HP servers are complete opposite of their laptops. I today retired a 17 year old DL140 which was working fine.
Is their driver and firmware update section still paywalled?
It was not paywalled before. It's new for HPE. I don't know why they started doing it. Probably due to GreenLake (server renting) initiative.
Yes, and also they are not HP servers, they are HPE. HP split off the server division into HPE Hewlett Packard Enterprise some years ago. I have a very high regard for HPE products, not so much for HP products...
It was an "HP server" when it arrived 17 years ago :) Split happened in 2015.
Yes, unless you are under warranty or there is a critical patch release.
This habit emerged since the 'strategic' merge with Micro Focus. I think they are, in fact, in charge with all software side of HPE.
I have 10 years old Z840 workstation which I use as a server with quit fans. Built like a tank and works like a charm
To be clear, HPE (HP Enterprise) which sells servers and HP Inc. which sells PCs and printers are polar opposites despite their common origin and nearly identical names.
Yes, but that server is not an HPE. HPE split in 2015. We acquired said server in 2006-2007.
Server line is not the same company AFAIK.
They split in 2015. The server I have written about is acquired in 2006.