[OT] server question

["Paul Gordon" <paul@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Sorry for two OT's in one day, but I know there are some people here
who ar=
e familiar with recent HP Proliant server stuff....

I'm looking at the ML150 range, - these are *really* reasonably priced
(for=
the main unit anyway). Typically the VFM falls off when you start to put H=
P's branded parts in it... :-(

With particular regard to the hot-plug SATA drives, - HP charge in the
orde=
r of =A3200 for a 500GB SATA drive, - routinely available for around =A350
=
elsewhere... - since HP don't manufacture hard drives, the drives they
supp=
ly must be the same Seagate/WD/Maxtor/HDS drives available anywhere, so I
w=
ould prefer to buy my SATA drives from my usual suppliers...

My only question regards the hot-swap caddies... - I haven't been able to
f=
ind out if drive caddies are provided in the empty slots in the chassis,
or=
if the chassis just comes with dummy blanking plates in the drive slots (I=
know previous Proliants were usually the latter). - In other words, do I *=
have* to buy HP's drives at HP's utter rip-off prices, just to get the
cadd=
ies that are essential to use them in the server? (=A3150 for a plastic
cad=
dy is absurd!) - Plus do HP modify the firmware on the drives they supply?

TIA

Paul G.



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