How to successfully patch operating systems?
Sometimes, small changes can result in costly application downtime, emergency rollbacks, accompanied by several hours of troubleshooting, followed by days of analysis and planning. One of the most common changes involves updates and patches to operating systems. These are typically driven by security concerns but may also introduce new functionalities ...
Raspberry Pi 4 in a 52Pi case upgraded with a NOCTUA fan
The original fan supplied with the 52Pi NAS case had quiet operation, but the RGB LED flickering proved to be a distraction. I opted to upgrade it by installing a NOCTUA fan coupled with a temperature control circuit. The fitting required slightly bending the heatpipes towards the board, to ensure ...
Celebrating 5 years!
Grateful to share that Techlogist.net has reached its 5th anniversary milestone, with hopes for many more years to come! ...
End-user Inventory spreadsheet
Inventory is defined in the Cambridge Dictionary as "the amount of goods and materials owned by a company at a particular time, including parts, products being made, and finished products". In a previous post I shared a few tips to improve inventory reception, tagging and tracking. I created an easy ...
Configure and update HP iLO 3
HP servers come with a integrated remote management solution called Integrated Lights Out, abbreviated as iLO. My HP DL360 G7 has version 3. The configuration process involves waiting for a precise moment during the server boot sequence and pressing F8 to enter the iLO menu. Since the server is refurbished ...
HP DL360 G7 firmware and BIOS update
One way to guarantee the optimum and stable operation of a server involves keeping the firmware for the different components updated. The easiest way to update all firmwares at once in an HP server is through the Service Pack for ProLiant ISO. This CD/ISO can only be downloaded through a ...
Homemade vertical server stand
In a previous post, I wrote about my purchase of a HP Proliant DL360 G7 server. It was designed to be rack mounted, but I don't own or wish to possess a 19 inch rack. After searching online for a ready made solution that would allow me to vertically mount ...
Server RAM and storage upgrade
After receiving my server, doing the basic setup and even designing a cheap vertical stand, it was time to upgrade it. Servers like any other computer, are designed around several international standards to ensure compatibility between parts from different manufacturers from all over the world. But servers are slight more ...
HP Insight Diagnostics for advanced testing
Buying a refurbished server is an environmentally friendly and cost efficient way of acquiring a server for your home lab. After receiving mine I performed some generic diagnostics with tools like Memtest86, but in my case, the HP Smart Start CD includes the the HP Insight Diagnostics for ProLiant servers ...
How to cleanup and prepare a refurbished server?
After unpacking and performing the initial checks and tests mentioned in a previous post, a refurbished server should be prepared to guarantee the maximum stability and efficiency. The first step is to clean any dust that might have accumulated, both inside and out, with the help of a vacuum cleaner ...
What to do upon the arrival of a refurbished server?
These days used and refurbished enterprise grade hardware can be found easily and at very low prices, making it almost irresistible for a home lab. Some of it, is even certified after being tested by the manufacturers themselves. I found in an online marketplace, a refurbished 7th generation HP Proliant ...
IT Home Labs
The purpose of an IT Home Lab is to be a safe non-production environment that resembles a small scale enterprise to run experiments, test or develop software and methodologies across different virtual environments, without having to worry about any negative side effects and consequences. "Learning is the key to success" ...
