Project Home Server – Quest For An Upgrade
The project. Upgrade to a new home server with new specs and software, etc.
Why? My HP MediaSmart home server was end of line and both Microsoft Windows Home Server and my Avast Antivirus Home Server software were no longer upgrading or being supported.
What is it? The Home Server was for a few things. It served (pun) as a file share location for photos, videos, etc., as well as a backup server for all desktops and laptops with access to that server. Simple.
Upgrade. After a little research I decided on the HP Proliant N40L Microserver. To add to the challenge, I read where folks were installing VMWare ESXi on it, creating a virtual environment. Originally I had planned on just installing MS Windows Server 2012 Essentials. After reading, I convinced myself of doing this virtual and ALSO going with unRAID OS and CrashPlan for backups. But before you purists out there start losing your digital panties and choking on your Bawls, it’s okay. I’m not sure how I’ll work the 2 OS’s together. I may not and play with 2012 Essentials as a test server. Either way, it’s time for an upgrade.
Parts.
HP Proliant N40L $280 (discount)
upgrades to the upgrade
16 GB kit Crucial Ballistix (non ECC) $90
Intel Gigabit CT NIC (addition to existing) $40
16 GB Micro Flash Drive (for ESXi) $13
2x 2 TB Western Digital Red Drives $115 x2
More to come on how it goes.
A Rapid End – Learning Lessons
We wake early (as possible) California time, unhook our RV life support tubes (water, electric and poop shoot) and hit the road. We packed in preparation the night before but needed to stop at WallyWorld for a suit case to put extra acquired RV and tourist things. Much cheaper than shipping. We also needed to spot clean the RV.
Our flight… 5:40. Arrival at Cruise America… 3:30. And something was wrong with the billing. We needed a cab as well.
We arrived at Sky Harbor Airport (Phoenix), needed to check bags and check in at 4:40. Somebody was freaking out and worried. I won’t name names but some of you readers can probably figure that one out.
Turns out we had time to spare, the plane had not even rolled up yet. And all that extra sweating for nothing. I already started planning alternate ways of getting home. (Oops did I give it away?)
Quick moving, quick thinking and reacting to situations in a less sour manner is something learned today. It wasn’t planned, but that is what happens when life happens. 🙂
At this point we are on the ground back home, at Steak N Shake eating a late dinner due to our messed up clocks.
More recap and blog adjustments to come later.
Which Match Next?
Mike pondering over which match to watch next after we just had lobster rolls for lunch.
Tennis Morning
Starting off this morning sitting in Stadium 1 in our seats watching Taylor Townsend vs Lucie Hradecka. Great seats and worth the price. Too bad we have only today during the main tournament.
Also, looks like we may meet up with the guys (Will and gang) of the Fuzzy Yellow Balls tennis training website sometime this afternoon.
From the Top to the Bottom
As you saw, we started our day eating a great breakfast and snagging a great car. Granted, eating cereal or eggs in the RV saves money, we wanted to at least eat out with the general population a few times. The French toast was worth it.
After we shot back to the RV for something’s we forgot, we headed to the Palm Springs Tram through a sandstorm. Well, not really but there was a high winds advisory and on the way near some windmills we got sand blasted while taking pictures. But I only lost my hat once while driving.
I taped the drive up to the Tram via headcam because… it was cool! We went up the Tram and took loads of pictures and hiked 1.5 miles of a trail on Mt San Jacinto that had “notches” or lookouts. More on the Tram later.
We came back down sea level for a picture with Marilyn and decided to take drive down to the Salton Sea, which is much further away than it seems on the map. It was dark by then but we could still see the water and light coming over the mountains.
So from 8500 ft to -226 ft below sea level, we covered some altitude.
