Hewlett-Packard's 1U server market entry, the NetServer LP1000r, is a decent if uninspired little machine, with good performance and a nice feature set. However, IBM's innovation and Dell's superior chipset leave the LP1000r with a third-place finish.

The NetServer LP1000r supports as many as three Ultra 160 SCSI hard drives and one open 64-bit 33-MHz PCI slot, and has two integrated Intel Pro/100+ NICs. The front of the NetServer LP1000r ships covered with a perforated sheet-metal bezel that prevents accidental access to the front of the machine. The front-panel indicator lights provide status information for system power, temperature, fans, and SCSI bus and hard-disk activity. In addition, Hewlett-Packard is one of only two vendors (the other is IBM) to provide a reset switch, which is a handy feature.

Online Special In addition to these 1U servers, we looked at two larger units: the Hewlett-Packard NetServer LP2000r and the NEC Express5800/120Rc-2. Click here for our online review.

Like most of the servers we evaluated, the NetServer LP1000r sports the ServerWorks ServerSet III LE chipset. An interesting note: The LP1000r's big brother, the LP2000r, uses the exact same motherboard. On the inside we found one open full-length 64-bit 33-MHz slot and four DIMM (dual in-line memory module) slots.

Access to the LP1000r is via a knob that slides the cover on and off. You will still have to remove the machine from the rack to service it, but the cover on this unit is much better than the one on the Compaq ProLiant DL360. Serviceability is only average on this machine. You'll need a screwdriver to get anything out, unlike the Dell PowerEdge 1550 or the Compaq ProLiant DL360, which can be disassembled without tools. This machine performed well in our tests, with one exception: It scored the lowest of all SCSI machines on Intel's IOmeter test.

OS installation went smoothly. HP's NetServer Navigator software, while not at the top of the pack, is still good. Support is included for Windows NT 4.0, NT 4.0 Enterprise Edition, NT 4.0 Enterprise Cluster Server, NT Terminal Server Edition, 2000 Advanced Server and 2000 Advanced Server Cluster. Caldera, Red Hat, SuSE and Turbo Linux OSes are also supported.

HP's Instant Toptools for Servers, a browser-based management utility offering an in-depth look at your server, is also included. Managers can access MAC (Media Access Control) addresses, network addresses, uptime, server status on individual subsystems and the event log. Complete versioning information not only for the motherboard BIOS but for video and SCSI can be viewed with Toptools, and it also provides a complete listing of system drivers and their state, size and date. All of this information is provided via a Web browser with easy-to-use tab and button navigation. Managers can generate and print or save reports detailing the information provided by Toptools.

Another impressive thing about the LP1000r is the large technical reference label attached to the top of the system. This helpful chunk of Mylar shows data such as internal and external topographical diagrams; system board layouts, including dip-switch settings; system cabling; mass storage device settings; memory configuration; service information; and diagrams on how to rack-mount the system with or without rails--everything a systems administrator needs to expand his or her rack-mount server capacity.

HP's warranty is on par with IBM's: The HP NetServer LP1000r comes with a standard three-year warranty, on-site.

NetServer LP1000r, $4,177 (Web pricing). Available: Now. Hewlett-Packard Co., (650) 857-1501; fax (650) 857-7299. www.hp.com.