HP Netserver LH Pro

[Michael Boquist]

I'm going to purchase 4 or more HP Netserver LH Pro's with dual 200mhz processors with the most recent bios updates. What I need to know is if I can deactivate the video and install video cards. Also, Can I install IDE controller cards?
Any info would be greatly appreciated

[amhakassa]

Hi Michael,

As far as I know when you add the add on PCI video card the onboard video will automatically disabled by itself.

regards
Amha kassa

[John Birkett]

There is a series of dip switches that allow you to change configurations and such. One of those switches will turn off the on-board video. I have an LD pro, which is a cut down version of the LH pro, and have installed a video. The one thing I have heard is to watch out for too much memory on the add-on video card. I an S3 Trident with 4mb memory and it worked fine. I am not sure about adding IDE cards. I have a couple of 9gb hot swap drives with trays that will work in the LH pro. I will be willing to sell them for $20 each plus shipping. Contact me @ john_birkett@pacbell.net.
Regards,
John

[e4services]

Michael,

I know HP suggests adding an external video to that unit if you are going beyond NT, and yes you can add it. If you need a user manual for checking on the DIP switch suggestion, I think we have that.
As for the IDE controller, you can also add this card to your unit. I would disable the onboard SCSI if you not going to be using it to free up some interupts in these older machines.

[amhakassa]

Hi Michael,

My Apology I mixed up with another server.
Her below is the switchs layout on the main board, and It will be switch# 8 to disable the onboard video

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?objectID=tis11790

Regards
Amha Kassa

[John Birkett]

I have successfully run NT4, 2000 server (all flavors), and 2003 server on my LD pro. With the on-board video all I was able to get were 256 colors and max resolution of 800x600. I think the colors might have been even less that 256 in most cases. I have since upgraded to an LH3 and the LD pro is in the garage in a plastic bag collecting dust.
Good luck, John

[Michael Boquist]

Thanks for all the info. It's been a great help in making my decesion to buy the servers.
As for the 9 gig hd's, each of the servers come with 7 4.2gig hot swap drives, so I don't see a need to upgrade just yet but I will keep your offer in mind.
But I am wondering if I am getting a good deal, or just average at 40 bucks a piece. They also come with 320megs of ram each.

[John Birkett]

It sounds like a fair price. I bought my LD pro about a year ago with only one 200mhz processor and three 4.2gb hard drives for about $45 plus shipping. I added the second processor and had to change the processor board along with that for about $25. I also had to add more memory for about $25. I was very happy with the system, but had no raid controller. It became more cost effective to upgrade to a new system, plus I wanted to increase the disk capacity and the LH3 gave me more options. What OS are you going run on the systems? I do have two 4.2gb hot swap drives with trays instead of the 9gb. You mentioned IDE controllers, why are you looking at that? I have loaded Linux, NT4 and 2000 server all from the SCSI with no problem. The only thing I have run into with 2003 server is with a 'fresh' install with Netraid when shutting down the raid services quit before writing the last log files and then an error occurs. Upgrading, which I didn't want to do, solved that problem.
Good luck,
John

[Michael Boquist]

I'm going to try a swing at Linux for the first time. I've got a few friends that are pretty knowledgeable about the OS. But as for the IDE drives, I have a couple big drives with 8mb of cash on them. I'm not sure if they would be any faster than the scsi drives but I think they would be good for some big backup and whatnot.