Windows Storage Server 2003 R2

Question

Hi We have a Dell PowerVault 745N that came with Windows Storage 2003.  Is there an upgrade path to Windows Storage Server 2003 R2? Thanks

Bezalel · Answer

Dell doesn't offer an upgrade but the bits for WSS2003R2 are included on the R2 media set.

MichaelU · Answer

Hi, What do you mean by 'Bits'? Which of the componenets should I use for upgrade to get the new File replication functionality?   Alernative2, Is it possible to install or upgrade to a win 2003 server standard R2 on a PV 745? Message Edited by MichaelU on 08-21-200601:54 AM

pbrown_one · Answer

I attempted to upgrade our PowerVault 745V using R2 from Windows 2003 Standard, but it would not take the product key. I used this version to upgrade 3 other Dell Servers.   Have you found any other solutions to upgrade to R2?   -Paul

MichaelU · Answer

Hi,

No, I haven't found any other way to upgrade to R2. I want to test an upgrade to 2003 server standard R2 instead of the OEM Appliance version on the 745, but since this is a production server I can't do a test.

The Dell support people told me there is a Bios limitation in the 745 preventing an installation of Windows standard server, but I 'm not sure of that.

Can you do a test?

/Michael

MichaelU · Answer

OK, The R2 upgrade does that, but what will happen if I insert a windowsserver 2003 sp1 disk in the server?

Will it do a new installation or do an upgrade, preserving the settings?

I tried, and the first choise was to do an upgrade installation. I didnt continue since I wasn't sure and it is a production server.

Dev Mgr · Answer

A bios cannot limit which OS you can install. However, the factory OS is not a regular server OS (it's storage server), so the upgrade path is probably just not there as it assumes your upgrading from a server OS (non-storage server).

Keep in mind that installing a different OS does mean you no longer have support from Dell for the OS (hardware is still supported though).

pbrown_one · Answer

My server is also a production server. We are wanting to install windows 2003 standard with R2. The only way to accomplish th schedule is task would be to make a backup and/or image of primary drive. Dell really put a kink on this one.   -Paul

Dev Mgr · Answer

Actually, the system is considered to be working as designed. If you want a server, you buy a Poweredge system. If you want a NAS box, you buy a Powervault system.

I can understand the desire to upgrade the OS, but Dell made the system to serve a specific purpose, which didn't include an OS upgrade option. If you want a system that can be used for a wide range of purposes, Dell would probably recommend the Poweredge range instead of the Powervault range.

On the PV770N/PV775N they did have an upgrade path option (2000 to 2003), but these systems were the same hardware as the Poweredge 2600/2650, so they came with a cdrom and floppy drive, which makes upgrading pretty easy. They were also more expensive than the lower end ATA-drive based Powervault NAS solutions.

JimC25 · Answer

Yes, but those of us who are using the 745n as a storage device could use the features of the Windows Storage 2003 R2 such as the VSS and the Single Instance Storage (SIS), it would be a logical upgrade

MichaelU · Answer

Hi,   But my question is still there, is it possible to install 2003 server on the device? If you run setup for Windows server 2003 over the network, what will happen? Are there specific drivers?   -Michael

PowerVault

Windows Storage Server 2003 R2

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