Any tips on how to promote long life on the HP EX490? I have heard and read stories of the device crapping out.

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EX490
CPU E6550
8TB HDD's
2GB RAM

My recommendation would be to purchase a UPS and install software that will shut the server down in a controlled manor after a period of time set by you the user. I typically set my UPS's to shut down the devices they are protecting when the battery reaches 80% capacity.

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Migrated from WHS2011 to WS2012E: HIGHLANDER

~ Norco 4220 Enclosure
~ Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD5
~ AMD Phenom II X4 995 3.2 GHz
~ 8 GB Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
~ 3 Supermicro AOC-SASLP-MV8

Quoted for truth. Don't trust your server to a surge protector alone. Most decent UPS condition the power supplied to your server protecting you from brownouts and other split-second blinks in power levels that could play havoc with your system.

They also protect your devices from surges and sags generate on the power grid and from heavy power devices within the home like washing machines, dishwashers, driers, blowers, compressors and so forth. These surges and sags can actually be seen in the home with the lights becomming brighter and dimmer when the devices I mentioned turn on or off.

_________________
Exploring the possibilities!

Migrated from WHS2011 to WS2012E: HIGHLANDER

~ Norco 4220 Enclosure
~ Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD5
~ AMD Phenom II X4 995 3.2 GHz
~ 8 GB Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
~ 3 Supermicro AOC-SASLP-MV8

Don't store it in the hottest room of your house either! Heat kills electronics (as well as pets in parked cars).

Especially now that summer is approaching mine is in my basement...

Just because the lights in the house go dim then bright is not a true indication of utility power issues.
It can be issues with the house wiring.

Thats very true but what I was referring to is when household devices like Blowers, Washing Machines, Driers, Dishwashers, Vacuum Cleaners and such turn on and off. Also if you live near an industrial park you can also experience the same effects when companies startup or shut down their facilities. While some newer equipement is designed to soft start which may reduce issues with power sags they still present an issue when they power down creating a power surge and that surge which is a problem for sensitive devices.

_________________
Exploring the possibilities!

Migrated from WHS2011 to WS2012E: HIGHLANDER

~ Norco 4220 Enclosure
~ Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD5
~ AMD Phenom II X4 995 3.2 GHz
~ 8 GB Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
~ 3 Supermicro AOC-SASLP-MV8

Dust is another HUGE enemy. Not just in your lungs, but in your server as well. Periodically vacuum off the front and back of the server, including the door on the front. The door captures quite a bit of dust, and if you keep cleaning it off it won't get sucked into the server. If you find a nice thick layer of dust collecting on the components, a can of compressed air should clean it out. Be careful not to tilt the can or hold it sideways or inverted, as you could shoot some of the liquid propellant out--bad for your server!

Collections of dust will cause components to run hot, and in some instances can be serious enough to conduct an electric charge, which could cause anomalous behavior should an electron "jump" across dust into a circuit for which it wasn't intended. Dust is too often an overlooked enemy. If you've got a good air filter or purifier attached to your HVAC system and/or a good air cleaner in the room where your server resides, that should help cut down on the level of dust, but it won't eliminate it completely.

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Matt Sawyer
Owner, Dojo North Software, LLC

HP EX490, 4GB, E5300, 15TB - Server 2012 - Sharing and Streaming
HP EX487, 4GB, E5300, 13TB - Server 2012 Essentials - Backups

You can create ESD problems with canned air and by vacuuming as well. Not only that you can destroy your fans by spinning them with a can of air. When you go to do maintenance, ensure you and the server are grounded, use light bursts of air or vacuum to remove dust. If possible when air dusting your fans hold them steady with a finger or pencil. Lense pens are also good dusters for getting the caked grime that doesn't readily come off with an air duster.

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HPjunkie:

When using canned air its also a good idea to have multiple cans handy as the cans will generally get cold and become less effective. Also one should use short bursts of air. As a general rule of thumb the unit your blowing out should be powered down. If your unit has filters its good to rotate the filters on a regular basis to ensure continued good airflow as the more they clog up the better they filter and reduce airflow.

_________________
Exploring the possibilities!

Migrated from WHS2011 to WS2012E: HIGHLANDER

~ Norco 4220 Enclosure
~ Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD5
~ AMD Phenom II X4 995 3.2 GHz
~ 8 GB Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
~ 3 Supermicro AOC-SASLP-MV8

I use a small air compressor to blow out my servers and PCs about every three months. On my EX495, I pull all the drives and blow the entire chassis and power supply out from the front and back a few times each way. On the PCs, I remove the side panels and blow out the front panel, power supply, CPU fan and mobo the same way. Have never had a problem with premature fan failure or other issues, and always make sure I'm properly grounded for ESD protection. YMMV....

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