By: JohnStutsman
Figure 1 — Loading WHS2011 onto my Gen8 MicroServer
Last Tuesday night, on HSS255 (“Average Server Size Please, on Home Server Show 255”), we discussed how the average user could install MicroSoft Windows Home Server 2011 on the HP ProLiant Gen8 MicroServer simply with SATA AHCI Enabled in the BIOS, thus avoiding the need for RAID.
I wrote up a step-by-step guide on how I did it with an SSD for my OS drive and two Western Digital 1TB Red drives for my data. Check out the Video that goes with the guide:
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Parts List:
- MicroSoft Windows Home Server 2011
- HP ProLiant Gen8 MicroServer
- OS Drive: I used a SSD but you could cut costs by using a Western Digital VelociRaptor or other high performance drive. Save yourself some extra work and get an OS Drive bigger than 160GB. You could use something like the EZConvert to load 2.5” drives in the 3.5” slots of the MicroServer drive bay (see References).
- Data Drive(s): I used two 1TB Western Digital Red drives in my testing. Going with NAS rated drives may prevent future problems.
You can read more about how I prepared for and implemented the installation in my Step-by-Step guide in message #61 of the Forum thread: Has Anyone Loaded & Run WHS-2011 on a Gen8. There you will also find performance charts of my OS drive and my Data drives in different configurations.
Please join us in the HSS Gen8 Forums with any question and/or comments on the above and other threads.
References:
ProLiant MicroServer Gen8 Links
How to Install Windows Home Server 2011
Windows Home Server 2011 Screen Walkthrough
Installing WHS-2011 on the HP ProLiant Gen8 MicroServer using the B120i and P222
New MicroServer: Where to Start
A First Time Build with Windows Home Server 2011 and HP ProLiant N40L MicroServer — Part I.
A First Time Build With Windows Home Server 2011 and HP ProLiant N40L MicroServer — Part II.