That server should do you well.
I would recommend picking up the add-on that gives the RAID card some cache, that can provide a significant performance improvement. Otherwise, that's a solid value performer.
Unbelievable...
I found the answer after a ton of research and comparing two HP Dl180 G6's, one with the fan noise issue and one without I discovered the problem.
So here is the issue.
On right hand side of the server behind the power button there is a temperature sensor. When the motherboard stops registering that temp it assumes the incoming air is hotter then acceptable and ramps up the fan noise to compensate. The really odd thing is that the absence of this sensor data doesn't raise any red flags in the system or ILO. It simply indicates no data for the front panel sensor.
When I swapped in the front panel from a known working server the problem went away. When I swapped in the bad sensor to a working server the problem followed the sensor to the new server.
The sensor is not a separate part number it is part of the drive bay.
I called HP and insisted they replace the drive bay so I could get a new sensor.
The first drive bay they sent me was like for like, it was an 8 bay hotswap with the DVD-ROM drive. Part # 507305-001. I swapped that in and the problem remained it still wasn't registering the temp sensor.
I called HP and had them replace it again and again same problem.
Third call to HP I insisted they send me the drive bay for the 12 3.5 inch hotswap unit. This matched the working server that I owned. When I received it I carefully moved the power button assembly to my 8 bay unit and plugged it in. It was magic. When it rebooted ILO reported the following:
Generic 01/01/2002 00:02:14 FAN4_INLET Lower Critical-going low Assertion
Generic 01/01/2002 00:03:34 FAN4_INLET Lower Critical-going low Assertion
Fan noise returned to normal and when I checked ILO and IPMI data front panel was registering temp.
The part number for the 12 bay unit is 507254-001
The individual temp sensor didn't have any identifying marks on it and in all respects looked very similar. However there were some marked differences surrounding the temperature sensor chip. On the 8 bay unit it was covered in epoxy. On the 12 bay unit it was free and open.
My guess is this is a manufacturing defect.
I notified HP Engineering about the issue and provided them the same details as I am listing here.
I hope this helps someone out.
Good Luck.
Best Answer
Yes, this will work.
Normally, I steer people away from cheap disks, but this is a cheap server and is particularly suited to being stuffed with cheap disks (versus other ProLiant models).
The HP ProLiant DL180 G6 model you list is an 8-bay unit. The backplane is a hotplug backplane.
Depending on your controller setup, you can use whatever 3.5" SAS or SATA disk you wish in the system. This server may have an HP Smart Array P410 controller or a handful of SATA leads to the motherboard. Can you clarify what you have, because the part number you listed is just the chassis.