HPE ProLiant MicroServer Gen8 Rack Options
Genuine HPE console and input options for the HPE ProLiant MicroServer Gen8, new and refurbished. This server is an ultra micro tower and there is no rail kit for it — what HPE files under rack options is console, KVM and input hardware, and the part that matters to most owners is a USB keyboard and mouse kit.
MicroServer Gen8 Rack Option Specifications
- Form factor and rails: ultra micro tower, 9.15 x 9.06 x 9.65 in with feet; HPE documents no rail kit for this chassis and lists console, KVM and input hardware under rack options instead
- Input kit listed here: an HPE USB keyboard and mouse kit in the US layout; HPE documents the same kit in eight other national layouts
- USB 2.0 ports: five in total — two on the front, two at the rear and one internal
- USB 3.0 ports: two, both at the rear, which HPE notes are functional after the operating system boots
- Video: one rear video connector on integrated Matrox G200 graphics, at 1280 x 1024 (32 bpp) or 1920 x 1200 (16 bpp)
- Remote console: HPE iLO 4 with a dedicated 1Gb management port as the default configuration
A setup keyboard belongs in a USB 2.0 port, not a USB 3.0 one. HPE notes that the two rear USB 3.0 ports are functional only after the operating system boots, so a keyboard in one of them will not answer F9 for RBSU or F10 for Intelligent Provisioning. Five USB 2.0 ports are available, two of them on the front of the chassis.
Do you need a keyboard and mouse for this server?
| Task | What it needs |
|---|---|
| First power-on, RBSU and Intelligent Provisioning | A keyboard, mouse and monitor at the server, or the iLO 4 remote console |
| Day-to-day administration | Neither — the network, or iLO 4 on its dedicated management port |
| Recovering a server that has lost its network | A keyboard, mouse and monitor at the server |
| Keyboard input before the operating system loads | A USB 2.0 port — the USB 3.0 ports come up after OS boot |
Which USB port you use matters more than which keyboard you buy. HPE notes that the two rear USB 3.0 ports are functional after the operating system boots, so a keyboard plugged into one of them will not be there when you need F9 for RBSU or F10 for Intelligent Provisioning — use one of the five USB 2.0 ports instead, two of which sit on the front of the chassis. Past the first build and the occasional recovery, iLO 4 does this job with nothing attached at all.
Choosing the Right MicroServer Gen8 Rack Option
- There are no rails to buy. HPE documents no rail kit for this chassis, so the MicroServer Gen8 sits on a desk or a shelf.
- Match the keyboard layout to the country. The kit listed here is the US layout, and HPE documented the same kit in eight other national layouts.
- Put a setup keyboard in a USB 2.0 port. The rear USB 3.0 ports become functional after the operating system boots, which is too late for RBSU or Intelligent Provisioning.
- Check whether iLO 4 removes the need entirely. The default configuration gives iLO 4 a dedicated 1Gb port and a remote console, which covers most of what a local keyboard gets bought for.
Complete Your MicroServer Gen8 Build
A server that runs headless still needs the parts that do the work — browse MicroServer Gen8 memory, drives, storage controllers and networking adapters, or the full MicroServer Gen8 parts listing and HPE parts by server model. For the rack options listed against the larger HPE ProLiant ML310e Gen8, see ML310e Gen8 rack options.
MicroServer Gen8 Rack Options FAQ
Does the MicroServer Gen8 fit in a rack?
No. It is an ultra micro tower, about 9.15 by 9.06 by 9.65 inches with its feet, and HPE documents no rail kit for it.
What is in the HPE USB keyboard and mouse kit?
A USB keyboard and a USB mouse. The kit listed here is the US layout, and HPE documented the same kit in eight other national layouts.
How many USB ports does a MicroServer Gen8 have?
Seven: five USB 2.0 ports, of which two are on the front, two at the rear and one internal, plus two USB 3.0 ports at the rear.
Why does my USB keyboard not work at boot?
Check which port it is in. HPE notes that the two USB 3.0 ports are functional after the operating system boots, so a keyboard needed for RBSU or Intelligent Provisioning belongs in a USB 2.0 port.
Do I need a monitor for this server?
Only for work done at the machine. There is one rear video connector on integrated Matrox G200 graphics, but the default iLO 4 configuration includes a dedicated 1Gb management port and a remote console.
Is there a rail kit or rack shelf for the MicroServer Gen8?
Not in HPE's documentation for this server. Its rack options section covers rackmount console kits, KVM console switches and USB keyboard and mouse kits, not rails.
✅ Looking for a specific MicroServer Gen8 rack option? Browse our full selection below.
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