Deploy OS with Lifecycle Controller - Media Not Found

Hello cmcfarling09

Without physically inserting the OS disk in the server DVD drive, how else could I get it to recognize an OS media disk? Is my ISO image perhaps the problem? In other words since I created it from the UFD and not directly from the original DVD could that be causing a problem? Assuming there's nothing wrong with the ISO would the USC normally recognize an ISO mounted via Remote File Share as a valid OS install disk and proceed beyond step 4?

Yes, the issue is likely the ISO. The LCC is very particular about the OS image that it wants. Make sure you are selecting SBS 2011 as the OS during the LCC setup. If it does not recognize the ISO you are using then I would recommend using a different ISO. The LCC install will only properly detect retail copies, so if you are using a volume license copy or anything other than a standard retail copy it will not likely detect it. Also, if the program used to create the ISO from the DVD changes the formatting or adds extra information to the ISO file to make it different from the DVD in any way it will not detect properly.

In short, yes you can install SBS 2011 from an ISO. If you are encountering issues then I would troubleshoot the medium.

Thanks

Thanks for the insight. You stated :

" The LCC install will only properly detect retail copies"

What about the Windows install disk that came with the server? That would not be a retail disk, should't it recognize that?

What about the Windows install disk that came with the server? That would not be a retail disk, should't it recognize that?

Yes, the OEM discs that we supply read as retail copies. They should work fine with the LCC.

Thanks

FYI, I downloaded the SBS2011 Essentials eval ISO install disk from Microsoft just to try it out and see what would happen. It installed and activated as an OEM copy. So it seems that is an alternative option.

So since the LCC doesn't detect  Windows 2012 R2 Volume license how can I install it?

+1 here, I have Volume Educational versions, have same issue.

I simply gave you the simplest alternative to installing the OS. The biggest problem with Dell's deployment tools, is that they are required to comply with all Windows terms and licensing, and it doesn't take long to become out of date to the point it must be updated before it is useful again, and the process to update isn't as easy as it should be. I can install manually in half the time that would take, so my recommendation is usually not to bother.

Install directly from the OS media.

I apologize if my comment seemed to be leveled at you directly. I should have been more clear in my reply to specifically state how Dell's documentation could save users a lot of grief by clearly stating "Dell OS Deployment Tools require the retail version of Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2" or something similar. I should also have thanked you for providing the details which Dell's documentation completely omitted. 

Hi, I am new to installing OS on Dell Servers. I just bought a used Dell R720 and am trying to install the OS. I configured the BIOS to use UEFI and USB as the boot device. I installed Windows Server 2019 on a USB with Rufus. I got the ISO from the Microsoft Evaluation Center. I used Lifecycle Controller to try and install the OS because all the videos I have seen so far show that as the way to install. I keep getting stuck on step 4 of 5 in OS Deployment, 'Select Media' I get 'no media'. So I happen to find this blog and am now wondering if I can use an evaluation copy or not and if I can do I have to use another install method which I think your answer may be saying? I have built dozens of PC and installed Microsoft server software on some of them with no issues. I decided to get a real server for my lab. I am a software developer and need the server for my development lab. I know I am close but I am missing something to get around this issue.

Hello @TecBit,

You are correct. In order to install an OS you should follow the procedure to install it via Lifecycle Controller "Deploy OS" option: How to install the operating system on a Dell PowerEdge Server? (OS deployment)

I also can confirm you you can use the Evaluation Media ISOs: Dell PowerEdge: How to Download the Microsoft Windows Server Media / ISO file?

As you can see in the article, in order to use the "Deploy OS" option you either need to load the media via DVD Drive or Virtual Media of iDRAC or USB. UEFI environment doesn't support NTFS file format. USB Boot Media must be MBR disk with FAT32 filesystem.

Regards.

Hi
I have just had the same issue on a Dell R640. I downloaded the Win2016 Server downgrade ISO directly from Digital Locker, so I couldn't understand why the OS deploy didn't recognize the ISO on my USB media. I did try reformatting the USB drive a couple of times with no success.  As with another post, I found that setting the Virtual Media to 'Attach' instead of 'Auto Attach' in iDRAC Settings>Media and USB Port Settings seemed to do the trick for me. I did deploy one server using the iDRAC web interface with the same ISO, so I knew it was not an issue with the ISO image from Digital Locker.

Hi all,

Just to keep this thread alive - I'm having the same issue but with RHEL 8. I mount the virtual media via iDRAC and all I get is "No Media". The documentation is quite poor IMO - why can't DELL list their officially tested isos?

Has anyone else had any luck installing RHEL 8.2 using LC?

I'm using the official RHEL rhel-8.2-x86_64-dvd.iso. The iso boots fine directly, but I want to use the LC for the deployment.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Cheers,

Ben

Hello @benloveday,

Please, can you let me know what server do you have? So you get to this "No media" message on the Lifecycle Controller after selecting the proper drivers pack?

There are some scenarios when you may want to boot directly from the OS, like, for example:

VMware ESXi distributions
OS Installation on PowerEdge T20/T30
Nonsupported OS by LCC

You can check this in the updated article: How to install the operating system on a Dell PowerEdge Server? (OS deployment) https://dell.to/3cqqzKb

Regards.