This is great! I have one that I no longer use due to the memory limitation (1TB?). This would be a great project... Thanks for sharing.
HP MediaVault Generation 1: Getting New Life from an Old Friend (Page 5 of 5)
Categories: Off-Topic Area Server Mods and Hacking
Final assembly and testing:
For now leave the case open. Verify ALL wiring and routing, check all connectors, and be sure there are no loose parts. Hook up a keyboard and monitor. Plug a mouse into an available USP port. Connect the AC power cord. The green standby light on the rear of the power supply should illuminate. Everything else should be off. Now depress the power switch, the blue led indicator should come on immediately. The "ON" indicator on the front panel will come on within a second or so and your monitor should display the following startup screen. Depress F2 on the keyboard and the BIOS page will be displayed. Your installed hardware should be reflected in the BIOS page. Make any changes for your specific operation. The default settings will work in most instances.
 |  |
| Power on Screen | BIOS Page |
Browse the different setting in the BIOS, once you are done shutdown the system. Just depressing the power button will remove the power. This is also true once you system is running an operating system.
Loading an Operating System:
If you installed a CD/DVD rom you will be able to load directly from it. If you installed a secondary hard drive you will need to use an external USB CD/DVD drive. Another option is to copy and installation disk to a flash drive and boot from it. Also when loading a new operating system chances are you will need to load the Intel supplied driver disk. This can also be accomplished from an attached CD/DVD or files transferred to a flash drive. If you don't have access to the included software the system will not be able to configure the network adapter or take advantage of the high resolution graphics. When your system is bootable and stable don't forget to go to the Intel website for the latest BIOS download. My motherboard was a few versions behind. Now the fun begins, I successfully loaded and ran the following operating systems with excellent results on the DG41AN/E5300 Platform:
- Windows XP Pro 64bit
- Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit
- Windows Home Server 2003 (ver. 1 and 3)
- Windows Home Server 2011
- Windows Small Business 2011
- Fedora Core 14
- Unbuntu and Mythbuntu
- Freenas
I didn't have time to load any more... That's up to you to try!
Congratulations, your done! Now the only thing left to do is to reward your new creation with a new badge!
The New Badge
My thanks to those who take the time to share their work making these upgrades possible for all.
Dan Muzenjak
Passive heat sync with HDD drive caddyPassive heat sync with HDD drive caddy
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diy projecthow tohp mediavaultmember submittedmods and hackingwindows home server
June 7, 2011 12:03 PM
The link for the Mini 24 Slimline to ATX adapter seems to be broken. Here is one on Amazon I think will work, but have not verified:
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June 7, 2011 12:21 PM
Nope, That cable listed above will not work, it adapts a standard ATX supply to be used with an HP slimline MB.
The link featured in the article no longer works because KDMPower closed their ebay store. The cable "CBL-HP-24Mini" should still be available direct from the kdmpower.com website.
I has sent them an email to give me a link that will go directly to the cable. As soon as it has been received I will update the article and post the link here as well.
Dan
June 7, 2011 2:36 PM
The KDMPower eBay store is still open at http://stores.ebay.com/KDMPOWER I think the link in the article here is garbled. However, the eBay store only has power supplies, no adapter cables.
Again, thanks for this great writeup.
Nathan
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June 7, 2011 2:59 PM
Nathan your right. I went up on ebay and sent an email to the KDMpower ebay store as well. Hopefully someone at that company will answer me back.
I did find another company on ebay selling the same item, here's the link:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Mini-24-pin-ATX-20-24-pin-cable-HP-Slimline-PSU-/18065978...
This conversion is so much easier with this cable, since it appears I cannot update the original document I hope people will read the treads for the new location. Good luck with your upgrade, I would value your opinion when your done!
Regards
June 7, 2011 3:36 PM
Excellent. Appears to be the same as this item on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/KOZMICC-power-supply-connector-converter/dp/B004Y73CB4/...
I've got two of the MV2010 devices, one with a good motherboard and one which is bad. I already have an old PC running WHS performing backups of my home network. This sounds like a great project and the Atom ITX option is pretty inexpensive.
But I can't think of a use for one or two more little servers. Certainly I could reduce the power used by the WHS server.
I also have a Mac Mini and I am thinking of upgrading it to Mac OS X Lion which now includes server functions.
I really wish the HP Slimline case would hold my full-height WinTVR video capture card.
Decisions, decisions...
Thanks
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June 7, 2011 4:34 PM
updated: June 9, 2011 10:12 PM
Nathan,
Yep, thats the same guy and it should work just fine. I did get an email back from KDMpower, they are out of stock on that cable so the Amazon route is the way to go. I am going to see if Matt can add your link to the article.
Small servers are great and can be used for many functions, mail, file sharing, music, video storage, overnight downloading, ebay snipping, the list goes on and on. I am sure you will find a good use for it!
Regards,
July 17, 2011 5:47 PM
updated: July 17, 2011 5:57 PM
Great article! I have an mv2010 that still works perfectly, but I've been meaning to set up an E-350/Amahi server and using the power supply/case from the Media Vault will offset some of the cost ($50-$70). Rather than tap into the wiring/original connectors, I used the following:
1. P4 to 4-Pin Molex: http://www.amazon.com/CablesToBuy-Power-Supply-Connector-Adapter/dp/B0012SM2SC
2. Reset LED Wire Kit for ATX Case Front Bezel BEZELWRKIT: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00213KDQK
3. Molex Y Cable: http://www.amazon.com/Computer-Molex-Power-Supply-Splitter/dp/B001PI9AAC/ref=...
I simply removed the tray with the original LED inserts (it opens right up) and just set the new ones right it...nothing to it. I already had a blue LED with resistor tapped onto a 4-pin molex from an old case so that was easy, but if you aren't inclined to mess with soldering you can just use the left over LED from the Amazon kit and change the power button to a green LED (assuming your motherboard has the extra lead). This way I've kept all of my original parts intact (albeit for a minimal cost of under $10) for resale or if I ever want to put the mv2010 back to factory specs. You will also need a molex Y cable for this if you want to split the P4 and Hard Drive Tray leads.
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July 18, 2011 8:36 AM
updated: July 18, 2011 8:37 AM
Erik,
Nice job! The cable information will be very helpful for those who don't want to or can't solder.
The E-350/Amahi combination is a great alternate to the Intel D510MO MB with the Atom 510 processor and should provide additional performance.
I know the new processor opens the door to many other operating systems, which did you choose? By the way, many HP owners are scrambling to buy up parts for the now obsolete MV1.
I bet if you put your old MB on ebay you could probably make enough to make a major offset in the conversion costs. It is fairly safe to say I doubt you would ever go back once you get use to the extra performance and flexibility!
Keep the updates coming!
Regards,
Dan
September 14, 2011 1:10 AM
I have two of these units HP MediaVault 2010 - can I use a ASUS P8H61-I (REV 3.0) LGA 1155 Intel H61 HDMI USB 3.0 Mini ITX Intel Motherboard and put an i3 Intel in it? They have an i3 that is 35W and another that is 65W. The motherboard is $80 and the chip is $120. Add memory to that and it is roughly about $260. I would use it for a Media PC (the MB has HDMI)
Would it be worth doing that in your opinion?
Thanks,
dc
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September 14, 2011 10:26 AM
updated: September 14, 2011 10:31 AM
DC
No doubt it would be an impressive platform with the more powerful I3 core IF you can make it fit. Much research went into the 2 motherboards I selected. Part of the reason I used the ones I did was to be able to offer a low and high end solution that will fit into the case without power, space, heat or major case redesign issues. The goal was to create a low cost platform with more flexibility and power that would blow away the original MV.
I took a look at the ASUS P8H61. Nice motherboard with tons of features. Your challenge is going to be CPU cooling. The Intel DG41 motherboard featured in the article can use a low profile fan or passive cooler that fits under the removable drive caddy due in part to the location of the CPU on the motherboard.
I am very confident that the I3 LGA1155 fan combination on the P8H61 will cause clearance problems with the caddy. I really doubt you can find a passive cooler for the I3 that will fit the core and tuck under the caddy. You would also have to take into consideration heat dissipation of the I3 core under full load. There is very little air movement in the stock MV case. Additional fans will probably be necessary.
One solution would be to do away with the drive caddy but then again that decreases the flexibility of the platform. The cooler would also prevent the installation of a DVD in that location.
Cost is always a consideration in doing this mod and the combination you have mentioned is attractive in both price and performance. The DG41AN/Dual core combination is still cheaper and easier to do and will provide a little less performance but still comparable to the I3.
Bottom line, if you are an engineer at heart and love building, do it! If you are just looking to reuse your cases for an inexpensive Media PC use the DG41AN.
If you try it keep us posted on your progress!
Regards,
Dan
January 21, 2012 5:52 PM
Did anyone look at replacing the HP power supply with an standard ATX? Seems that would eliminate the cable issue as well as a common failure point -- the power supply. I haven't a clue if there is one that will fit.
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January 22, 2012 11:24 AM
Yes, I looked into many supplies hoping I could find one that would fit. They just don't exist. HP built their supply to shoe horn into this case. It did take some engineering for them to accomplish this and still provide the necessary voltages and current to run the platform.
For the most part it is a good power supply, in the Media Vault world it's not the power supply that craps out its the motherboard. As long as you keep the draw at or under the rated load and keep the vents open for good air flow it does very well. (I have had mine running 24x7 since 2007 up until 2010 when I upgraded the MB to a Intel Dual core and it's still running just fine)
Besides, with all the dead MV's out there you could easily pick up a dead unit for under $25.00 and I can just about guarantee its the MB that will have died.
February 15, 2012 3:16 AM
The original power supply could be replaced by almost anyone Flex-ATX power supply. The metal hooks holding the original power supply could be easily bent toward the case side to make enough room for the standard Flex-ATX power supply. They are then held only by the screws at the back of the HP MV, but I think, it's OK, as the new PS is lighter and smaler.
In my case, I used FSP FSP220-60LE(80) 220W 1U Power Supply w/ 80PLUS, but it's quite noisy (small fan).
I'm still waiting for Intel D2700MUD mainboard to build a home server.
I replaced the original power switch with the reset switch from an old big AT case as well.
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February 15, 2012 8:33 AM
Peck,
Let us all know how the new PS holds up! Does the new PS have a fan? There is not much air moving around inside the old MV case. Also, you can use the original power button with a very simple mod, (see the article), this way you can keep the clean original look!
Regards,
Dan
February 16, 2012 1:55 AM
updated: February 16, 2012 2:04 AM
MediaVault was my first NAS. But I faced limitations of this gadget shortly after purchase. Tried to install 1 TB HDD and it worked (500 GB + 1 TB HDD). Then obtained 1 + 1 Zyxel NSA 2400, both equipped with 4x 1 TB HDD in RAID5 and retired MV.
I needed to test new microITX board (Intel D525MW) planned for my SmoothWall firewall in the same time. I didn't want to cut the connector from the original PS, ATX adapter was not available in my area (Europe, Slovakia) and for the price of shipping I was able to obtain the new PS. So I did. I was using this PC for about 1/2 year without any problem. I didn't even change the power switch, just rearranged the connector, so I needed to push the power button twice for turn it on and the same for turn-off. I enjoyed low power consumption (up to 40W) and PS built in the case (NSA-2400 and many other NAS have an external annoying big brick-shaped PS with 2 thick cables).
Then I returned to the original MV configuration (2x 5OO GB HDD). I tried Zyxel NSA-220, NSA-220 Plus and NSA-210 NAS-es as well, but they didn't impressed me. I was dissatisfied especially with NSA-210 due to lack of proper cooling. All of them have an external PS and they are really poor performers.
This time I need to build a new home server for multiple purposes (file store, testing AD administration, Win 2008 etc.). Formerly I was using separate NAS and testing PC, but I think, there is no reason to not concentrate them into one machine. This is my reason for turning MV into the home server. I could say, I'm inspired with Zyxel's NSA-220, which has many additional features available (bittorrent client, download service etc.). Separate NAS and test PC are almost never heavily loaded.
FSP PS performed very well. It's 220W PS, so it was working at about 30% of its nominal output.
The original PS has quite big 6x6 cm fan working on low rpm. The FSP has one 4x4 cm fan with variable rpm. It starts at low rpm but after 10-15 min. reaches full speed. According the HW monitor (on Intel D525MW) the temperature of the Intel Atom processor didn't reach 45C and HDD (Seagate Barracuda 7200.11) 42-43C. So there is no need to install any additional fan and server stayed quite quiet.
There are missing some holes at the front of MV for better HDD cooling (especially for built in HDD #1), but it could be partially solved by opening front door (temp. will drop of about 2-3C).
P.S. I didn't want to adapt (cut) power on switch (and original PS), because I wanted to have way back to MV original configuration (and original mainboard). I prefer to change the whole switch as I already mentioned.
May 9, 2012 11:59 AM
Dan,
Thanks so much for all your time and effort creating and publishing this guide. I have been using my Mediavault for many years and last month it gave up the ghost. Resets, nothing worked, bad motherboard.
I picked up a good deal on the Intel MB you mentioned and a dual core processor, did the mods and installed dual 2tb drives and loaded up with Windows home server which I pick up cheap on ebay.
Now I have a fast Media Smart Server clone for almost nothing. It's quiet, small and was made from something I was going to throw in the trash!
I loved my MediaVault but now that it is a WHS platform it's so much better.
Kudos to you and a fantastic article, I can't wait to see what you come up with next!
Regards, Mike
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