Compaq enhances its strong server reputation with the Compaq ProLiant DL380 G2. With its feature-rich 2U chassis and flexible management software, the ProLiant is a server you should take seriously.

The ProLiant has a tool-free chassis, five hot-swappable fans (with room for a sixth redundant fan), and space for two hot-swappable power supplies, though we tested it with only one installed. Like the IBM xSeries 342, the ProLiant has a motherboard with several LEDs to indicate specific hardware failures, but the LEDs are not conveniently arranged. Thankfully, there's a diagram on the inside of the server lid that maps the LEDs.

The ProLiant's disk subsystem contains dual RAID controllers: an embedded Smart Array 5i controller with 32MB on-board cache and an additional PCI-based Smart Array 5302 with 64MB of battery-backed cache. But we would like the on-board controller to have more features: More cache, write-cache capability, and a battery would prevent the expense of an additional PCI controller.

The ProLiant is the only server we reviewed that is prepared for tape archiving. For those without an external tape library, this feature is a godsend.

Using the Compaq Remote Insight Lights-Out Edition card, which we installed and configured in 10 minutes, you can access the card's embedded Web server remotely to perform tasks such as protecting the communication between the server and your management station via 128-bit SSL. You can also monitor system status and shut down or reboot the server remotely.

With Compaq Insight Manager 7 in conjunction with the Lights-Out card, you can manage multiple servers and management cards via a centralized server. Installation was a tad tedious: It required several OS and Internet Explorer patches as well as a separate MSDE-database and Web-console installation. Though Insight Manager is slightly complex, its results are most accurate.