes (shown as x8 with the device documentation) can commu-nicate twice as fast as a device that supports only four lanes (x4). The number of lanes supported is influenced by the electrical component just described as well as a mechanical component, the PCIe connector. Different sized connectors will also influence the number of lanes supported.

Understanding SATA DrivesOne of the main purposes of servers is to make it possible to manage and protect data efficiently. Serial advanced technol-ogy attachment (SATA) drives provide the permanent storage for data used by everyone within a business. With this in mind, server drives tend to be quite large and extremely fast. The SATA acronym refers to the kind of connection that the drives use to communicate with the rest of the server. This connection type offers the following advantages over older technology drive setups:

Reduced cable size and cost

Native hot swapping (based on implementation)

Faster data transfer

More reliable data transfer



For the most part, you dont need to worry too much about the particulars of SATA. All you really need to know is that SATA provides fast and efficient data transfers using inexpensive cabling that is easy to connect to the drive. Drives are also differentiated by the way they connect in the server, includ-ing hot plug and non-hot plug (NHP) drives. The MicroServer only supports NHP drives and they cant be unplugged and removed while the system is running. Many NHP implementa-tions have each drive cabled which involves more work for the user to remove and service a drive versus a hot-plug con-figuration. However, the MicroServer is designed to enable the drives to be easily removed for servicing or upgrades when the system is shut down. The difference between a hot-plug and pluggable drive is that hot-plug drives can be removed while the system is running. Pluggable drives can only be removed when the system is shut down. Of course, usually the more convenience offered, the higher the associated cost.

Understanding RAIDYou can connect disk drives in certain ways to gain addi-tional reliability, speed, or both. The most common way to connect multiple disk drives together is through a redundant array of inexpensive disks (RAID). Most servers support mul-tiple levels of RAID so you can choose how the drives con-nect together and determine what kind of results to expect from the connectivity. Here are the most common RAID levels:

RAID 0: Provides additional speed by having two drives store the data, but doesnt provide any sort of data protec-tion in the event of a drive failure. Using two drives effec-tively increases the size of the data path, which means that the server can read and write the data faster. This is known as striping. You must have a minimum of two drives to use this RAID level.

RAID 1: Provides additional reliability by placing the same information on two drives. If one drive fails, the other drive can take over because it contains an exact copy, or a mirror, of the first drives data. You must have a minimum of two drives to use this RAID level.



RAID 1+0: Combines the benefits of RAID 0 and RAID 1 so the drives work faster but also provides added reliability. You must have a minimum of four drives to use this RAID level.

RAID 5: Provides additional speed and reliability by having a minimum of three drives store the data and including special information to rebuild the data should one drive fail. This RAID level has an advantage over RAID 1+0 in that you gain more data storage space with the same resulting speed and reliability boost. The trade-off is added complexity. You must have a minimum of three drives to use this RAID level.

DDR3 Unbuffered MemoryBecause servers run 24/7, the chance of memory errors is higher than with desktop systems that dont run all the time. Therefore, most servers today use memory with error correc-tion codes (ECC) that provide higher data resiliency. In fact, HP was the first company to introduce ECC memory in indus-try standard servers.

Another attribute of memory is whether its registered memory or unbuffered memory. For purposes of entry serv-ers that usually have a smaller memory footprint, UDIMMs or unbuffered DIMMs consume less power and are more afford-able than a comparable Registered DIMM or RDIMM configura-tion yet still provide error correction.

MicroServer uses DDR3 memory. The latest memory is DDR4, but currently there are no low-voltage DDR4 UDIMMs. With its focus on efficiency and low power, the MicroServer sup-ports both standard voltage and low-voltage DDR3 UDIMMs. For more detailed coverage on DDR3 memory, see DDR3 For Dummies (Wiley), also available from HP.


Chapter 3

Defining Network BasicsIn This Chapter

Playing traffic cop with routers

Using switches to extend your network

T he two main building blocks of any network are routers and switches. Switches connect your devices comput-ers, printers, and servers to each other. They are what enable users to communicate and share information over your local area network (LAN).

Routers connect networks to each other and computers to the Internet or wide area network (WAN). Their reliability is para-mount, especially if your business relies on cloud computing services or cloud-based apps. Routers are what allow your companys devices to share a broadband Internet connection.

In this chapter, you discover more about the router and switch basics.

Routers: Your Networks Traffic Cop

A router is a device that passes data between networks, which could include LANs and wireless LANs (WLANs). The data could be traditional network data, such as information in spreadsheets and text documents, as well as rich media data and VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) traffic. After connect-ing your companys networked computers to your broadband Internet connection, the most common function of a router is to act as a dispatcher for network data and ensure it is routed correctly and efficiently.



Routers are placed at any network gateway (where one network meets another), or at a network point-of-presence (an access point from one place to the rest of the Internet). Routers determine the best route for a given packet (a unit of data divided up for efficient routing) so it travels to its desti-nation most efficiently.

On the LAN side, a router interfaces with switches, wireless APs (access points), IP phones, and analog devices (such as facsimile machines, analog phones, and analog modems). On the WAN side, a router can interface with a service provider, Internet service provider, public switched telephone network (PSTN), cellular networks, or any combination of these.

Basic routers carry out routing functions and allow remote computers for example, devices on the Internet to con-nect to a specific computer or service in your LAN. These routers can also support wireless networking, enabling your wireless devices to connect to the Internet. This would be ideal for small businesses that want to connect the LAN and WLAN to the Internet but also allow mobility devices such as tablets and smartphones to connect to the LAN.

The first order of business for many small organizations is establishing an Internet connection. Most Internet Service Providers (ISPs) provide routers that include at least four Fast Ethernet or Gigabit ports, essentially a small switch, meet-ing the basic needs for connectivity. Many of these routers are consumer-grade and were suitable to meet your business needs in the past. However, mobility, security, and access to cloud-based applications are driving the need to connect in new and more robust ways.

You may find that you are familiar with one of the following scenarios and need to consider moving to a business-grade all-in-one router solution.

Small businesses often put security on the back burner. Hackers are aware of this and are increasingly targeting small businesses. As your organization becomes more mobile, you need to consider more effective ways to secure company data. A business-grade router can offer features like Virtual Private Networks and Firewalls for robust security.

Chapter 3: Defining Network Basics 17


Users are experiencing poor wired or wireless perfor-mance connecting to shared resources or the Internet. This may be a result of older technology being used on the ISP router.

Users require wireless access to shared resources or the Internet. In this age of Bring Your Own Devices (BYOD), users may require access to shared resources or the Internet from wireless devices. Your router may not offer wireless connectivity.

Switches: Extending Your Network Intelligently

A network switch uses its physical connection points (ports) and software intelligence to transmit information as data packets between client devices, including PCs, printers, IP cameras, IP phones, and LAN devices, such as servers, wire-less APs, other switches, and routers. Data packets carry digi-tal voice, video, or data.

The switch inspects the packets as it receives them. It deter-mines the source and destination of each packet, sets up the best network path to get it there, and then forwards it appropriately. Speed and coordination are essential so pack-ets dont collide or get dropped. While routers and switches serve some similar functions, they work together to create a robust network.

Some switches can be configured and managed so certain traffic is segmented that is, transmitted only through spe-cific ports for performance or security reasons. Packets from a payroll application, for instance, may be segmented to pass only through ports that connect the authorized users in finance or human resources. And because packets from voice applications are latency-sensitive (delays cause the data to decompose and voice breaks up), they should be parti-tioned and prioritized over other applications. If you think your environment requires a special configuration, consult with your partner or IT advisor.

A switch also receives and sends packet traffic outside the LAN through a router or gateway. This edge device connects



the LAN to external WANs, such as the Internet, by using a broadband service.

Your network will connect a variety of devices depending on your needs and industry, including wireless gear and VoIP devices, such as IP phones. Switches make these con-nections which involve a variety of speeds, signals, and/or cables possible. Organizations that are growing find that they need to increase the number of wired ports to accom-modate more users and more network-based devices such as printers, IP phones or cameras, and laptops and desktops.

The intelligence that a router or switch provides varies by vendor, but its important to look for the right kind of function-ality. A switch can provide the following kinds of functionality:

Configuration software: In order to use the switch correctly, you need software to configure it. Switches that provide a secure built-in user interface are easier to configure.

Automatic device discovery: A switch can provide vary-ing functionality depending on the device connected to a particular port. Support for protocol standards ensures that devices will work together. One feature that the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) enables is automatic device discovery. This allows the switch to find (or discover) devices connected to it and make them visible to the server.

Packet storm protection: Individuals with malicious intent can try to bring down your network by flooding it with useless requests (also called a Denial of Service, or DOS, attack). In addition, faulty NICs or software encoun-tering a bug can send errant data on the network, causing it to fail. A good switch will prevent this act from happen-ing so your network continues to communicate efficiently.

Troubleshooting functionality: Using a switch can make troubleshooting your network easier. A switch can help you detect conditions such as faulty cables, faulty NICs, and disconnections. In many cases, all you need to do is look at a series of lights to determine what has gone wrong.

Green operation: Modern switches automatically power down when theyre not needed so they consume less energy and produce less heat.


Chapter 4

Introducing the HP SolutionIn This Chapter

Understanding why HP servers give you confidence

Defining the benefits of the HP solution

I f youve read the first three chapters, you know a little bit about servers and why theyre useful devices for your busi-ness. All this information is great because it helps you define a reason to use a server to gain specific advantages for your business. However, there are a lot of different kinds of servers out there, so its important to know what kind of server you need for a smaller business or a home office.

Most servers arent designed for use at home or in small busi-ness offices. You dont want to mistakenly purchase a server with capabilities beyond the needs of your business. Thats the purpose of this chapter to help you understand what factors you should consider when selecting a server.

Of course, HP sells a lot of different servers, so its important to know which server to get. This chapter discusses the HP ProLiant MicroServer Gen8, which works well for small or home office businesses. This chapter also provides you some information about the HP PS110 11n Wireless VPN Router and HP PS1810-8G switch that were purposely designed to work with the MicroServer Gen8 as an integrated solution.



Why HP Servers Give You Confidence

HP has been a leader in industry standard server business for many years. By leveraging that experience, the company is making it easier for customers to deploy their first server. HP has developed the tools and management solutions that make it simple for small businesses to configure, install, and use a server.

HP has done all the work for you. Its better together approach pulls everything together, including server and options hardware, operating systems, and software compo-nents, and makes sure they work flawlessly together through extensive integration testing and qualification.

When you buy individual pieces and try to put them together as a complete system, you can encounter all sorts of problems. The parts may be incompatible with each other or not fully use the functionality provided by other parts. In addition, mistakes in purchasing the wrong pieces cost both time and money.

The ProLiant MicroServer Gen8 server and associated PS110 Wireless Router and PS1810-8G Switch (along with the required operating system and management software) together provide a complete solution where you can plug in your existing sys-tems, perform the required configuration, and get right to work.

Defining the Benefits of the HP Just Right IT Solution

Getting a ProLiant MicroServer solution from HP has a lot of benefits that directly affect the solutions usability in a small business or home office environment. HPs Just Right IT solu-tions are designed specifically to meet the business needs of small and medium businesses. To learn more about HP Just Right IT solutions, visit www8.hp.com/us/en/business-solutions/smb/index.html. The following sections describe each of these benefits and help you understand why theyre important. As you read these sections, you may dis-cover additional reasons to get a solution from HP based on your specific business needs.

Chapter 4: Introducing the HP Solution 21


Placing the server where you want itBeing able to place a server precisely where you want it is a significant plus that larger systems dont provide. In many home or small businesses, space is at a premium, and users have carefully wedged furniture and equipment into specific places which are often the only places theyll fit. You dont want a server that takes up a lot of space. As you can see in Figure4-1, the footprint of the ProLiant MicroServer Gen8, PS110 Router, and PS1810-8G Switch is really small. The net-working devices neatly stack on top of the MicroServer, main-taining a small space thats about the size of an 8.5-x-11-inch piece of paper.

Keeping things quietThe ProLiant MicroServer Gen8 only produces 21 dbA. The birds singing in your backyard make more noise than this server does. In short, you wont even notice that the server is running unless you look at the lights. The associated router and switch are fanless, so you wont hear them at all. This makes the MicroServer ideal for placing in your front office or reception area and not be disruptive to your business.

Figure4-1: The ProLiant MicroServer Gen8 server with PS110 Wireless Router and PS1810-8G Switch.



Making your work environment greenerThe ProLiant MicroServer Gen8 server has an energy-saving 150-watt or 200-watt (depending on region) power supply. This is in contrast to a lot of systems that sport power sup-plies in the 500 watt range (or even higher). A smaller watt-age power supply means that youre spending less money to run the server in direct electrical costs. In addition, a smaller power supply also means less heat, so the server wont add extra heat to your office. The networking devices also have green features. The switch offers an energy efficient design that supports Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE) and additional green features. The router supports Wireless Multimedia (WMM) Power Save mode for wireless, allowing it to transmit data while in a low-power state, which conserves battery life.

Upgrading your server with easeYour business is going to grow. As your business gets larger, youll need to hire more people, which means you may need to add memory for better performance to handle the larger number of users. Fortunately, the ProLiant MicroServer Gen8 has a modular design that makes it easy to perform upgrades with ease. For example, to add more memory capacity, just simply twist the thumb screws, remove the chassis cover and pop in the memory DIMM, as shown in Figure4-2. Additionally,

Figure4-2: Upgrading your server requires nothing more than plugging in new pieces as needed.



the PCIe slot is conveniently accessible if you want to add an HP Smart Array P222 controller for RAID 5 support.

Similarly, additional upgrades can be made with ease, such as adding hard drives, a PCIe card, or an optical drive.

Protecting your dataHP SmartMemory is an HP Qualified Option and is thoroughly tested beyond standard industry practices with HP ProLiant servers to ensure compatibility, performance, longevity, and reliability. HP Smart Memory makes your system resilient, which means its unlikely that your data will get damaged when unforeseen events occur.

Smart Memory makes it possible for your server to do more in a more reliable manner. For more on HP Smart Memory, check out DDR3 For Dummies, 2nd HP Special Edition, at http://files.hypervisor.fr/doc/DDR3forDUMMIESv2.pdf.

Using simplified management techniquesNo one expects you to become a computer guru. With this in mind, the HP solution comes with the Integrated Lights Out (iLO4) software that makes management easy. At a high level, iLO software allows you to manage your system locally or remotely. Chapter5 discusses more about this software.

Broad certified operating system support for the MicroServer Gen8HP ensures that your operating system of choice has been pretested to run on your machine. In fact, many operating system vendors such as Microsoft require that we certify the operating system. The HP testing saves you the trouble and guesswork in determining if the software is compat-ible with the hardware. Applications run on top of the OSes; therefore, you only need to check to see if the application works with your choice of OS.



HP tests and certifies Microsoft Windows and Linux operating systems and VMware hypervisor to save you heartache and wasted time. To see what OSes are compatible, tested and certified, visit the HP OS Support Matrix at www.hp.com/go/ossupport.

Keeping things safeThe ProLiant MicroServer Gen8 has an optional locking mechanism. Some people may wonder what all the hubbub is about after all, you dont lock your PC. The difference is that the server contains all your business critical data. You dont want someone to disable the server or damage the data it contains. Locking the server prevents others from physi-cally interacting with the server except as authorized.

There are two locking mechanisms to point out. One is to restrict access to hard drives to prevent inadvertent removal. There is an internal latch that prevents the bezel door from being opened. The second locking option is for physical secu-rity of the server itself. The rear of the server enables either a simple padlock/chain or Kensington lock to secure the server to prevent someone from walking away with it.

Integrated networkingHP Networking offers a full suite of networking solutions to meet the needs and budgets of every small business. The solu-tions are quick to install and easy to use so your employees can share resources, communicate, and collaborate without complexity.

HP Networking products for small businesses are specifically designed with your needs in mind:

Quick and easy to use: Ready-to-use, plug-and-play sim-plicity that makes setup, operation, and management happen in a snap.

Efficient: Intuitive, web-based, and zero-management network operation saves you time and the eco-friendly design of our products gives you peace of mind.

Reliable: The products are tested for worry-free opera-tion to help keep the business online and productive.



Open: We make our solutions standards based, so you can easily add them to your network and manage them.

Equipped with enhanced security features: HP Networking helps incorporate advanced secure technol-ogy, such as Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2), in wire-less products, 802.1X in switches, and Virtual Private Networks in routers.

Future ready: To meet your needs in the future, HP Networking provides a clear upgrade path for your grow-ing business.

Intelligent: Our products feature the functionality and performance designed to meet the employee and cus-tomer demands of a small business.

Cost-effective: Our products offer low cost of ownership with HP Limited Lifetime Warranty 2.0. It includes hard-ware warranty replacement for as long as you own the product, with next-business-day advance replacement available in most countries and 24/7 phone support for three years.


Chapter 5

Detailing the HP ProLiant MicroServer Solution

In This Chapter Defining the characteristics of the ProLiant MicroServer Gen8

Booting with USB or MicroSD

Discovering firmware

Using the embedded management features

Performing tasks remotely

Seeing the iLO Mobile App

Defining the characteristics of the PS1810-8G Switch and the PS110 11n Wireless VPN Router

S ome of your devices require little, if any, knowledge on your part. A toaster works just fine without any under-standing of its inner workings. However, a server, router, and a switch arent a toaster (or any other sort of household appliance). Given that your server directly affects the viability of your business and supports its day-to-day operations, you do need to know a few things about the server, router, and switch solution. You dont need to become a computer scien-tist, just an informed user whos familiar with the basics.

This chapter provides an overview of the ProLiant MicroServer Gen8, the PS110 11n Wireless VPN Router, and PS1810-8G Switch features and a bit about their functional-ity. You get an introduction into some of the specific inno-vations that HP has to offer that differentiates the ProLiant MicroServer Gen8 small business solution from other options on the market. These devices are key building blocks for HP Just Right IT solutions targeted at small and medium businesses.



Your server contains quite a bit of hardware that you gain access to in various ways. For the most part, you wont ever interact with the hardware after you set it up. However, when setting up your server, or performing basic administrative tasks, it helps to know a few things about the features of your server in order to successfully interact with the hardware. Even if you dont actually perform the setup of your system, having an overview of what will happen is useful because you want to know what the technician you hire is doing. The fol-lowing sections provide a base knowledge that will help you understand your server solution better.

Considering the ProLiant MicroServer Gen8 Features

Chapter2 contains a description of many of the pieces of hardware you find in and around a server box or chassis. Features such as the Ethernet and Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports make it possible to connect your server to other sys-tems on the network and to interact with devices such as a printer. Even your current PCs have many of these features, so you have probably seen them at some point already.

Something you probably dont have on your PC is front panel status indicators of the type shown in Figure5-1. The blue light bar at the bottom tells you about the health of the internal server components. The LEDs at the top right of the server allow you to check the status of both hard drive and Network Interface Card (NIC) activity at a glance as well. Even the power switch provides you with status information.

Not only do you want your server easier to use and main-tain, but also you want it to be an efficient workhorse. You want to get the most out of it that you can to maximize your investment. The ProLiant installation tool called Intelligent Provisioning allows you to specify an HP approved SD card as a target device for deploying your operating system. By boot-ing from USB or micro-SD, all the hard drive capacity becomes available for data storage.

Chapter 5: Detailing the HP ProLiant MicroServer Solution 29


Booting with USB or micro-SDBooting the system means starting it up, loading an operating system, and making the system generally available for use. Normally you boot your system from the hard drive or a CD/DVD. These traditional boot methods are easy to maintain and make the boot process part of the server itself.

HP ProLiant servers have SD boot capability, and they use less power and require less cooling. Additionally, because the SD media is internal to the server, it provides physical secu-rity. Also, high vibration can be an issue for rotational storage but has no impact on solid-state solutions like SD boot.

You can boot from USB as well. This is useful when the oper-ating system on the hard drive might become corrupt. In this case, you can insert a special USB or micro-Secure Digital (SD) device to boot the system and repair the operating system on the hard drive. Precisely how this happens depends on the operating system you use, so you want to be sure you understand the recovery options that your operating system provides.

Figure5-1: Front panel status indicators make it easy to monitor server health.



What tools are included?HP has developed setup, management, and serviceability tools that make using ProLiant servers an easier experience.

The built-in tools of the MicroServer Gen8 include the following:

Setup

Health monitoring

System updates

Server management (local and remote)

The engine that enables all of these tools is HP iLO.

HP iLO, your preferred IT administrator for ProLiantEven though the ProLiant MicroServer Gen8 is a reliable busi-ness resource, you still want to keep track of what its doing. It comes with HP Integrated Lights-Outs version 4 (iLO4) firmware that helps you manage both the server and its asso-ciated HP PS110 11n Wireless VPN Router and HP PS 1810 Switch (when your network includes them). HP iLO is the engine that enables the tools mentioned in the preceding section, What tools are included?

When the HP MicroServer Gen8 is shipped, youll find a paper label connected to the back of the server this is your iLO tag. Make a copy of this tag and store it safely. This is your login credentials information for turning on and using HP Integrated Lights-Outs features.

Performing all levels of support is a major undertaking, so iLO 4 makes the task easier by splitting it up into several convenient pieces. You access the functionality required to manage the server through one of several iLO 4 modules. The following sections describe the iLO 4 firmware in more detail, tell you about special iLO 4 licensing for small and medium businesses, and provide an overview of some of the most common modules.



Set up the system for useDevice drivers are computer programs that allow the operat-ing system and applications to communicate and access hard-ware devices that are attached to the computer (or server). The ProLiant MicroServer Gen8 has a tool called Intelligent Provisioning that provides all the drivers needed for instal-lation on a pre-loaded flash chip so no searching for DVDs or lengthy downloads are necessary. Theres a recommended install feature, shown in Figure5-2, for a simple, fast installa-tion with HP suggested default settings. IP will do the work for you by recognizing any out-of-date software and automatically download the latest versions. Intelligent Provisioning can install Microsoft Windows, Linux (Red Hat and SUSE) OSes, and VMware hypervisor. Intelligent Provisioning can support configuring additional OS boot devices, such as an internal MicroSD card.

Faster and accurate problem resolutionJust as a doctor monitors the health of a patient or a mechanic the health of a car, you can monitor the health of your server. In each case, a standardized set of tools is used to perform a detailed check on the person or device. The

Figure5-2: Intelligent Provisioning uses a simple UI to guide you through server deployment.



Active Health System is an essential component of iLO by keeping watch over your system and providing continuous monitoring of key server statistics. Just like any other device, your server could experience a hardware failure. Active Health provides health and service alerts to proactively let service and support personnel know of any degraded condi-tion. Because support professionals know what led to the failure, they can fix the issue quickly to shorten downtime and get you back online faster.

Agentless managementAn agent is a special piece of software that runs on a client system. Whenever a server needs to perform a task on the client, it contacts the client through the agent. The agent acts as an intermediary and allows the server to perform required tasks, such as a backup or installing applications, without requiring the client machines user to become involved.

Many computer setups do rely on agents to perform essential tasks. However, using an agent poses a number of problems for the client, including

Opening potential security holes

Using client resources that could be better used to run applications

Interfering with client operations

Using an agentless approach makes it possible for iLO to update both clients and servers without incurring any of these problems. As a result, your setup is both more secure and reliable.

Perform updates automaticallyThe HP Smart Update Manager (SUM) is a tool for updating firmware, drivers, agents, and configuration tools on your server. HP SUM provides an interactive GUI which is ideal for users who might not be comfortable using command-line tools. It determines only the required updates that are neces-sary to minimize the downtime for your server and will install all the updates in the necessary order so you dont have to keep track and worry that youre not meeting any of the required dependencies before updating. The HP Smart Update Manager coordinates your server updates based on your schedule. In other words, you wont get stuck in the middle of



the day waiting for the server to finish an update the server automatically updates itself at night when youre at home sleeping. And these updates? HP Service Pack for ProLiant includes firmware, drivers, and tools in a comprehensive, pre-tested package. Together with HP SUM, you spend less time on maintenance and gain operational stability.

Perform tasks from remote locationsThe iLO Essentials license is a new license specifically designed for small and medium businesses that makes it possible to manage your server from anywhere. The license provides full remote management access via the Integrated Remote Console (IRC), virtual media, and email based alerts. Here are brief descriptions of these features:

Virtual media: This is a browser-based application that lets you connect media from your local client device to the remote server.

Remote console: This feature allows you to interact with the server remotely using a virtual keyboard, video, and mouse without having to have those devices attached to the server. The Integrated Remote Console for HP Pro-Liant provides enhanced resolution, where the remote screen fits within one window and the screen can be scaled to any size to avoid having to use scroll bars.

Email alerting: Its important to remain aware of how your server is working, even if youre not in the office. This feature sends emails to anywhere you want with server status messages so you know about any changes to the server immediately.

You arent always going to be in the office waiting to perform a task. Most people have lives that require them to be doing something else. With this in mind, iLO makes it easy to per-form various tasks from another location. In fact, you have two options for this capability:

Using the web-based application from a tablet, notepad, or other device that supports a browser

Using the mobile app from your smartphone

In order to be useful, these applications make it possible to perform general server maintenance tasks, including rebooting the server when necessary, as shown in Figure5-3.



Obviously, you wont need to reboot your server very often, but you want to do it quickly and efficiently when you do.

Most of the tasks that you perform from a remote location are a little more routine. For example, you could load a new application on the server, as shown in Figure5-4. In fact, you can even load something as complex as a new version of an operating system (OS) if necessary.

Figure5-3: Perform management tasks from a remote location.

Figure5-4: You can load an OS or an application remotely with virtual media.



HP iLO Mobile appThe HP iLO Mobile application provides access to the remote console of your HP ProLiant server from your iPhone or iPad or Android device. The mobile app interacts directly with the iLO processor on HP ProLiant servers, providing total control of the server at all times as long as the server is plugged in. For example, you can access the server when it is in a healthy state, or when it is powered off with a blank hard drive. As an IT administrator, you can troubleshoot problems and perform software deployments from almost anywhere.

The HP iLO Mobile app, shown in Figure5-5, allows you to perform the following tasks:

Operate the server power switch.

Use the Remote Console to interact with the operating system, including BIOS and ROM configuration changes.

Figure5-5: You can choose how to interact with your MicroServer via the iLO mobile phone app.



Mount an ISO CD/DVD image from an image file hosted on a web server (http or https). The disk image is available on the server as a USB CD/DVD drive. You can boot from the disk image and deploy an operating system.

Access the HP iLO web interface.

Store the list of servers you want to manage.

Considering the PS110 11n Wireless VPN Router Features

Many first networks rely on a router to connect the various computers together and provide access to the Internet. Each computer on the network PCs and servers alike has a cable that connects from its Ethernet port to a port on the router. The router ensures that data sent from one computer to another arrives at the required destination.

The all-in-one HP PS110 11n Wireless VPN Router is purpose-built to work with the HP ProLiant MicroServer Gen8. It delivers secure high-performance Internet access and wired/wireless connectivity for offices and remote/mobile employ-ees. The router features the next generation HP Networking user interface and Easy Setup Wizard that are designed for simplicity and reliability to get your business connected quickly.

The router includes a Stateful Packet Inspection Firewall, and enterprise grade VPN technology, combined with wireless encryption features like WPA/WP2 encryption for secure data transfer. Advanced security features like 802.1X, URL filters, Content filters, MAC filters, and Trusted Users Management keep your network safe from outside threats and unwanted access. Time-based rules that enable scheduling rules for radios and security features combined with email alerts sim-plify management tasks for users.

It has an innovative design that allows it to be stacked on the HP ProLiant MicroServer Gen8 and features internal antennas, ideal for unobtrusive use in office environments. The router features a Server Dashboard, shown in Figure5-6, implementa-tion via HP ProLiant iLO technology with Auto-discovery, and Active Health Status monitoring of the HP ProLiant Server.



Looking at the PS1810 Switch Features

As a business expands, it relies on a switch to connect the growing number of devices to the network. Like the router, each computer on the network PCs and servers alike has a cable that connects from its Ethernet port to a port on the switch. The switch ensures that data sent from one computer to another arrives at the required destination.

HP PS1810 Switch Series devices are smart-managed, fixed-configuration Gigabit Layer 2 switches that are purpose built to work with HP ProLiant Gen8 and Gen9 Servers. They are designed for small businesses looking for key networking fea-tures in an easy-to-administer solution. The series includes 8- and 24-port Gigabit switch models. The 24-port model includes SFP ports for fiber connectivity. The 8-port model has an innovative design that allows it to be stacked on the HP Proliant MicroServer Gen8. Both models have fanless design, making them ideal for office deployments. The 8-port Gigabit Ethernet model can optionally be powered by an upstream Power over Ethernet (PoE) switch. A key feature is the auto-discovery and monitoring of HP Proliant Servers. Customizable features include VLANs, Spanning Tree, and link aggregation trunking. The 8- and 24-port models include the latest energy-saving capabilities Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE) and idle-port power down. All come with a lifetime warranty.

Figure5-6: Server Management Dashboard on the HP PS110 Router.



The amount of information that your server can transmit each second determines how fast it can fulfill client requests. The faster the connection, the faster the server can respond. The ProLiant MicroServer Gen8 actually has two Ethernet ports and the PS1810-8G Switch provides the means to use both of those ports at once to answer client requests. Combining both ports so that they appear as a single port to the client is called link aggregation. Using link aggregation means that your server can handle up to 2 Gb/s of data, rather than just 1 Gb/s.

Theoretically, you can use any router or switch with your server, but the HP Networking products are purposely designed to work with the ProLiant MicroServer Gen8 and provide a number of features that make it a great fit. The three devices are designed to work together to create a very efficient network for a home office or small business.


Chapter 6

Ten Benefits of ProLiant MicroServer Gen8, PS110

11n, and PS1810-8GIn This Chapter

Achieving heightened security

Creating a smaller footprint

Enjoying an easy-to-manage and service setup

Gaining IT support

O btaining and installing a ProLiant MicroServer Gen8 Server, a PS110 11n Wireless VPN Router, and a PS1810-8G Switch offer specific benefits. This chapter provides you with ten reasons to obtain this Just Right IT solution for your business. Some of this information is repeated from ear-lier chapters to help you get the big picture with greater ease.

Data ConsolidationMany businesses face the problem of actually locating informa-tion that they own. The information may appear in someones inbox or within a filing cabinet somewhere, or it might be on a laptop or even a smartphone. Locating the data, especially when the person who has it isnt available, becomes a night-mare when maintaining good customer relations depends on that data. A server makes it possible to put all your information in one place, yet make it available to anyone who needs it in any location and on any device. In Chapter1, we talk about several use cases that include consolidation.



The result of centralizing your data is to make things more efficient. You wont have to worry about someone being out sick one day or whether a particular user will have access to a much-needed printer. Installing and configuring a server on your network eases the burden of data, application, and resource sharing for everyone, which makes it a lot easier to focus on work instead of how to accomplish the work.

SecurityIts incredibly important to protect your data so that your customers can maintain confidence in you and your competi-tion doesnt gain an unfair advantage. The MicroServer Gen8, PS110 11n Wireless VPN Router, and PS1810-8G Switch pro-vide advanced features that make it incredibly easy to secure your data. More importantly, as mentioned in Chapter1, they offer you more control over security by allowing you to define who can access the data and from where. When coupled with patch and security action automation, a server can greatly enhance security while also reducing your workload.

QuietYou can place the server and its associated switch right in your office. Chapter4 highlights that the ProLiant MicroServer Gen8 only produces 21 dbA. Thats about the same sound level as rustling leaves make. The birds singing in your backyard make more noise than this server does. In short, you wont even notice that the server is running unless you look at the lights. The associated switch and router are fanless, so you wont hear them at all.

Small FootprintTake a look at Figure6-1 and youll notice that the MicroServer Gen8, PS110 11n Wireless VPN Router, and PS1810-8G Switch combination is incredibly small. You dont have to dedicate a lot of space to supporting the hardware, as revealed in Chapter4. In fact, the footprint is smaller than many PCs. So, you get all the power of a server, but without the space requirement that many computers require let

Chapter 6: Ten Benefits of ProLiant MicroServer Gen8 41


alone servers. And the innovative stacking design for the net-working components provides a clean, elegant look.

Integrated with HP Networking Devices

Trying to figure out which hardware goes with other hard-ware isnt something that a small business wants to deal with. Chapter5 covers how the PS110 11n Wireless VPN Router and PS1810-8G Switch are designed to integrate seamlessly with the ProLiant MicroServer Gen8, which means you just buy the three items together and you have a complete small office solution without all the worries. PS110 routers and PS1810 switches auto-discover ProLiant Gen8 and Gen9 servers when plugged in. Getting an integrated solution like this means less time spent putting a system together and more time spent actually doing something with it.

The integration goes even further. The router and switch come with the built-in HP ProLiant Server Management dash-board to make managing server, router, and switch a lot easier and error free. The dashboard features a user-friendly interface with a consolidated view of servers, routers, and switches in the network.

Figure6-1: You can easily fit this server into your office space.



Low Power FootprintEveryone likes to save money. The ProLiant MicroServer Gen8 server has an energy saving 150 or 200 watt power supply (depending on the region). This is in contrast to a lot of sys-tems that sport power supplies in the 500 watt range (or even higher). As pointed out in Chapter4, a smaller wattage power supply means that youre spending less money to run the server in direct electrical costs.

Businesses also need to consider the indirect costs of running a server. A smaller power supply also means less heat, so the server wont add extra heat to your office. Less heat means lower cooling costs.

The PS1810-8G Switch and PS110 11n Wireless VPN Router also offer energy efficient designs. The router supports the WMM-Power Save mode for wireless, and the switch supports Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE) and additional green features. These green features and energy-efficient designs deliver low TCO.

Easy to Set UpChapter5 touches on HP innovations, including the HP Intelligent Provisioning software that makes it possible to perform system setup, updates, and configuration as needed without having to worry about the location of any CDs or DVDs. What this means is that you can make the server better meet your needs without a lot of hassle.

You use Intelligent Provisioning to perform the server setup. The entire process is embedded into the server, which means that the setup is consistent across all servers and that you can perform the setup more reliably. Its possible to con-figure any of these operating systems by using Intelligent Provisioning:

Microsoft Windows Server

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES)

VMware

Chapter 6: Ten Benefits of ProLiant MicroServer Gen8 43


Two up-front USB ports are easily accessible should you need them during deployment to connect a keyboard, mouse or other device.

Easy to ManageManagement tasks can consume a lot of time when working with other solutions. In fact, many organizations have to hire someone full time to perform the management tasks, which can greatly increase costs. Easy to ready front-panel LEDs provide a quick, at-a-glance view of your systems status. HP iLO, discussed in Chapter 5, comes with your server and helps you manage the server, router, and switch (when your network has them).

Unlike software, you dont need to install iLO 4; its automati-cally part of your server, and you can access it at any time. In general, iLO 4 provides four major levels of support required by your server:

Initial deployment

Ongoing management

Service alerting

Remote support

The optional iLO Essentials license provides the ability to con-nect media from your client device to your server and receive email alerts regarding server events.

Easy to ServiceEventually, youll want to add a new hard drive or perform other maintenance tasks on your server. When working with most servers, you need an entire toolkit just to get the box open. With the ProLiant MicroServer Gen8 Server, you simply open the front bezel door to access the drives.

No tools are needed to swap out one drive and put in another.

Should you actually require access to the inside of the unit to add memory, as illustrated in Chapter4, or to perform other



maintenance tasks, the system is designed to be toolless so you dont have to search for just the right tool.

If something should require attention, continuous, proactive health monitoring enables faster and more accurate problem resolution.

Access to Superior HP SupportHP provides you with a significant level of support for your server that both reduces costs and makes it easier to perform any required tasks. These support options come in two forms:

HP Insight Online

HP Direct Connect

Its possible to manage your server from the cloud using a combination of HP Insight Control on the server and HP Insight Online from the remote system. This means that you can manage your server from anywhere and feel comfortable doing it because the communication is completely secure. No one can gain access to the server except you. You can learn more about Insight Online at www8.hp.com/us/en/products/servers/solutions.html?compURI=1487547.

Where can I get the combo?If youd like more information about a ProLiant MicroServer Gen8, a PS110 11n Wireless VPN Router, and a PS1810-8G Switch, check out these websites:

www.hp.com/go/micro server

www.hp.com/go/ps110

www.hp.com/go/ps1810

Also, view the MicroServer video at www.hp.com/go/microservervideo to see the server and switch demonstrated in a real-world environment.

WILEY END USER LICENSE AGREEMENTGo to www.wiley.com/go/eula to access Wileys ebook EULA.

Title PageCopyright PageTable of ContentsIntroductionAbout This BookIcons Used in This Book

Chapter 1: Understanding Why You Need a ServerDefining the Benefits of a ServerUnderstanding How Servers Are Used

Chapter 2: Defining Server BasicsDefining a Server as a Physical EntityConsidering the USBUnderstanding NICsDefining the PCIe BusUnderstanding SATA DrivesUnderstanding RAIDDDR3 Unbuffered Memory

Chapter 3: Defining Network BasicsRouters: Your Networks Traffic CopSwitches: Extending Your Network Intelligently

Chapter 4: Introducing the HP SolutionWhy HP Servers Give You ConfidenceDefining the Benefits of the HP Just Right IT Solution

Chapter 5: Detailing the HP ProLiant MicroServer SolutionConsidering the ProLiant MicroServer Gen8 FeaturesConsidering the PS110 11n Wireless VPN Router FeaturesLooking at the PS1810 Switch Features

Chapter 6: Ten Benefits of ProLiant MicroServer Gen8, PS110 11n, and PS1810-8GData ConsolidationSecurityQuietSmall FootprintIntegrated with HP Networking DevicesLow Power FootprintEasy to Set UpEasy to ManageEasy to ServiceAccess to Superior HP Support

EULA

hp proliantmicroserver for dummies

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