Adding HD to Netserver E40

[Robin Irving]

I have a venerable E40 running NT40 Server - I'm wanting to add another HD.

It already has a 4GB SCSI drive - what are my options/restrictions?
Can I mix in a IDE drive?

[Marco Hogeveen]

Robin,

The Netserver E40 can hold up to 4 internal harddisks (SCSI or IDE).
Take a look at the E40/E45 datasheet for detailed information about the suported types of harddisks in the E40 (page 7)
http://netserver.hp.com/docs/download.asp?file=ds_e45.pdf

Marco.

[Robin Irving]

Marco

...but am I restricted to 4.2Gb max size? Would it accept a larger capacity SCSI disk?

Could I add in an IDE drive as my 2nd disk?

Robin

[Marco Hogeveen]

Robin,

I think 4.2 GB is just the maximum that has been sold in the E40. I can't think of anything why a bigger disk shouldn't work in this server. You can also add an IDE disk, there's enough space in the E40.

Marco

[Theo Hill_1]

If you read through some of the posts on here, most people are having troubles with IDE HDD on these systems. It only recognizes 8GB. And as most people like to rush out and buy the biggest yet cheapest HDD they can find, this is not a solution. I would recommend getting a SCSI HDD.

[Robin Irving]

Marco, Theo

Thanks for the advice / warning. Yes, it's always a temptation to get one of those big, cheap IDE HDs - but I think I'll bite the bullet and stump up for a SCSI.

Robin

[Chris Blumenshine]

The problem with the IDE hard drive is that the E40 bios only supports up to LBA, that means max 8.4GB IDE hard drive.

[Raymond Bayot]

Robin,
We have an E40 and E45 and are in the process of upgrading the HDD, Have you succesfully upgraded you SCSCI HDD. If so what is the maximum size you were able to use.

[Robin Irving]

Raymond

Yes, I did successfully upgrade the E40.

I decided on a SCSI disk and was therefore somewhat restricted in choice as I needed one with 50 pin interface - I chose (and also it was all I could find!) a Seagate Barracuda st318417n - 18.4Gb. Installed and configured no problem.

For repartitioning and shifting data around, I found Paragon Partition Manager to be the most economical (though it does seem to play merry hell with things like drive letter allocation).

But I now have 5-6 times the space I had before - well worth the hassle.

[Raymond Bayot]

Did you purchase a different SCSI adapter, or was the SCSI controller that came with the E40 sufficient. I'm planning to keep the original 4GB HDD SCSI for the OS and add a second HDD for DATA storage. Is this the config you chose?
Would it have been possible to use a 50pin to 68pin converter?

[Robin Irving]

I simply added in the new drive without needing any new controllers etc.

I'm using it as you plan to - keeping the 4Gb original and using the new disk for extra data storage.

I understand it is possible to get a 50 to 68 pin converter, but as I could get a 50 pin drive I decided not to complicate things by adding another bit of hardware.

Also, as I could only find one drive with a 50 pin interface it made the choosing the right make, size, cost etc much easier!!

Good luck