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PowerEdge: How To Install an Operating System

Summary: This page explains how to use to install a new operating system on a Dell PowerEdge server. It contains tutorials to use the Lifecycle Controller to deploy an operating system.

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.

Instructions

Table of contents

  1. How the Operating System Deployment Works
  2. Operating System Installation Articles
  3. Technical Articles Regarding Operating System Installation

This page explains how to use to install a new operating system on a Dell server (PowerEdge). It contains tutorials to use the Lifecycle Controller to deploy an operating system.


How the Operating System Deployment Works

The OS Deployment feature in the Lifecycle Controller helps to install an operating system with the correct drivers in a few steps. The OS Deployment wizard allows an administrator to deploy:

  • Dell-supported operating systems (drivers are automatically installed)
  • Customized operating systems (drivers are automatically installed)
  • Any other Operating systems (required drivers are manually installed)
Note: OS Deployment wizard also allows RAID configuration before installing the Operating System if it is not already configured.

The list of Dell-supported operating systems changes based on the driver packs updated on the system. To update the drivers, download the latest OS Driver pack that is associated to your server.

Compatible and supported Operating Systems for PowerEdge can be checked on the Dell Support Matrix.
Operating System manuals and installation guides can be found on Dell.com/OperatingSystemManuals.

If the operating system is installed without using Lifecycle Controllers, some drivers are missing and must be manually installed.


Operating System Installation Articles

How to Install the Operating System on a Dell PowerEdge Server
This article explains how to use the OS Deployment feature to install or reinstall a supported operating system on a server.
This guide works for all supported operating systems. In most cases, Windows Server, RedHat, SUSE, and CentOS are supported. For more support information, reference the Dell Support Matrix.

To install VMware ESXi on a Dell Server, it is recommended to boot directly on the Dell Customized Image.
For more information, reference Dell EMC Customized Image of VMware ESXi Availability and Download Instructions.

For a remote installation, consider the following two articles:

The virtual media allows using the iDRAC to mount a file and to send it to the remote server.
 

Technical Articles regarding Operating System installation

  • How to load PERC drivers

When deploying an operating system without using the OS Deployment feature, the RAID Controller drivers may not be in the installation wizard. As a result, no available partition is displayed during the installation.
How to manually load the PERC Drivers during Windows 2003, 2008 or 2012 installation is explained in Dell PowerEdge: How the load the PERC Drivers during Windows 2003, 2008 or 2012 installation.

  • How to load USB 3 drivers on Windows 2008 R2
Windows Server versions older than 2012 (including WS 2008 R2 w/SP1) do not support USB 3.0 natively. How to inject USB 3.0 drivers into Windows Server 2008 R2SP1 for use on Dell R230, R330, T30, T130, T330 is explained in How to inject USB 3.0 drivers into Windows Server 2008 R2SP1 for use on Dell R230, R330, T30, T130, T330.


Additional videos to watch

 
OS Deployment via the Lifecycle Controller Deploying ESXi via the Lifecycle controller using CD/DVD

Affected Products

PowerEdge
Article Properties
Article Number: 000151616
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 05 Sept 2024
Version:  12
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