A good write up, but you can also install directly from USB Windows media (not using SBUU/SMTD) using BIOS Boot Mode (you need to get clever to use UEFI). Easiest way in UEFI Boot Mode on this server is to use a Windows DVD.
I must agree that a DVD install would have been much easier. Unfortunately, that was not in the cards in this situation. This T110-II server belongs to a friend who uses it in his small business as a backup domain controller. He is in the process of upgrading his infrastructure and wants to squeeze a couple more years of service from his servers. He purchased the Microsoft O/S Server 2012 R2 USB package and an SSD drive to use as the O/S drive. I had no say as to what hardware or software components for him to get. It was simply 'Here is the stuff I purchased now please help me make it work.' And that's exactly what I did. I guess I'm just not smart enough to install the O/S directly from the USB stick. Lord knows I tried, repeatedly.
Who would have thought such a simple task as installing a new Microsoft O/S version on a PC server would have taken me two weeks to figure out. I kept detailed notes of my time and tracked my actions. It took me 31 boot attempts before I finally got into the Windows Server boot time installation screens. Unbelievable! The key to my final success was watching a Russian ewe-tube video showing a Windows Server 2012 R2 USB installation on a T110-II. Thank God the ewe-tuber took close up shots of what he was using. In the detail one can clearly see the OpenManage 7.4 Administrator DVD. I don't speak Russian so I have no clue as to what he saying, but I could tell by his tone of voice, he wasn't a happy camper.
I wouldn't say I found an elegant solution, but it sure wasn't the kludged up mess I expecting.
I wouldn't say I found an elegant solution, but it sure wasn't the kludged up mess I expecting.
Good job figuring out a solution! Just a question though: You said you were expecting a "kludged up mess" ... why? Installing an OS is a relatively simple thing. Yes, there are sometimes some odd issues to workaround, but I'm not sure what in your experience led you to expect a "kludged up mess". I recently deployed a T110 II (not my ideal choice - just what they had been donated) as a new 2012 R2 DC, file server, and print server in an afternoon. An old T710 elsewhere as a 2012 R2 terminal server in about an afternoon as well. If you run into problems in the future, post them here ... there are several people who can probably save you two weeks of head-banging :)
Just a couple of things, maybe something that will help you in the future:
First, I would always recommend using the latest version of SMTD if you plan to use Dell's deployment tools (8.4 is the latest for this server), rather than using a 2.5 year old resource DVD to install the current bits of a current OS. Changes in various releases and minor versions of an OS can cause SMTD not to work.
Second, you could have used the Server 2012 R2 Evaluation ISO from Microsoft to create the DVD ... you can activate the eval with any permanent license type. You can also create an ISO from the USB image, but it is easier to download the eval and burn to DVD.
... what in your experience led you to expect a "kludged up mess"...
Forty plus years of IBM software cajoling does color one's expectations. That said, installing a fully optioned IBM z/OS development configuration is pretty straight forward and relatively foolproof.
... If you run into problems in the future, post them here ... there are several people who can probably save you two weeks of head-banging...
I reviewed this forum repeatedly and saw my problem already posted more than once. No solutions were forthcoming within those threads. There were plenty of 'this should work' and 'just try this', but no solutions. There were plenty of opinions though.
...First, I would always recommend using the latest version of SMTD if you plan to use Dell's deployment tools...
Been there, done that. The 8.4 DVD is not bootable and useless for the task at hand. Refer to task 1 in my first post above. Plus, if you refer to the contents on the 8.4 DVD it states that OpenManage is obsolete and soon to be withdrawn. That didn't help matters.
...Second, you could have used the Server 2012 R2 Evaluation ISO from Microsoft to create the DVD ... you can activate the eval with any permanent license type. You can also create an ISO from the USB image, but it is easier to download the eval and burn to DVD...
I'm sure there are many ways to slice that cheese. But, the above is what worked for me. I have yet to see a simpler method documented that has fewer steps or is more straight forward. Plus in my jaundiced opinion, downloading a one-time-shot ISO and burning as additional DVD qualifies as a kludge. The fewer the steps required, the less chance of screwing something up and I am very well versed at screwing things up. I would highly recommend to anyone out there who maintains these older small servers, to immediately download the OM SMTD 7.4 ISO and burn a DVD. Even if you don't need it right now, you may in the future. 7.4 works and one never knows when it will disappear from the inter-web.
theflash1932
9 Legend
•
16.3K Posts
0
December 17th, 2016 07:00
A good write up, but you can also install directly from USB Windows media (not using SBUU/SMTD) using BIOS Boot Mode (you need to get clever to use UEFI). Easiest way in UEFI Boot Mode on this server is to use a Windows DVD.
pstidan
7 Posts
0
December 17th, 2016 11:00
I must agree that a DVD install would have been much easier. Unfortunately, that was not in the cards in this situation. This T110-II server belongs to a friend who uses it in his small business as a backup domain controller. He is in the process of upgrading his infrastructure and wants to squeeze a couple more years of service from his servers. He purchased the Microsoft O/S Server 2012 R2 USB package and an SSD drive to use as the O/S drive. I had no say as to what hardware or software components for him to get. It was simply 'Here is the stuff I purchased now please help me make it work.' And that's exactly what I did. I guess I'm just not smart enough to install the O/S directly from the USB stick. Lord knows I tried, repeatedly.
Who would have thought such a simple task as installing a new Microsoft O/S version on a PC server would have taken me two weeks to figure out. I kept detailed notes of my time and tracked my actions. It took me 31 boot attempts before I finally got into the Windows Server boot time installation screens. Unbelievable! The key to my final success was watching a Russian ewe-tube video showing a Windows Server 2012 R2 USB installation on a T110-II. Thank God the ewe-tuber took close up shots of what he was using. In the detail one can clearly see the OpenManage 7.4 Administrator DVD. I don't speak Russian so I have no clue as to what he saying, but I could tell by his tone of voice, he wasn't a happy camper.
I wouldn't say I found an elegant solution, but it sure wasn't the kludged up mess I expecting.
theflash1932
9 Legend
•
16.3K Posts
0
December 18th, 2016 09:00
Good job figuring out a solution! Just a question though: You said you were expecting a "kludged up mess" ... why? Installing an OS is a relatively simple thing. Yes, there are sometimes some odd issues to workaround, but I'm not sure what in your experience led you to expect a "kludged up mess". I recently deployed a T110 II (not my ideal choice - just what they had been donated) as a new 2012 R2 DC, file server, and print server in an afternoon. An old T710 elsewhere as a 2012 R2 terminal server in about an afternoon as well. If you run into problems in the future, post them here ... there are several people who can probably save you two weeks of head-banging :)
Just a couple of things, maybe something that will help you in the future:
First, I would always recommend using the latest version of SMTD if you plan to use Dell's deployment tools (8.4 is the latest for this server), rather than using a 2.5 year old resource DVD to install the current bits of a current OS. Changes in various releases and minor versions of an OS can cause SMTD not to work.
Second, you could have used the Server 2012 R2 Evaluation ISO from Microsoft to create the DVD ... you can activate the eval with any permanent license type. You can also create an ISO from the USB image, but it is easier to download the eval and burn to DVD.
pstidan
7 Posts
0
December 18th, 2016 13:00
Forty plus years of IBM software cajoling does color one's expectations. That said, installing a fully optioned IBM z/OS development configuration is pretty straight forward and relatively foolproof.
I reviewed this forum repeatedly and saw my problem already posted more than once. No solutions were forthcoming within those threads. There were plenty of 'this should work' and 'just try this', but no solutions. There were plenty of opinions though.
Been there, done that. The 8.4 DVD is not bootable and useless for the task at hand. Refer to task 1 in my first post above. Plus, if you refer to the contents on the 8.4 DVD it states that OpenManage is obsolete and soon to be withdrawn. That didn't help matters.