In this video, we'll cover the process of installing the operating system using the Lifecycle Controller Unattended Installation feature, using CIFS. Launch the Lifecycle Controller homepage. Click "Virtual Media" and then click "Connect Virtual Media".
The "Initializing connection" dialog box is displayed. Click "Virtual Media" and then click "Map CD/DVD" to map the device. The connected drive is displayed in the "Virtual Media - Map CD/DVD" dialog box.
Click "Browse" to find the preferred drive, and then click "Map Device". Click "Virtual Media" to verify that the connected CD or DVD is mapped to the removable disk. Click "OS Deployment", and then click "Deploy OS".
If the virtual disk is already present, select "Go Directly to OS Deployment". However, if the virtual disk is not present, you'll be directed to the RAID Configuration Wizard to create a virtual disk first.
You can select "Configure RAID first" to edit the existing virtual disk attributes, or to create a new virtual disk. For more information about how to configure the virtual disk using the Lifecycle UI, watch the "RAID Configuration" video at the Dell TechCenter YouTube channel.
Click "Next".
Select an operating system you want to install from a list of available operating systems. Then, click "Next". The system loads the relevant drivers to the selected OS.
This will take less than five minutes to compose the OS drivers. Select "Unattended Install" as the installation mode, and then click "Next". Select "Network Share" and then select "CIFS".
Type the "Share Name", "Domain and User Name", "Password", and "File Path" to the unattended XML file in the respective fields. For more information about creating an unattended XML file, refer to the "Unattended Installation of Operating Systems on Dell PowerEdge Servers by Using Lifecycle Controller" white paper at Dell TechCenter.
Click "Test Network Connection" to check the network connectivity to the share. The "Verifying Network Connection" dialog box is displayed. If the network connection is successful, the "Network Connection Test was Successful" dialog box is displayed.
Click "OK", then click "Next". Copying and validating the unattended XML file takes less than two minutes. The "OS Deployment" window is displayed.
Please note: if different versions of the OS installation files are stored on any of the USBs, the system may pick an incorrect file during the OS installation.
Connect only one USB with the OS configuration file. Click "OK". Select the boot mode for installing the selected OS. Click "Next". Insert the OS media into the DVD drive attached to the server, or map the OS media virtually using the "Virtual Media" option from the menu, and then click "Next".
Validating the operating system media will take less than two minutes. Here, the summary of the selected options is displayed. Click "Finish". The system reboots and starts the installation of a selected operating system.
Note: after reboot, you'll be prompted to press any key to start the installation. If the key is not pressed, the system does not proceed with the installation.
Once you press any key, the OS installation starts. The OS Installation Wizard obtains the required information from the unattended XML file, and continues with the installation without requiring any manual intervention. For more information on the Dell Lifecycle Controller, visit Dell.com/techcenter/lc.
