Just like an HP server, you can either install directly from the Windows media or use the installation utility (Dell's is called OpenManage Systems Management Tools and Documentation (SMTD) or Systems Build and Update Utility (SBUU)) ... or use the onboard Universal Server Configurator (USC).
Depending on your RAID controller, 2012 may already have the drivers for the RAID controller built-in, but most of the PERC's do NOT support non-RAID, so you will need to configure your disks into a RAID array(s) first.
Thanks! I installed the server directly from the Windows media. I tried with SMTD but it failed. My Windows media is OEM (not Dell branded) and SMTD wanted Dell branded OEM media!
Now I figured this Lifecycle Controller and OS deployment. Nice. This seems to be the fastest way and I would only need OS media so why to use SMTD or SBUU?
SMTD does not require Dell-branded media, but it may not work with OEM media (Retail and VL should be fine).
LC/USC is nice, but as it is somewhat new, it is not yet the 'go to' method for a lot of people. Where you are new to Dell servers, perhaps you don't need to bother yourself with SMTD at all. Also, in a year or two or three, when a new SP or OS is released, the LC/USC may need to be updated in order to work, which can be done, but if you have newer servers whose SMTD disks do support the latest SP/OS, sometimes knowing how to do that can be faster/simpler than updating it.
theflash1932
9 Legend
•
16.3K Posts
1
October 26th, 2012 09:00
Just like an HP server, you can either install directly from the Windows media or use the installation utility (Dell's is called OpenManage Systems Management Tools and Documentation (SMTD) or Systems Build and Update Utility (SBUU)) ... or use the onboard Universal Server Configurator (USC).
Depending on your RAID controller, 2012 may already have the drivers for the RAID controller built-in, but most of the PERC's do NOT support non-RAID, so you will need to configure your disks into a RAID array(s) first.
Klarion
3 Posts
0
October 26th, 2012 10:00
Thanks! I installed the server directly from the Windows media. I tried with SMTD but it failed. My Windows media is OEM (not Dell branded) and SMTD wanted Dell branded OEM media!
Now I figured this Lifecycle Controller and OS deployment. Nice. This seems to be the fastest way and I would only need OS media so why to use SMTD or SBUU?
theflash1932
9 Legend
•
16.3K Posts
0
October 26th, 2012 10:00
SMTD does not require Dell-branded media, but it may not work with OEM media (Retail and VL should be fine).
LC/USC is nice, but as it is somewhat new, it is not yet the 'go to' method for a lot of people. Where you are new to Dell servers, perhaps you don't need to bother yourself with SMTD at all. Also, in a year or two or three, when a new SP or OS is released, the LC/USC may need to be updated in order to work, which can be done, but if you have newer servers whose SMTD disks do support the latest SP/OS, sometimes knowing how to do that can be faster/simpler than updating it.