Homeserver 2 und Experte 4.0

[henfri]

Hello,

But I already know this procedure, and I know out of experience that it is not so easy, time consuming and prone to errors. Hence I was begging for advice from people who have already done it and can provide accurate information.

But as noone has a clue, what Hardware exactly you have...
Why don't you post fotos from inside?

I thought that with those many HS in the field someone has done it and is willing to share his experience. Isn't that the purpose of a forum ?

It is, but it failed. Apparently, noone was able to help you.

I've ordered 3 times the same reference for SDRAM and got 3 different parts... hence I was turning back to the forum.

But how can the forum be of help on this point?

I'll stop bothering everyone with my misery and do it my way ....

That was not the intention of my message.

Greetings,
Hendrik

[Warichet]

Hi Marcus,

Some comments.

Usually the BIOS will detect the speed of the RAM modules and adapt to the slowest module.

I've put the 512MB back in place and managed to make it work via BIOS settings
Advanced chipset features / DRAM clock/Drive control/DRAM clock: HCLK-33M
This way, the speed is forced to 100. Although both the original 128 and the new 512 are specified to 133. I guess the new one is cheating.
By enabling the full memory test, I can see the ctr running only to 256MB

I've put the 128MB back in bank1 and the 512MB in bank2, BIOS settings back to auto, the HS boots again, speed at 133. So you were right about speed negotiation at start.
I can see the ctr running only to 384MB, this remembers me a comment from Matthias about 2x256 instead of 1x512

If you really want to do it, make sure you definetly have an Epia-V board

How can I do that ?
Here are some info from the BIOS.
VIA C3 533 Mhz (133x4.0)
BIOS 2.7
11/14/2002-601-8231-6A6LO009C-00
Written on the MB
Motherboard "EPIA Rev E"

1) The BIOS says 2.7, which is not listed on the table for EPIA V. Confused. Either is not an EPIA-V or the table is wrong (or both).
2) On the motherboard I find only "EPIA Rev E"
3) The 11/14/2002 makes me think as a date, 14-Nov-2002, maybe a BIOS date.
The Pimp procedure speaks about enabling the USB-HDD, I don't have that option, which make me think my device is older.

PS: by looking at the VIA site, I found some info, mainly the latest BIOS version is 2.07 which is same as mine, dated 2002/11/13.
The header of the page is EPIA (EOL) no mention of EPIA-V.
I guess this is mine.
Conclusion: I've the latest BIOS version and have to live with that.

[henfri]

Re: Homeserver 2 und Experte 4.0

ridiculous.
We are not able.... could be considered a lie.
Of course they are able. They dont want.

[Warichet]

The cherry on the cacke

Here is the (late) reply I got from Gira about my question on enabling USB in the HomeServer BIOS.

Replying to your inquiry we unfortunately have to inform you, that GIRA does not offer or sell its products to France
and for this reason we are not able to give you any technical support.

GREAT !
The sentence is wrong. When I bought the HS, the FT 1.2 was defect. It had been replaced by technical support.

[MarcusF]

No, but will do, although I don't understand the reasoning behind it (I suspect an access time incompatibility).

Usually the BIOS will detect the speed of the RAM modules and adapt to the slowest module. So if your 128 MB module is PC-100 and your 512 MB module is PC-133, the chipset will use the slower access time of the PC-100 module for both. This could help, at least it is worth trying - and you gain additional 128 MB.

OK fine, but I'd like to do things in the correct sequence. Imho, the starting point would be to upgrade the BIOS first to avoid any "side-effect".

I would not mess with the BIOS. If the flashing goes wrong, you have a dead board. If you really want to do it, make sure you definetly have an Epia-V board, prepare a DOS boot disk and copy the following files onto it:
BIOS update tool AWFL823B.EXE available here
Newest BIOS I0300106.bin for the Epia-V available here
Boot the HS with this boot disk. At the A:> prompt type awfl823b.exe I0300106.bin and keep your fingers crossed.

Before considering a BIOS upgrade you should check the BIOS version you have. As the last revision was published 2003 and your HS is from 2006, I would assume you already have the latest BIOS version.

Marcus

[Warichet]

have you tried just adding your 512 MB module to the existing 128 MB?

No, but will do, although I don't understand the reasoning behind it (I suspect an access time incompatibility).

The flash upgrade is easy if you have an external USB IDE harddrive enclosure.

OK fine, but I'd like to do things in the correct sequence. Imho, the starting point would be to upgrade the BIOS first to avoid any "side-effect".
Any factual hint, besides reading the doc and searching on Google ?

1) let those familiar with the HS-History identify the type of the HS.
2) find out -probably with the help of 1) the type of the board
3) find the manual of the Board in the internet
4) look for the instructions regarding the memory. It is not soo many parameters: Type, Frequency are the main ones. Then, maybe double-sided and whether you always need n-identical modules (probably not, with three slots)
5) find them at ebay or ask here in the forum. Many of us will have hardware, their wifes want to get rid of, because they block half of the garage etc.

You are absolutely right.
Thank you for your recommendations.
But I already know this procedure, and I know out of experience that it is not so easy, time consuming and prone to errors. Hence I was begging for advice from people who have already done it and can provide accurate information. I thought that with those many HS in the field someone has done it and is willing to share his experience. Isn't that the purpose of a forum ? Telling me that I should read the manual or search Google or eBay is absolutely correct, but doesn't help me very much. As an example, I've ordered 3 times the same reference for SDRAM and got 3 different parts... hence I was turning back to the forum.

I'll stop bothering everyone with my misery and do it my way .... maybe not the most elegant way...
Gira has not only lost a loyal customer, but also a friend (I know, they don't care)

[henfri]

I've been told that this type of SDAM is obsolete, no more manufactured, hence difficult to find.

I'm kind of stuck with the upgrade! no BIOS updated, no memory and replacing the motherboard is not an option. Quite un-expected.

Is this the end-of-live of my dear HomeServer ?

Don't be so negative... People have been flying to space with hardware that is obsolete, no more manufactured, hence difficult to find. ;-)

1) let those familiar with the HS-History identify the type of the HS.
2) find out -probably with the help of 1) the type of the board
3) find the manual of the Board in the internet
4) look for the instructions regarding the memory. It is not soo many parameters: Type, Frequency are the main ones. Then, maybe double-sided and whether you always need n-identical modules (probably not, with three slots)
5) find them at ebay or ask here in the forum. Many of us will have hardware, their wifes want to get rid of, because they block half of the garage etc.



Greetings,
Hendrik

[MarcusF]

I always just used the memory I had lying around, the Epia boards are normally not picky about the RAM. You can also mix different module sizes, have you tried just adding your 512 MB module to the existing 128 MB?

The flash upgrade is easy if you have an external USB IDE harddrive enclosure. Then you can read out the existing flash and do all the copying on the new flash with your PC. No need to boot the HS with Freedos.

The last resort would be booting the HS from floppy, as the Epia-V has an FDD port onboard.

Marcus

[Warichet]

It works with a single module, maximum memory can be 2x 512 MB = 1 GB RAM.

OK, so the KomputerBay module I just installed is not compatible with my motherboard.

you posted a picture of the memory slots of your HomeServer and there are clearly 3 slots visible. This is definetly no Via Epia board.

Indeed.
Sorry for the confusion, the discussion was about the memory type. The purpose of the picture was to show the memory slots with the 2 notches. I wanted to show that my motherboard does't accomodate memory modules with 1 notch.

your infos about your HS are very confusing.

Sorry, I hope I cleared the confusion here above.

Please make a picture from your HS Front.

It is a standard HS2 NET, purchased in 2006 from Eibmarkt.

Any hint about a supplier for the memory modules, known to be OK in the HS2 ?

[onkelm]

@Warichet,

your infos about your HS are very confusing.

You are telling your HS is from 2006, but the 3 Memory-Slots look more like a HS from 2002. Then it will be an ECS Board.

Please make a picture from your HS Front.

Then the hints for you will be safe, concerning your problem.

regards

OnkelM

[MarcusF]

The (little black) HomeServer 2 has a Via Epia-V mainboard with 2 memory slots for PC-100 or PC-133 168-pin SDRAM modules. It works with a single module, maximum memory can be 2x 512 MB = 1 GB RAM.

Warichet, you posted a picture of the memory slots of your HomeServer and there are clearly 3 slots visible. This is definetly no Via Epia board.

Marcus

[MatthiasS]

One single 512 is not possible, IMHO. You need 2 x 256 MB. I will check my old HS2.

[Warichet]

I am not quite sure, but I think the board itself has a maximum capacity of 512 MB

Yes, I think so, too.

you can put in 2 modules of 256 MB as max!

Yes.
Currently, I've 1 module of 128MB
Kingston KVR 133X64C2/128.
I'd like to replace the 128MB module with a single 512MB module (instead of adding) to avoid any co-existence problem between modules due to different access time.

I've been told that this type of SDAM is obsolete, no more manufactured, hence difficult to find.

I'm kind of stuck with the upgrade! no BIOS updated, no memory and replacing the motherboard is not an option. Quite un-expected.

Is this the end-of-live of my dear HomeServer ?

[MatthiasS]

I will check my old HS2 which is in fact an FS2

I am not quite sure, but I think the board itself has a maximum capacity of 512 MB. So you can put in 2 modules of 256 MB as max!

[Warichet]

Hello,

I turn to the forum again as no help can be expected from Gira.

Can someone help me with the memory upgrade, please ?
I've tried several models, but none works.
Although I've ordered always the same reference, I got different devices, I've now a nice collection of different memory modules.
The last attempt was from KomputerBay SDRAM 168 pin, 512MB, PC133, works only from time to time.

Would someone be so kind to provide me with a reference and a shop where to buy it ?

I guess there are hundreds of HomeServer in the field, no one upgraded an old HomeServer 2 NET ?