HP ProLiant ML150 Gen9 review

Deployment and monitoring

Whichever storage package you opt for, you'll find deployment a doddle with HP's Active Intelligent Provisioning tool on the case. We selected this from the boot-up menu, ran through the quick deploy wizard and had Windows Server 2012 R2 loaded up in 30 minutes.

Server monitoring tools are in abundance with the System Management HomePage browser interface furnishing us with a local server status screen. HP's Insight Control offers complete network systems management and we also used HP's iOS Insight Online app with our Passport account to view registered systems, monitor support cases and check support contracts.

The jewel in this server's crown is its embedded iLO4 controller which shares access with the first Gigabit port and offers some of the best remote monitoring tools around. The inclusive iLO4 Standard license provides agentless server monitoring with heaps of data on critical components and access to remote power controls.

It also has direct access to HP support for fault logging. However, an Essentials or Advanced license is required for features such as OS remote control, advanced power monitoring and the Federation feature which allows multiple ProLiant servers to be viewed from one console.

Bear in mind that you must have a valid warranty or support contract with HP to get access to regular ROM BIOS firmware updates. However, it will provide open access to critical firmware updates regardless of support agreements.

HP's Smart Storage Administrator provides direct access to its RAID controller for array management