The HP ProLiant MicroServer: A Promising but Incomplete Solution for Small Branch Offices
When HP announced their new ProLiant MicroServer, I was immediately intrigued by its potential as a small, low-noise branch office server. With a focus on energy efficiency and quiet operation, this server seemed like the perfect solution for hosting a single virtual machine and providing Read-Only Domain Controller (RODC) and Distributed File System (DFS) file-shares. However, upon closer inspection, I was disappointed to find that the server’s specifications fell short of my expectations.
The first issue with the HP ProLiant MicroServer is its CPU offering. The AMD Athlon II NEO N36L is not a powerful enough processor to run even a single-VM ESXi instance smoothly. This is a major drawback, as it limits the server’s ability to perform tasks that require more processing power. Additionally, the lack of information on the storage controller and the limited details provided on the official VMware HCL make it difficult to determine the server’s compatibility with certain software.
Another concern I have is the 1GbE NC107i NIC supplied with the server. While it is supported by VMware according to the ProLiant option VMware support matrix, it is still a relatively slow network interface compared to other options available in the market. This may not be a significant issue for small branch offices with limited network traffic, but it could become a bottleneck as the network demands increase.
Despite these limitations, I believe that the HP ProLiant MicroServer has the potential to be an excellent entry-level, small footprint, low noise branch-office server. With better CPU offerings and a vSphere supported RAID controller, this server could be the perfect solution for small businesses looking for a cost-effective and efficient server solution.
I am not alone in my assessment of the HP ProLiant MicroServer’s limitations. Simon Seagrave, a fellow blogger, has also analyzed the server’s specifications and concluded that it needs more powerful CPU options and a vSphere supported RAID controller to reach its full potential. His analysis, found on his blog, provides a more detailed breakdown of the server’s pros and cons.
In conclusion, while the HP ProLiant MicroServer shows promise as a small branch office server solution, it falls short in several areas that are crucial for small businesses. With better CPU offerings and a vSphere supported RAID controller, this server could be an excellent choice for small branch offices looking to host a single virtual machine and provide Read-Only Domain Controller (RODC) and Distributed File System (DFS) file-shares. As it stands, I can only recommend the HP ProLiant MicroServer for very small branch offices with limited network traffic and simple server requirements.