dell server black screen

[mrstrong]

boots and gets to "Loading Bios drivers" , then "Initializing ..." then screen goes black

(on the attached monitor)

 

I figured out how to connect via the idrac NIC in a web browser and can see it boot ok past this,

started the virtual console and pressed F10 to get into lifecycle controller

Then tried "Get the latest firmware" but says all up to date.

 

Haven't installed an OS yet so thinking I might just try and install server 2022 in lifecycle controller

(via the idrac virtual console by mounting virtual media iso)?

Edited March 14, 2023 by mrstrong

[3s-gtech]

Can you bang an old PCI-E graphics card in, see if that works? Sometimes needs a riser, but usually not.

[mrstrong]

Not sure I have any plus rather not start taking a new server apart

First time I've set a brand new server up

 

Figured if I can install os via idrac console I should be ok as then I'll access

via remote desktop anyway ?

[3s-gtech]

Ah, it's new. Then no you shouldn't need to do that!

 

Are you using the Dell install media? This manages the OS install - seems that you can have issues if you just slap in an install disc.

[TwistedHelixis]

You should install OS via lifecycle controller, as it injects the drives needed during the setup.

[mrstrong]

managed to install OS via lifecycle controller. Did it via idrac virtual console on a laptop plugged into

same switch as server, quite impressed as it mounted the iso from my laptop.

 

Annoying could only choose english united states as language but selected uk for time and keyboard

 

After a cold boot kept going back into lifecycle controller, eventually realised I have to exit from LCC to get it to do a normal

boot. Also took me a while to figure out how to send ctrl-alt-del to login (under console controls, keyboard macros).

 

Re the external monitor black screen, tried a hard reset / powerdrain as suggested here

https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-uk/000152161/dell-poweredge-troubleshooting-a-server-that-does-not-start-no-power-no-post-no-boot-and-no-video#6

but didn't fix.

I swapped in a newer widescreen monitor and I now have image. The monitor I was using was a really old 4:3 one.

It did display initially during post but went blank after "Initializing PCIe, USB, and Video"

 

Time to have a click around as used to server 2012r2 so lets see what MS have been up to in last 10 years!

[mrstrong]

Mmm, sure i configured the nic to have a static ip to do the firmware updates via LCC but windows seems to have

defaulted to dhcp.

 

Does anyone have a basic list of tasks for a new server? this one is going to be a hyper-v host

for a domain controller.

 

so far I've done:

windows update

also enable: receive updates for other microsoft products

turn off IE Enhanced Security Configuration

enable remote desktop

 

probably next I'll:

rename computer

set static ip (or maybe just leave as dhcp and reserve?)

install hyper-v role

create partition for hyper-v guests

 

not sure if should join domain or leave in workgroup?

 

anything else before i start creating vms ?

[TwistedHelixis]

definitely set static IP.

 

I normally run sconfig and set all updates to manual, that way I can control when the updates happen.

 

Most other domain join their hosts but I don't, I like to keep it separate from the domain.

[mrstrong]

not heard of sconfig, will have a look thanks.

 

Overall project is to replace our Windows Server 2012 R2 DC.

I've got till Oct 10, 2023 apparently (when its EOL)

my rough "plan" is to build a hyper-v server 2019, then I think I can make that a DC (promote?) and retire

the old one (demote?).

Sure I'll be posting on here for some advice before I take the plunge

[PotNoodleTech]

Servers generally come with compeltely blank disks so you will probably have to gointo the BIOS/RAID bios and set up any disk arrays you want followed by booting the Windows Server 2019 or above memory stick and installing the O/S

[mrstrong]

I managed to set up raid etc in the lifecycle controller, the dell documentation is ok

though a little out of date / confusing in places:

https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-uk/000123958/dell-poweredge-server-start-up-guide

https://www.dell.com/support/manuals/en-uk/microsoft-windows-server-2022/win2022_ig_pub/install-windows-server-2022-by-using-dell-emc-lifecycle-controller?guid=guid-7d8861aa-f60d-4ab0-b04b-ec69c7ca2be4&lang=en-us