Having a hard time finding a download or CD for Smart Start on ML350G6 running Novell netware version 6.5 hp says its supported but it wont allow you to download it.
With the release of Windows Server 2012, I was looking to roll out several new HP Proliant servers running WS2012 Datacentre edition as HyperV hosts. Alas, the existing version of HP SmartSuite does not support WS2012. The methodology for installing WS2012 on HP servers is documented by HP here – http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c03305495/c03305495.pdf
However, this methodology is quite manual, and seems to omit the installation of the HP Management and System Tools. Also, the website, and HP documentation appear to lead to two different versions of the WS2012 Supplement for Service Pack for Proliant (See here – ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softlib2/software1/supportpack-windows/p1072349968/v77662 and here – ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softlib2/software1/supportpack-windows/p1072349968/v79572)
Using the new in-place upgrade feature in WS2012, these issues were overcome by installing Windows Server 2008R2 first, and then upgrading the fresh installation to WS2012. BTW, this process should work for most other server hardware platforms. Do check the Compatibility Report to verify that the drivers and vendor applications will work.
The pre-requisite: Install WS2008R2 using the HP SmartSuite and Server media. Once the server has been installed, insert the WS2012 media (DVD or USB) and run setup.exe.
Click Install now.
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Wait a while, skip installing updates, and follow the “bouncing balls” – most of the steps are straightforward.
Install the GUI Version (unless you really want the Server Core version).
Accept the License.
At this step, select Upgrade: Install Windows and keep files, settings, and applications.
View the Compatibility report, in case there are some issues that need to be attended to. Otherwise, a generic notice is given.
Wait some more.
Reboot #1.
More waiting and a couple more reboots. (Be patient!)
Finally, the server is ready.
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Login.
After logon, Server Manager will automatically start up.
Minimise Server Manager to return to the desktop. A Windows Compatibility Report icon is on the desktop and links to the report which was seen above.
The HP System Management Icon will work as it normally did previously.
From this point, WS2012 is installed and operational. The HyperV role and other roles and features can be installed normally.
Since HP SmartStart CD went the way of the dodo bird before Windows 2012 R2 was released, HP ProLiants older than a Gen8 require administrators to manually install Windows 2012 R2. On ProLiant Gen8 and higher, you have Intelligent Provisioning – the replacement for SmartStart – embedded on the system, but this isn’t available on G7, so the user needs to manually install Windows according to the “Implementing Microsoft Windows Server 2012” technical whitepaper.
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In the case of the HP ProLiant DL380 G7, the normal Windows installation doesn’t recognize the P410i storage controller during installation and it fails with the strange “We can’t create a new partition or locate an existing one.” Searching forums, you find several solutions suggesting boot order or removable mdia like USB or SD storage causes the problem in many cases, but for the DL380 G7, however to get past this on my servers, I needed to download the storage controller driver and add it during installation.
You will need a USB drive where you can load the drivers during Windows installation.
The steps to do this and successfully install Windows 2012 R2 are below:
- Browse out to hp.com and go to the Drivers & Software download section or directly to http://www8.hp.com/us/en/drivers.html.
- Search for the DL380 G7 in the search and click on the link for the server displayed after search.
- Select Windows 2012 R2 as the operating system dropdown.
- Navigate to Storage Controller and download the latest “HP ProLiant Smart Array SAS/SATA Controller Driver for Windows Server 2012 x64 Edition.” If you use this link, make sure to check revision history to ensure this is the latest available.
- Click the Download button and then run the .exe file. Use the Extract button to copy all the files onto a USB stick.
- Boot the system and begin Windows 2012 R2 installation from CD or from ISO connected via remote console on the iLO.
- Click the Install Windows.
- Custom Installation.
- Storage window – choose Have Disk. Make sure USB is plugged in on the server.
- Choose the HP driver
- Click next and the installation will now continue instead of giving the error.