IMPORTANT: This is NOT an "Official" HP supported feature, DO NOT CALL SUPPORT about this! If you have questions, post here and we will try to resolve it

With some persistent testing and registry examination after being given a clue by an anonymous source, I've uncovered an "Easter Egg" feature hidden by the HP R&D team. It's called the HP MediaSmart Server LED Light Show, and it adds some interesting effects to the HDD LED lights.

Here's a couple screenshots of the GUI:
http://www.mediasmartserver.net/images/easteregg1.jpg
http://www.mediasmartserver.net/images/easteregg2.jpg

To access the feature:
* Open the WHS Server Console to the MediaSmart Server tab
* Hold down the shift-ctrl-alt keys on your keyboard
* Click the Server icon next to the LED Brightness slider
* You'll see an Easter Egg with the HP logo appear on the Server icon, and the slider change to show various LED behavior states
* To disable the LED Light Show, move the slider all the way to the left (the first position)
* To exit, just click the Server icon again

The LED states include:
* Default System Lights (Recommended)
* Holiday Lights
* Ascending Chaser (all colors)
* Descending Chaser (all colors)
* Pulsing (all colors)
* Night Rider (all colors)
* Morse Code Credits

Yes, I was a Boy Scout back in the day, but no, I don't know Morse Code, so I leave that as an exercise to those of you with more skills than me.

Enjoy!
Alex

This looks really cool, but now that I have an EX470 and have had the chance to try it, I have to assume that it only works if all 4 (or at least more than 2) drive bays are full. I could get the easter egg control panel to come up, but nothing happened at all to the lights when I changed the settings.

I suppose it could be something other than number of drives as well, but it makes sense that several of these light shows only work with more than 2 lights.

Works just fine with only 2 drives. After the easter egg pops up don't click on it. Just move the LED control bar one click at a time to the right and watch your server. All the lighhs come on, change and dance.

I haven't tried this since I solved my blinking blue health light problem. I first noticed the blinking blue health light after switching to the Easter egg control panel, but I now suspect that it was already blinking and I just hadn't noticed when I did that and that is why the Easter egg never worked for me.

Will have to try again now.

Edited to add that after moving the slider the first time, both drive lights went completely off and wouldn't come back on no matter where I moved the slider, even after I went back to the standard control panel, until I fixed the blinking health light.

i noticed that when you switch back to normal light (by bringing the slider back to the left before clicking) they turn off, but this ca be easily fixed by moving the normal slider bar... freaked me out for about 3.5 seconds, so if ur an idiot, it might last longer... just dont panic (if you put the slider to the brightest at night, it makes a nice light show for the neighbors) ne way, sweet little function, enjoy it.

It is possible to get the light to show when each driver is working, like a HDD light?

To the best of my knowledge no one has accomplished this.

I had heard about this easter egg somewhere after I first got my server but then never pursued it. Totally cool, thanks for posting the instructions!

Cool, and be sure to check out JRock's Light Show Settings Add-In for even more control.

Does this feature work for the HP EX495? I don't see any server icons to click on.

It's on the LED tab of the HP Settings tab.

Yes it should. I have an EX490, and the 490/495 are for all intents identical except for the CPU and hard drive are a bit better in the 495. As soon as I read Alex's post I ran downstairs to the server and said to myself, "I gotta try this!"

Worked flawlessly. Thanks Alex for sharing this with us!

Matt