Automated Server Deployment

Question

I am trying to automate the install proccess on the numerous model Dell PowerEdge servers we have. Does anyone have any suggestions on what would be the best way to go about installing 2003 on a large amount of different model PE servers? I also need the open manage raid configuration and partition automated. All in all I would like to power on the new server, put in a boot disk and it automatically configures the raid, creates the partitions, and installs the OS with out any user intervention.

sdcarroll · Answer

Option 1:  Build each platform using the Server Administrator CD and save the installation file (the last dialog screen prior to installation), each subsequent identical platform can be built using that installation file.  (You'll end up with a 6650 installation file, a 2850 installation file, etc.)   Option 2:  Microsoft's Automated Deployment Service.  Here's the link to their webcast on how to get it to work.   Invest the hour to watch the webcast.  The webcast and Microsoft's whitepapers were enough training for us to get it to work in our lab; we image our testing servers (nearly) every week in order to keep a consistent baseline.   It took a day or two to get it set up, but it's low maintenance once you're done.  Through the ADS interface, we identify the MAC of the machine we want to re-image, tell ADS which saved build image to install, and reboot the server.  It builds itself.  Our 'record' is 18 servers at once - took three hours.   If we reconfigure a server and want to save it as a baseline image, the ADS console will reboot the server and copy the entire config to a network share, and then we rebuild others with that new image.   Same as this post?

s3rv3radm1n · Answer

Is there any way to do this from scripts?

In a perfect world I would be able to insert a bootable disk, it would come up with a screen that would ask for input: partition size, raid type, os type, service packs if any...etc. After I input this info I would walk away and it would configure the raid type, configure the partitions and install the OS per my specifications.

sdcarroll · Answer

All of the unattended O/S builds I've done were totally ignorant of the hardware platform. You may be able to daisy chain a few scripts together.

At a minimum, you'll need the Dell Server Assistant CD and either your Windows CD or a slipstreamed copy of Windows + ServicePacks/hotfixes.

Our break/fix guys complained Ghost requires at least three CD's per hardware platform. Unattended desktop installs - as long as all the drivers are available - can be done with two CD's. They still have to swap CD1 for CD2, but it's pretty automated. They used the info at unattended.msfn.org - I've got absolutely no idea if you can do this for a server OS, nor hardware RAID config.

But they want to use ADS too. It really is that cool.

s3rv3radm1n · Answer

What Dell Servers have you been able to use ADS with? I am trying to get my Power Edge 2850 to perform a image capture but it won't boot into the DA.

sdcarroll · Answer

Check BIOS allows boot from PXE, and that the boot order is PXE first (before floppy/CD/hard drive).   We've got 1650's, 1750's, 2650's, and 6650's.

s3rv3radm1n · Answer

Ok, I finally have ADS working with the PE2850 I have. Next question is: Can I use the same Utility Partition image on different systems? IE: Can I use a PE2850 Utility Partition on a PE1850?

s3rv3radm1n · Answer

I am not able to connect to the audio server for the webcast. I have tried both at home and at work with the same outcome. Is there anywhere else I can find it?

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Automated Server Deployment

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