HP MediaSmart EX475
4x 1.5gb SATA in RAID5 (3TB)
1GB ram
Semprom x64 1.8ghz Processor
PS2 USB/Mouse & VGA Monitor
Initially for testing I have been able to install and log into Ubuntu Server 16 x64 LTS on this machine. It works very well and were I prepared to keep the machine attached to a Keyboard, Mouse and Monitor it would do the job superbly. Unfortunately this is not an option so its not suitable for headless use without re-inventing the wheel.
OMV V2
Over the last week I have installed successfully on a USB ScanDisk with SWAP, Without Swap, and on the RAID5 virtual Disk.
Whereas it takes a couple of sessions to get the RAID5 virtual volume built 1st in order to choose it to install on it, it does work.
Having got the initial build to install successfully directly on USB, I re-built again without swap on USB to see if it still worked with the intention of moving /var and /tmp onto the RAID5
The installs can be fiddly and most often I have to go back to re-try previous stages 'post disk volume' as they often fail. Being restrained by the install script on this PC is tricky.
All this done successfully, the PROBLEM IS...
Post every install on V2 when it comes to starting up there is no video output past BIOS, not even console showing so I have no idea to what stage it progresses as its not registering a DHCP lease.
I can smoothly shut it down via power button and it does sound to power up fine without error codes or lights, Its just not accessible.
I don't know how this Debian build varies from the Ubuntu server but I suspect the SIS VGA libraries are not available nor possibly the networking after install.
OMV V3 beta
Tried installing this today onto the RAID5 volume to see if it made any difference. Installer failes quickly at the Debian package stage but did proceed to build everything with re-trying after that.
Had to choose all repositories for downloading services before I could proceed to the end point. There is an option to load drivers from another media and asks for an ISO build at some tries but as I don't know the core nor have the drivers or a means of dropping to root shell to get them so i'm stuck.
Once again however when I finally get to the re-boot point to run it I am blind so i'm assuming same driver issues.
I'm not surprised V3 failed completely as I doubt its all there but this presumed SIS driver issue has me stumped as I would have expected TXT console to be visible.
I even tried two different monitors in case it was a matter of out of range signals.
I don't want to give up on this, i'm happy to admit I'm not capable of anything other than following learned instructions on configuring Linux as I don't code in this environment.
As I cant simply use the built in installer script and even manual steps work fine eventually but I still don't get a good result, I need learned input to get to the bottom of this issue.
If I have to i'll build my own collection of services on Ubuntu Server to get a manageable result but i'd far rather use OMV.
NB Puppy linux, installed on a USB boots up fine though I do need to manually get the SIS fix as the default screen is flakey without it.
A Ubuntu live CD is unusable as it also cant drive the screen appropriately so I get nothing readable - just out of sync colourful crap.
HELP !!