edutech4schools Posted March 3, 2015 Posted March 3, 2015 Just about to install server 2012r2 on to a new Dell T420 at a primary and I am faced with at least 2 methods for getting the OS installed. I can install the OS using the Lifecycle controller, which will also setup raid and download current drivers etc and install the OS or insert the Windows OS DVD and run through the process manually. What do other Dell users do? EDIT: Just noticed the OpenManage DVD includes some kind of system builder utility. So I can probably add this to the install methods.
sted Posted March 3, 2015 Posted March 3, 2015 I use the lifecycle method as it means I can pretty much feed it the cd and a few details and leave it to it 1
pbainbridge Posted March 3, 2015 Posted March 3, 2015 I've set up 20+ of these and it's much quicker to sort the RAID out in system setup and then set up the boot to point at the DVD drive. I initially used the lifecycle controller but it doesn't really bring anything to the party. A useful bit of info is that if you are rolling out ESXi as the OS, and using the built in SD card to host it then once its installed it automatically asks if you want to copy the SD card to a secondary SD card also in the machine. Instant OS redundancy, very useful. 1
edutech4schools Posted March 3, 2015 Author Posted March 3, 2015 Thanks. Might give the manual method a pop. Bit of topic but I am trying to update the firmware etc before deploying the OS. I have entered the lifecycle controller. entered networks settings as DHCP and checked it has been given the correct IP addresses. In the firmware update screen it wants our proxy details but when I hit test it passes all the internal pings but fails to connect to the DELL servers. Any ideas?
edutech4schools Posted March 3, 2015 Author Posted March 3, 2015 I've set up 20+ of these and it's much quicker to sort the RAID out in system setup and then set up the boot to point at the DVD drive. I initially used the lifecycle controller but it doesn't really bring anything to the party. Are you then inserting the Windows OS media or the Dell OpenManage DVD?
pbainbridge Posted March 3, 2015 Posted March 3, 2015 I use a USB stick with the Windows Server ISO on it, again it just speeds up the install time.
edutech4schools Posted March 3, 2015 Author Posted March 3, 2015 I use a USB stick with the Windows Server ISO on it, again it just speeds up the install time. Handy. Cheers. When setting up raid 10 I kept the defaults Adaptive read ahead write back I did some reading and these settings seem fine but wanted to check with everyone at EG if that is OK
edutech4schools Posted March 3, 2015 Author Posted March 3, 2015 One last question, promise. @pbainbridge Did you switch the bios over to UEFI or leave as BIOS???
edutech4schools Posted March 3, 2015 Author Posted March 3, 2015 OS is installed. Thanks for all the help so far. Wondered if it is worth installing OpenMange Server Administrator from the DELL DVD or any other utils from the DVD, this server will be a hyper-v host server only if that makes a difference.
sted Posted March 3, 2015 Posted March 3, 2015 OS is installed. Thanks for all the help so far. Wondered if it is worth installing OpenMange Server Administrator from the DELL DVD or any other utils from the DVD, this server will be a hyper-v host server only if that makes a difference. i would install server administrator (but id download it no telling how old the dvd version is) as it can tell you much easier than going and looking at the server if theres a problem with the raid array etc i THINK it can even email you
pbainbridge Posted March 3, 2015 Posted March 3, 2015 I have a couple of dozen Hyper V servers as well, but use no tools. It is worth setting up the the iDRAC though.
edutech4schools Posted March 3, 2015 Author Posted March 3, 2015 OK just checked device manger and I have a long list of items under 'Other Devices'. Whats the best way of getting these drivers installed. This is why I properly should have installed the OS using the DELL lifecycle method as it downloads all the drivers while installing.
pbainbridge Posted March 3, 2015 Posted March 3, 2015 Never had that problem with any installation. Is the server a standard build?
edutech4schools Posted March 3, 2015 Author Posted March 3, 2015 Is the server a standard build? yep. Also installed without any issues.
edutech4schools Posted March 3, 2015 Author Posted March 3, 2015 Well I have decided to start over and have just selected OS install in the Lifecycle controller. It is currently downloading the latest drivers prior to installing the OS. I'll keep you posted.
edutech4schools Posted March 3, 2015 Author Posted March 3, 2015 Installing the OS using the Lifecycle method has resulted in all the drivers being installed but I do have an extra drive (d) with some drivers etc on.
sted Posted March 3, 2015 Posted March 3, 2015 Installing the OS using the Lifecycle method has resulted in all the drivers being installed but I do have an extra drive (d) with some drivers etc on. reboot a few times and it goes away iirc
edutech4schools Posted March 4, 2015 Author Posted March 4, 2015 Am I OK to delete this OEM Dell partition. It is a FAT drive but is marked with Active, Primary Partition?
edutech4schools Posted March 4, 2015 Author Posted March 4, 2015 Should have added this screenshot to my post above. [ATTACH=CONFIG]29457[/ATTACH]
edutech4schools Posted March 4, 2015 Author Posted March 4, 2015 (edited) it OK just found this To force OEMDRV to be removed earlier, restart the server and press F10 to enter the Lifecycle Controller configuration. Then exit the Lifecycle Controller and reboot again. You don't need to make any changes in the configuration. Just entering and exiting triggers the removal. Which makes @sted advice above make sense reboot a few times and it goes away iirc Edited March 4, 2015 by edutech4schools
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