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?
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.
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).
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.
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.
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
Bezalel
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June 20th, 2006 14:00
MichaelU
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August 18th, 2006 09:00
Message Edited by MichaelU on 08-21-200601:54 AM
pbrown_one
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August 23rd, 2006 01:00
MichaelU
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August 23rd, 2006 05:00
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
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August 23rd, 2006 10:00
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
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9.3K Posts
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August 23rd, 2006 10:00
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
2 Posts
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August 23rd, 2006 11:00
Dev Mgr
4 Operator
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9.3K Posts
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August 23rd, 2006 15:00
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
2 Posts
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August 23rd, 2006 15:00
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
4 Posts
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August 24th, 2006 08:00