Homeserver 2 und Experte 4.0

[Warichet]

There is no number. They will not sell it.

I finaly got a reply from Gira's Strategic Sales Marketing, not from Tech Sup but via a satisfaction survey.
The content is frustrating...

@Matthias
I can provide you with my reply, if you want ....

[MatthiasS]

I want

[HendrikVA]

HS2Net & Experte 4

Versuch gelungen

für alle die noch nicht sicher sind:

der HomeServer 2 NET lässt sich mit dem Firmwareupdate hs3 (wird mit Experte 4 geliefert) updaten.

Zu beachten ist, dass das Projekt ca. 20% mehr Speicher belegt, als dies mit Experte 2.8 der Fall war.

Der QC, hat dann die Optik & Funktionalität des HS4, Android geht ebenfalls.

[onkelm]

Hi,

ja der HS2 Net geht, aber leider nicht der etwas ältere HS2.0 Net.

Gruß OnkelM

[Warichet]

Hello,

Second attempt to upgrade my HS.
In the BIOS, the only USB boot devices listed are:
USB-FDD
USB-ZIP

no USB-disk. The HS is only 6 years old (Oct 2006)

Any easy way to get around this ?
I understand I need an external, writeable device, in order to put FreeDos on it and save the HS partition 1. I see only the possibility to temporary add another IDE disk (prepared on another system).

Any better / eaysier suggestion ?
Maybe upgrade the BIOS (1984-2000 Award Software), is that feasable ?

Thanks for any hint.

[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 ?

[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]

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]

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

[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

[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

[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 ?

[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

[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

[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)