How to install the operating system on a Dell PowerEdge Server? (OS deployment)

This article explains how to install an Operating System (OS) on Dell PowerEdge Servers. Including step-by-step instructions and, OS installation videos, e.g. Windows Server 2016 installation with LifeCycle Controller. 

 

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Table of Contents
 

1. Prerequisites

   1. Update the Server
   2. Installation Source
   3. Storage Location

2. Installing the Operating System

   1. Using LifeCycle Controller for Supported OS
   2. How to Mounting and Unmount the driver packs via iDRAC9
   3. Booting directly from the OS Media

3. Installation Videos

4. Troubleshooting FAQs

   1. Which OS is supported on my PowerEdge server?
   2. Which licenses or subscriptions for the OS do I need?
   3. How to find drivers on the Dell homepage?
   4. What is the factory password for preinstalled VMware ESXi?
   5. How to install Windows using the Volume License media

 

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1. Prerequisites

1.1. Update the Server

Before installing a new operating system, please update the server firmware to benefit all the features.
 
This article explains How-To Dell Server: Install an Operating System on a PowerEdge.

Download the Dell OS Driver Pack Downloaded from Support Site. 
1. Access to the Support Site, enter the service tag of your system or click Browse all products and select your product.
2. Click DRIVERS and DOWNLOADS tab type "Dell OS Driver Pack." In the keyword box and download then Upload to the Dell OS Driver Pack iDRAC's update and rollback section. For more information refer to Dell Knowledge Base article Dell PowerEdge: Update the firmware of Single System Components Remotely Using the iDRAC.

1.2. Installation Source

For installing the operating system, a source media has to be available to the server. The installation files can be provided through:

• The optical DVD drive,
• USB device
• PXE network boot
• Mounted ISO-file (through iDRAC Virtual Media)

 

1.3. Storage Location

For installing the operating system on a virtual disk, ensure that a Software RAID or PowerEdge RAID controller is installed and at least two (or more, depending on the desired RAID level) hard-disk drives are available. In specific scenarios, OS can be installed on SD cards.

 

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2. Installing the Operating System

Two methods are available for installing an operating system:
 

1. Using LifeCycle Controller for Supported OS

   • Windows Server
   • Linux-Based Distributions
      

2. How to Mount and Unmounting the driver packs via iDRAC9 on a Dell PowerEdge Server (14G/iDRAC9 only) 

   Login to the Server's iDRAC9 Navigate to 1.Configuration > 2.Virtual Media > 3.Mount Drivers
   
   
    

    

3. Clicking the Mount Drivers button.
   More information about Mount and Unmounting the driver packs, refer to Dell Knowledge Base article How to Mount and Unmount the driver packs via iDRAC9 
   
    

3. Booting directly from the OS Media

   • VMware ESXi distributions
   • OS Installation on PowerEdge T20/T30
   • Nonsupported OS by LCC
     
      

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2.1. Using the LifeCycle Controller
 

This is the preferred method to install the OS. The LifeCycle Controller simplifies the installation of the Operating System with the "OS Deployment" feature. When using this feature, drivers are preloaded before the installation process. The OS is smoothly installed as all components are well recognized by the OS.
 

 

Steps to follow:

 

1. Press F10 during boot to enter the Lifecycle Controller (LCC).
   
   
   
    
2. Select OS Deployment in the left-hand menu
   
   
   
    
3. Click Deploy OS
   
    
4. Select Configure RAID First or Go Directly to OS Deployment depending on if you have a RAID set up already or not
   
   
   
    
5. If applicable, follow the wizard to set up the RAID disk
   
    
6. Select the Operating System: The boot mode can be set in BIOS or UEFI. The matching boot mode has to be configured properly in the "System Services" settings (F2)
   
   
   
    
7. Select Manual or Unattended/Automatic install as needed
   
    
8. Insert the OS installation media (DVD Drive or Virtual Media of iDRAC)
   
    
9. Follow the OS installation wizard (If Manual install has been selected)
    

 

Detailed information about OS Deployment steps can be found in the LifeCycle Controller manual.
 

Figure 1: PowerEdge 12G Lifecycle Controller GUI

 

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Alternative: Installing the OS on 9G and 10G Server with SMTD

 

For 9G and 10G Dell Servers, the LifeCycle Controller feature was not released. The alternative is to use the "Systems Management Tools and Documentation DVD ISO" file which allows after booting on the file to deploy a supported OS. This file can also be used to update any Dell Server by booting to it.

 

Steps to install the OS:

1. Download the ISO file, and burn it to a DVD (or on a USB device).Go to www.dell.com/drivers, and choose the desired system type by entering the Service Tag or selecting the product type manually.

2. Select the installed operating system, enter a matching Keyword in the intended field and press Enter,find the Dell Systems Management Tools and Documentation DVD ISO.

Figure 2: DVD ISO search on Dell homepage

3. Boot on the DVD and proceed with OS deployment
4. Follow the SMTD installation instructions, and then insert the OS installation media.

 

Refer to the Systems Management Tools And Documentation Version 8.1 Installation Guide.
 

When manually installing an Operating System, the PERC driver may be missing. In that scenario, the drives are not recognized and no disk or storage place to be recognized for the installation.

Download and manually import the PERC driver during the OS installation.

 

Refer to Dell Knowledge Base article Dell PowerEdge: PERC H310 / H810 Configuration and FAQ for an example of PERC driver loading during the Windows installation.
To use the iDRAC virtual console to install OS using ISO file. Refer to the article Using the Virtual Media function on iDRAC6, 7, 8 and 9.

 

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2.2. Booting directly from the Operating System Media

It is possible to boot directly from the OS installation media to install the operating system. Some components of the server may be not recognized as the OS media may not include all the needed drivers. Drivers can be downloaded from the Dell Support site and installed later once the OS will be installed.

 

Steps to follow: 

1. Insert the OS installation media (DVD Drive, USB, Virtual Media of iDRAC) and boot on it.
2. Press F11 during startup to select the boot device.
3. Follow the OS installation wizard
4. Once the OS is installed, manually install the missing drivers.
    

 

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3. Installation Videos
 

• Installation of Microsoft Windows Server on a Dell Server using LifeCycle Controller (here: Windows Server 2016)
  This video demonstrates the process of installing a Windows OS using Lifecycle Controller.
• OS Deployment - Manual Installation
  This video demonstrates the process of installing the operating system using Lifecycle Controller Manual Installation mode.
• Unattended OS Installation, BIOS Mode 
  Lifecycle Controller provides an infrastructure for OS loaders to consume the OS configuration files for OS deployment with minimal manual intervention in the BIOS mode.
• Unattended OS Installation, UEFI Mode 
  Lifecycle Controller provides an infrastructure for OS loaders to consume the OS configuration files for OS deployment with minimal manual intervention in the UEFI mode.
• OS Deployment - Installing and configuring Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 by using PXE install method
  This video demonstrates the installing and configuring Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 by using the PXE install method on an On-Board storage controller.
   

 

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4. Troubleshooting FAQs
 

4.1. Which OS is supported on my PowerEdge server?
 

Dell EMC collaborates with Operating System vendors to ensure consistent and reliable performances. The Operating System Library page provides the list of supported OS per PowerEdge model. An unsupported operating system may cause failures during the installation process or not work properly with hardware components.
 

 

4.2. Which licenses or subscriptions for the OS do I need?
 

To enable all functions of an operating system. A licenses (Windows and ESXi) or subscriptions (Linux) might be needed. Here you find links to the most common vendors of supported operating systems:

 

Licensing resources:

• Microsoft Windows
• VMware ESXi

 

Subscription resources for:

• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• SUSE Linux Enterprise Server

 

4.3. How to find drivers on the Dell homepage?

If drivers for hardware components are not in the operating system, download the missing software from the Dell homepage:

1. Go to www.dell.com/drivers, and choose the desired system type by entering the Service Tag or selecting the product type manually.

2. Select the installed operating system, enter a matching Keyword in the intended field and press Enter.

3. Now the corresponding drivers are shown below. Click the download sign to receive the desired file.
   
   
   Figure 3: Software search on Dell homepage

4.4. What is the factory password for preinstalled VMware ESXi?

Since the 14th generation of Dell PowerEdge servers, a factory password is set for preinstalled VMware ESXi. The root password is the Service Tag of the machine. This can be changed during deployment. For previous server generations, there was no password set.

Find more details in the dedicated article Dell 14G PowerEdge: What is the Default VMWare ESXi Root password for R740, R640, and 14G Servers. 

 

4.5 How to install Windows using the Volume License media

The LifeCycle Controller requires a standard Windows retail media to proceed to the installation. The Volume License media is not supported by the LifeCycle Controller. 3 solutions are possible:

• Refer to Dell Knowledge Base article How to Mount and Unmount the driver packs via iDRAC9  
• Boot directly on the Volume License media and use the Windows Operating system installer. It is required to manually inject the RAID Controller driver to detect the array and the virtual disks. The best way to find the appropriate driver is by using the service tag on the Dell.com/Support site and select the PERC driver.
• Perform installation with a standard retail media with the LifeCycle Controller and use the volume license key to activate the Operating System. 

 

 

  

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