The problem
A capable server is only useful when its hardware, storage, and network configuration are understood. The goal is to establish a dependable lab foundation before adding more services or complexity.
The approach
The project uses an HPE ProLiant DL80 Gen9 with Ubuntu Server. Work centers on identifying the controller, disks, boot configuration, and network interfaces, then recording a baseline that can guide future changes.
Validation and recovery
The verification checklist covers stable addressing, remote access, storage visibility, service startup after a reboot, and a documented recovery path. Disk capacity and redundancy are evaluated separately from backups; recoverability must be tested rather than assumed.
Current scope and next steps
Storage and service planning remain part of the lab work. The next steps are to document the final storage layout, separate operating-system and service data where appropriate, and validate recovery before relying on the platform for important files.