5 ms·

I have the Gen8 microserver from your second link and what I really like about it (besides the 4 bays) is that is has ILO. Whenever there is a boot issue or I n

I have the Gen8 microserver from your second link and what I really like about it (besides the 4 bays) is that is has ILO. Whenever there is a boot issue or I need to reinstall I don't have to drag it out of my server closet onto my desk, find a monitor and keyboard to hook it up to (now that I think about it, I don't even have a VGA monitor anymore) just do basic BIOS or GRUB stuff. It can all be handled via the web interface and the HTML5 terminal works great. Biggest downside of this machine is the power draw, even at idle. I couldn't find anything in the Zimaboard docs about it, but my guess is I'd have to find a mini displayport compatible monitor if I ever need to do disaster recovery of the OS. This especially becomes an issue with the eMMC, as you cannot swap it out easily like an SD on a raspberry pi.

lproven 3y ago
Huh. I have one and found the iLO such a total PITA to try to make the thing boot from its primary disk, a small SSD, that I ended up turning it totally off. I guess now I need to find a way to turn it back on again...
- justinclift 3y ago
  Yeah, it's useful once you've typed in an "iLO Advanced" (or similar name) license key to enable it. Findable online for free with any search engine. ;)
  - lproven 3y ago
    I have never even thought of that... It's a home NAS. It has one user, me, and only 1 network cable. The faffing around with a console cable, separate from the network cable, and the inability to just point to a boot disk like an ordinary PC, were hugely irritating and drove me to shouting anger several times. It never occurred to me that I'd want the wretched thing, let alone try to unlock more of it. All I want is to say BOOT OFF THIS DRIVE without defining volumes or single-member arrays or any of that enterprise BS.
    - justinclift 3y ago
      The main thing I use iLO for is the remote (full screen) console (inc keyboard/mouse) that it makes available over the network. So, if I want to muck around with settings, change boot things (like in your case), etc, it's all doable from anywhere in my house via web browser. Keeps things pretty straight forward. From memory, the default iLO password for each machine is randomly generated and printed on a tag attached... um... to the back (I think?). But there's a physical switch you can set (inside somewhere) which disables the iLO login password. Less secure of course, but for a home environment that can be the right choice. :)
justinclift 3y ago
Yeah, I have a few of the Gen8's too, and agree about the iLO. Especially with the "advanced" iLO option, which the BIOS doesn't check the validity of its license key... so you can just look for an iLO key using your favourite search engine and you're good to go. ;) For fallback purposes I bought a VGA to HDMI adapter like this: https://www.scorptec.com.au/product/cables-&-adapters/display/76767-cm201 https://www.scorptec.com.au/product/cables-&-adapters/displa... Not sure if that's the exact model I have (am in different location atm, so can't check), but the pictures in that listing look like the thing I have. It's worked fine in the times I've needed to use it.

lproven 3y ago

Huh. I have one and found the iLO such a total PITA to try to make the thing boot from its primary disk, a small SSD, that I ended up turning it totally off. I guess now I need to find a way to turn it back on again...

justinclift 3y ago
Yeah, it's useful once you've typed in an "iLO Advanced" (or similar name) license key to enable it. Findable online for free with any search engine. ;)
- lproven 3y ago
  I have never even thought of that... It's a home NAS. It has one user, me, and only 1 network cable. The faffing around with a console cable, separate from the network cable, and the inability to just point to a boot disk like an ordinary PC, were hugely irritating and drove me to shouting anger several times. It never occurred to me that I'd want the wretched thing, let alone try to unlock more of it. All I want is to say BOOT OFF THIS DRIVE without defining volumes or single-member arrays or any of that enterprise BS.
  - justinclift 3y ago
    The main thing I use iLO for is the remote (full screen) console (inc keyboard/mouse) that it makes available over the network. So, if I want to muck around with settings, change boot things (like in your case), etc, it's all doable from anywhere in my house via web browser. Keeps things pretty straight forward. From memory, the default iLO password for each machine is randomly generated and printed on a tag attached... um... to the back (I think?). But there's a physical switch you can set (inside somewhere) which disables the iLO login password. Less secure of course, but for a home environment that can be the right choice. :)

justinclift 3y ago

Yeah, I have a few of the Gen8's too, and agree about the iLO. Especially with the "advanced" iLO option, which the BIOS doesn't check the validity of its license key... so you can just look for an iLO key using your favourite search engine and you're good to go. ;) For fallback purposes I bought a VGA to HDMI adapter like this: https://www.scorptec.com.au/product/cables-&-adapters/display/76767-cm201 https://www.scorptec.com.au/product/cables-&-adapters/displa... Not sure if that's the exact model I have (am in different location atm, so can't check), but the pictures in that listing look like the thing I have. It's worked fine in the times I've needed to use it.