The server supports booting from a USB drive. I have one of my 2950s loading ESXi 5.0 from a USB drive, but I have not tested with installing Windows. There are several articles on the web about how to do it, but I'm not sure all of the steps listed in those articles are necessary. I would suggest changing the boot order so that the USB drive is ahead of the HDDs. Then install Windows as normal. If is it 2008 or later then the OS should contain the necessary drivers for install. If it is 2003 or earlier then you will need to use a utility disc to load the controller driver. My installation onto USB was no different than installing on a HDD.
USB emulation should be enabled by default in the BIOS, but I would recommend double checking to make sure.
Don't expect much of a lifespan on the average USB flash drive. They aren't made for heavy writing and Windows writes a lot to disk during normal operation (swap file). If you want to try this, I'd try a USB harddrive instead of a flash drive, or get a higher end SSD.
If you need storage, I'd suggest to get a 2900 instead of a 2950 as this unit was available with 2+8 (3.5") drive bays; 2 in the 5.25" bays (this bay could also hold a tape drive) and then 8 bays together for 3.5" drives.
Don't expect much of a lifespan on the average USB flash drive. They aren't made for heavy writing and Windows writes a lot to disk during normal operation (swap file).
This is a very valid point. If you do this then it would be a good idea to place the page/swap file onto the hard drives. You can designate the location after the OS is installed.
Is there an additional SATA interface (besides the backplane) I am not aware of for the SSD? Because this would absolutely be the way to go. Otherwise I may look into a simple USB HDD and find a way to mount it in the chassis somewhere. (EDIT: never mind, I believe you were talking about a USB SSD ... big duh on my part).
Also, where are these articles you speak of? I can only find how to create a _bootable_ USB drive, not how to install to one. However, if it is as trivial as installing to a normal disk I will not need the articles.
Re: the 2900 ... where were you a week ago when I bought the 2950! Your good advice is a week late.
FYI, Windows Server 2012 Standard refuses to install on an external USB drive. Installer states it cannot be installed to USB device. Will try 2008 as well. If not 2008, will attempt ESXi 5.0 route.
Windows Server 2008 also refuses to install on the USB drive. Both 2008 and 2012 give the error message that they are not able to install on a USB interface. Looks like it is either ESXi or install on my RAID array. Will try ESXi and report back.
2003 did install, but I have a buggy install CD and it BSODs on me (BSODs on a fixed disk as well), some file is corrupt.
And no go on the ESXi route as well. Installed ESXi 5.1 and when attempting to create a datastore it wants a local SCSI disk and only shows my RAID array as an option. So (without a hack) no can do the USB HDD route.
Daniel My
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6.2K Posts
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February 24th, 2013 09:00
Hello ahrimann
The server supports booting from a USB drive. I have one of my 2950s loading ESXi 5.0 from a USB drive, but I have not tested with installing Windows. There are several articles on the web about how to do it, but I'm not sure all of the steps listed in those articles are necessary. I would suggest changing the boot order so that the USB drive is ahead of the HDDs. Then install Windows as normal. If is it 2008 or later then the OS should contain the necessary drivers for install. If it is 2003 or earlier then you will need to use a utility disc to load the controller driver. My installation onto USB was no different than installing on a HDD.
USB emulation should be enabled by default in the BIOS, but I would recommend double checking to make sure.
Thanks
Dev Mgr
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9.3K Posts
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February 24th, 2013 09:00
Don't expect much of a lifespan on the average USB flash drive. They aren't made for heavy writing and Windows writes a lot to disk during normal operation (swap file). If you want to try this, I'd try a USB harddrive instead of a flash drive, or get a higher end SSD.
If you need storage, I'd suggest to get a 2900 instead of a 2950 as this unit was available with 2+8 (3.5") drive bays; 2 in the 5.25" bays (this bay could also hold a tape drive) and then 8 bays together for 3.5" drives.
Daniel My
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6.2K Posts
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February 24th, 2013 09:00
This is a very valid point. If you do this then it would be a good idea to place the page/swap file onto the hard drives. You can designate the location after the OS is installed.
ahrimann
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February 26th, 2013 18:00
Good suggestions. It is Windows 2008.
Is there an additional SATA interface (besides the backplane) I am not aware of for the SSD? Because this would absolutely be the way to go. Otherwise I may look into a simple USB HDD and find a way to mount it in the chassis somewhere. (EDIT: never mind, I believe you were talking about a USB SSD ... big duh on my part).
Also, where are these articles you speak of? I can only find how to create a _bootable_ USB drive, not how to install to one. However, if it is as trivial as installing to a normal disk I will not need the articles.
Re: the 2900 ... where were you a week ago when I bought the 2950! Your good advice is a week late.
ahrimann
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March 13th, 2013 22:00
FYI, Windows Server 2012 Standard refuses to install on an external USB drive. Installer states it cannot be installed to USB device. Will try 2008 as well. If not 2008, will attempt ESXi 5.0 route.
ahrimann
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March 17th, 2013 16:00
Windows Server 2008 also refuses to install on the USB drive. Both 2008 and 2012 give the error message that they are not able to install on a USB interface. Looks like it is either ESXi or install on my RAID array. Will try ESXi and report back.
theflash1932
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16.3K Posts
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March 17th, 2013 22:00
There may be some hack to get it to work, but Windows (until Window 8's Windows To Go) has always been limited to "fixed" disks.
ahrimann
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March 17th, 2013 23:00
2003 did install, but I have a buggy install CD and it BSODs on me (BSODs on a fixed disk as well), some file is corrupt.
And no go on the ESXi route as well. Installed ESXi 5.1 and when attempting to create a datastore it wants a local SCSI disk and only shows my RAID array as an option. So (without a hack) no can do the USB HDD route.
Thanx for all the input