The powerfully simple HP server trusted by value-conscious small businesses.
| General |
| Q1. |
What is the general difference between the ProLiant ML110 G2 and the ML110 G3? |
| A1. |
A couple of features set the new ML110 G3 apart from its previous generation. The most visible is the chassis size going from 5U to a 4U rackable size. This is done to package appropriate technology and features in the right size for your server requirement. Hard Disk Drive bays went from 4 to 2, with maximum HDD support of 3. There are also 2 serial ports offered in the rear of the chassis. Taking away PCI-X support from ML110 G2, but adding in 2 PCI-Express support for ML110G3 in x4 and x8 form factor. One other significant difference from its previous generation is that ML110G3 is not designed to offer hot plug model. |
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| Q2. |
Why should I buy a ML110 G3 instead using a desktop PC as a server? |
| A2. |
There are several important differences between the ML110 G3 and a desktop PC for server deployment. First, the ProLiant ML110 G3 uses a chipset that is designed specifically for server applications. The chipset is stress tested for ECC memory support, a critical feature for server dependability. Second, the ML110 G3 was specifically designed for and rigorously tested with server applications in demanding server configurations. This testing cycle ensures optimal performance and dependability when deployed as a server. Finally, the ML110 G3 is packaged in an ergonomic chassis that makes typical server hardware configuration changes simple. By not including expensive graphics or sound cards found in desktop PCs the ML110 G3 is able to offer true server functionality at an equivalent desktop PC price. |
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| Q3. |
How does the HP ProLiant ML/DL 100 series compare to the HP ProLiant ML/DL 300 series? |
| A3. |
The HP ProLiant ML/DL 100 series is the entry-level of the ProLiant server line designed to deliver appropriate technology to specific market segments. The 100 series will offer a limited suite of options and leverage the various operating system enabled manageability features. The ProLiant 100 series is optimized for small / medium businesses running small business applications and enterprises running high performance technical computing solutions. These clients usually have 1-50 clients (usually peer-to-peer), and use file & print and web access (modem) servers. The ideal customer for the HP ProLiant ML/DL 100 series works in single homogeneous environments with little or no IT staff and values the low cost that the HP ProLiant 100 series provides.
The HP ProLiant ML/DL 300 series are enterprise class servers providing industry-leading reliability, features and advanced manageability tools. The HP ProLiant 300 series are targeted towards a more IT sophisticated small / medium businesses and enterprise companies with as many as 500+ clients. These medium-to-large-corporate workgroups often utilize a dedicated, savvier, IT infrastructure, database and e-commerce servers to run applications. The HP ProLiant ML/DL 300 series is ideal for small /medium businesses and enterprise companies with a strong IT staff working with multi-tier data centers and heterogeneous environments.
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| Q4. |
How can HP offer such a competitive price point? |
| A4. |
The HP ProLiant 100 server series leverages what ProLiant was built on, reliability and performance, and has specifically targeted these servers to incorporate features for the targeted customer usage such as small / medium businesses and high performance computing. The focus on design provides a much more simplified server with the right features limiting the cost burdened to the server and qualification process. The new 100 server series designs have tailored features that closely reflect their usage needs and the addition of qualified third-party configuration vendors to enable a simpler, more affordable solution. |
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| Q5. |
What is the HP Lights-Out 100 Remote Management Card? |
| A5. |
HP introduces HP Lights-Out 100 Remote Management providing entry level remote management capabilities for ProLiant 100 Series servers. HP Lights-Out 100 allows customers or their service providers to remotely manage ProLiant 100 Series servers over a LAN or the Internet.
With HP Lights-Out 100, you have the control needed to reboot a hung server in a remote branch office, watch the system console through the boot process and update system firmware from a diskette on a local client. You can also monitor system environmental conditions from a browser or command line. This basic "at-the-server" remote control means you stay in control of ProLiant 100 Series servers wherever they are located. More importantly it means less downtime, less time spent resolving system issues and ultimately more time for business priorities.
For further information on the HP Lights-Out 100 Remote Management option see Lights-Out 100 Remote Management Card
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| Processors and memory |
| Q1. |
How do the processor offering on ML110 G3 differ from ML110 G2? |
| A1. |
The ML110 G3 introduces dual core Intel Pentium D processors to the HP ProLiant 100 series. The Intel Pentium D processors are offered at 2.8, 3.0, and 3.2 GHz with 800 MHz Front Side Bus (FSB) and 2x2 MB of level 2 cache. Also, the ML110 G3 offers Intel Pentium 4 processors at 3.0GHz and 3.2GHz with 2M of level 2 cache and 800MHz FSB while the processors utilized on the ML110 G2 had 1M of level 2,cache. An Intel Celeron Processor running at 2.53 GHz with 533 MHz FSB is also available. |
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| Q2. |
How do the memory offering on the ML110 G3 differ from ML110 G2? |
| A2. |
The memory offering on the ML110 G2 server went from DDR I to DDR II for ML110 G3. The base memory offered went from 256MB to 512MB, with optional memory add on, its maximum memory offered is at 8GB. |
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| Q3. |
What is ECC memory? |
| A3. |
ECC memory, or Error checking and Correcting memory, helps protect your server from failure due to errors in the transfer of data to and from the memory. Unlike standard memory, ECC memory can actually detect and correct single-bit errors. With standard memory if even a single-bit memory error occurs, your server stops functioning. |
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| Q4. |
Why do I need four memory slots? |
| A4. |
Having four memory slots most likely enables systems to accommodate more total memory than a two or three slot solution. Additionally, having up to 3 open slots allows users to add memory incrementally, growing only as fast as it is necessary. Most importantly for cost-sensitive small businesses, having four slots accommodates large memory configurations without using extremely expensive high density DIMMs. For example, loading 2GB in 2 slots costs $3,000-$4,000 more than loading 2GB in four lots (2x1 GB DIMMs vs. 4x512MB DIMMs). |
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| Q5. |
What is a Front Side Bus (FSB)? |
| A5. |
The Front Side Bus (FSB) is the pipeline that carries information to and from the CPU to the memory and chipset. The wider (or faster) the pipeline, the more transactions per second are carried, the better the system performance. |
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| Options |
| Q1. |
What new product specific options are available for the ProLiant ML110 G3 server? |
| A1. |
New product specific options for the ML110 G3 are:
- Lights-Out 100 Remote Management Card
- HDD Bracket Conversion Kit (easily convert 1 media bay to a HDD slot)
- 6-Channel SATA RAID Controller ( up to level 5 supported)
- Other: USB 2.0 key drives, DVD -RW, External USB Floppy disk drive Kit
or a complete list of supported options, including product specific options, please review the ML110 G3 QuickSpecs. |
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| Q2. |
How does USB booting compare to floppy? |
| A2. |
USB 2.0 offers a fast interface for low speed peripheral devices - including storage devices. USB drive keys support large data capacities. Available capacities on USB disk keys can support anywhere from 16 to 300 times more capacity than a 1.44 MB floppy disk. ML110 G3 comes without floppy, but offers either USB drive key options in 256MB or 512MB, as well as the External USB Floppy disk drive kit. |
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| Q3. |
What is PCI-Express and why is it important? |
| A3. |
PCI Express is the latest serial transmission interface for I/O slots. With transmission rate requirements rising and interfaces moving towards serial, PCI slot is no exception. Within the transition period, HP is keeping 2 legendary PCI 32-bit slot and offering the new PCI Express slot in the newest ML110 G3 to provide customers the flexibility of different types of existing on hand options, or any new option cards you may need to implement. By offering the x4 and x16 form factor PCI Express slot on ML110 G3, SMB customers now has the flexibility in choosing the most suitable I/O options today for their server. |
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| Q4. |
PCI-X slot is not available with ML110 G3, what do I do with options with PCI-X interface? |
| A4. |
Although options offered on the ML110 G3 list, especially some of the controller cards seemed to be PCI-X interface. The 2 embedded 32bit/33MHz 3.3V PCI slots really is capable of taking the PCI-X controllers qualified. You can rest easy using the qualified options. For a list of options, please refer to ML110 G3 QuickSpecs. |
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| Q5. |
Does the ML110 G3 support an Uninterrupted Power System option? |
| A5. |
Yes, a UPS option has been tested and is available for the ML110 G3. Currently, one UPS option available for the ML110 is the HP T750. |
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| Storage |
| Q1. |
What is RAID? Why do I need it? |
| A1. |
RAID stands for Redundant Array Of Independent Disks and is a way of storing data across several different hard disks. By placing data on multiple disks, read/write operations can overlap, improving performance. Many RAID configurations also provide data redundancy increasing the fault tolerance of the system. A RAID appears to the operating system to be a single logical hard disk. RAID employs the technique of striping, which involves partitioning each drive's storage space into units ranging from a sector (512 bytes) up to several megabytes. The stripes of all the disks are interleaved and addressed in order. RAID is typically used for increased data integrity and better performance. Optional RAID cards for both SATA as well as SCSI are available on the ML110 G3. |
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| Q2. |
Why should I buy a RAID array controller? |
| A2. |
There are many benefits to using a RAID array controller in a server, but the primary benefits fall into 2 main categories: improved data integrity and higher performance.
Data Integrity: Using a RAID controller, you can choose to mirror data (RAID 1) across 2 hard drive or to spray that data across 3 or more hard drives (RAID 5). In both cases, if a hard drive fails, then the data will not be lost. Once the failed hard drive is replaced, then the RAID controller can re-build the array and once again ensure the integrity of that data.
Performance: Using a RAID controller, you can choose to spray data across three or more drives either in a non-secure manner (RAID 0), meaning that if a drive fails then data will be lost, or in a secure manner (RAID 5), meaning that if a drive fails then no data will be lost. Both RAID 0 and RAID 5 lead improved performance of the hard-drive subsystem over standard straight drive controllers (without RAID). This performance benefit can be as much as 30% improvement or more over straight drive controllers. |
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| Q3. |
What other storage options are available for the ML110 G3? |
| A3. |
Additional storage options for the ML110 G3 are:
- A DVD- RW option, which is available for simple storage back up
- Two front, two inside, and two rear USB 2.0 ports, which are available to replace to USB drive keys, external USB floppy, external disk to disk solution, and the upcoming USB tape drives.
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| Q4. |
Does the ML110 G3 support hot-plug hard disk drives? |
| A4. |
No, the ML110 G3 does not support hot-plug hard disk drives, but adding the 3rd HDD is as easy as having a HDD conversion kit option along with a desired capacity of HDD. Utilizing a non hot plug solution helps HP to offer the highest value solution to SMB customers.
If a Hot Plug hard disk drive is desired, please consider the ProLiant ML310 G2 for your solution. |
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| Service and warranty |
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| Q1. |
What is the warranty on this product? |
| A1. |
The ML110 G3 is supported with a Worldwide Limited Warranty featuring 1-year of parts, labor, and on-site service. Click for a complete description of your warranty.
For additional information on the types of service upgrades available, please see the ML110 G3 QuickSpecs on the product's web site. |
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| Q2. |
What Service offerings are recommended? |
| A2. |
A full range of hardware and software support offerings are available ranging from installation services to 7/24 on-site repair coverage. HP recommends 4 hour same day response and software technical support to maximize uptime, improve system performance, and increase the productivity of system managers/operators. Click for a complete listing of response and service offers. |
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