topic Re: Intelligent Provisioning and Server 2012R2 from USB in ProLiant Servers (ML,DL,SL)

Intelligent Provisioning and Server 2012R2 from USB

GrahamElder — Tue, 24 Feb 2015 15:05:12 GMT

Hi,

I am trying to install Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard from USB via Intelligent Provisioning on a brand new DL380 Gen9.

The documentation states that IP can only read FAT32 formatted USB drives, but the ISO for Windows Server 2012 R2 Standard which I have from Microsoft MVLS is 5.24GB and has individual files larger than can fit on a FAT32 formatted USB drive. The drive therefore needs to be formatted as NTFS.

I don't have a DVD drive to plug in, and setting up a network share is as useless as trying to get the USB working.

Is there a straightforward solution to allowing Intelligent Provisioning to be able to read NTFS formatted USB drives? Otherwise its a very big omission where an OS such as Windows Server cannot be installed from USB in this way.

I'm amazed that the latest generation of HP business servers are affected by such a short-sighted flaw.

Graham

Re: Intelligent Provisioning and Server 2012R2 from USB

Suman_1978 — Thu, 26 Feb 2015 09:30:46 GMT

Hello,

One straight forward solution is to skip IP and install OS directly.

For OS image files that cannot copy to the USB unless it is NTFS-formatted, use a different source media, such as a DVD, network share, or FTP server.

Thank You!
I am a HP employee.

Useful Links for ProLiant Servers

Re: Intelligent Provisioning and Server 2012R2 from USB

JohnsITSvcs — Sat, 12 Dec 2015 01:07:10 GMT

One has to wonder if Suman_1978 even read the post.

I too have been seeking a solution to this problem. Thumb drives are faster, smaller, and easier to pack than disk images.

I would like to know how to use intelligent providioning with an NTFS formatted flash drive, or if there is a special build of win2012r2ROK that will fit on a fat32 thumb drive. Also, if the latter is the available option, where do I get such an iso?

Re: Intelligent Provisioning and Server 2012R2 from USB

Raffis — Thu, 23 Feb 2017 14:40:22 GMT

I have the same problem with Windows 2016. Files are too big to fit on USB formated in fat32, but Inteligent Provisioning can not read NTFS and extFAT system. It is really stupid. To spend so many hours to install the system.

Raffis

Re: Intelligent Provisioning and Server 2012R2 from USB

Deb_Blue — Thu, 23 Feb 2017 20:53:01 GMT

Use either Windows7-USB-DVD-Download-tool-Installer or the HP USB Key Utility for Windows to create your bootable USB drive.. works for both win2012 R2 and Win2016

Re: Intelligent Provisioning and Server 2012R2 from USB

0ST0LA — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 19:42:16 GMT

Hello everyone.

I had the same issue, but I tried to install the Operating System using the Integrated Remote Console, following the same steps and it works.

Re: Intelligent Provisioning and Server 2012R2 from USB

AlanLive — Fri, 24 Mar 2017 04:03:31 GMT

i had the same issue too. your intergrade remote console izzit mean iLo?

Re: Intelligent Provisioning and Server 2012R2 from USB

AlanLive — Mon, 27 Mar 2017 09:10:13 GMT

Finally the issue solve by using iLo intergrated remote console - then go to virtual drive map iso to image file to CD/DVD-ROM.

Next reboot to Intelligent Provisioning and select OS deployment - select image drive from iLO next follow the instruction and finally it work.

Thanks OSTOLA

Re: Intelligent Provisioning and Server 2012R2 from USB

Barren23 — Tue, 02 May 2017 20:28:40 GMT

Finally the issue solve by using iLo intergrated remote console - then go to virtual drive map iso to image file to CD/DVD-ROM.

The only problem with this is that you need an ILO license in order to utilize the virtual media feature... ugh, this is so annoying. I'm going to end up loading off the USB directly after booting, which makes driving loading a huge pain.

Why haven't they allowed NTFS formatted USB drives in the Intelligent Provisionsing?

Re: Intelligent Provisioning and Server 2012R2 from USB

thutchings — Sun, 04 Jun 2017 22:45:29 GMT

IP 2.60 (and later) allows for the use of exFAT. This provides many of the features of NTFS without the security features. NTFS has some driver requirements which do not always work consistently, so have never been supported with any version of Intelligent Provisioning.

http://h20566.www2.hpe.com/hpsc/swd/public/detail?sp4ts.oid=1008862660&swItemId=MTX_77b94511492441a08eb272ed27&swEnvOid=4231#tab1

Thanks,

Terry

Re: Intelligent Provisioning and Server 2012R2 from USB

MattColburn — Wed, 21 Jun 2017 18:15:53 GMT

I had the same issue with my new DL380 Gen 9 when trying to install Server 2012 Standard R2.

Tried my normal installation methods that work on every other server: creating a bootable USB drive with rufus. Intelligent Provisioning never found it. Tried skipping IP and booting directly to the USB. No luck.

Updated USB Firmware, tried legacy BIOS boot, made an exFAT32 USB disk, tried to use HPE's USB KEY Utility for Windows to create a bootable USB. Nope. Nope. Nope.

I finally got "Intelligent" Provisioning to recognize a network share on my FreeNAS box. Plugged in my IP address, domain info, and credentials, and wonder of wonders, my .iso appeared. It didn't install as quickly as it would have using a USB drive, but after five hours of not installing at all, I didn't care.

Re: Intelligent Provisioning and Server 2012R2 from USB

Yiddam — Fri, 23 Jun 2017 01:00:07 GMT

They will not complicate life there is so easy to install with a usb is best to use the dvd that came with the computer and a simple reader. :)

No se compliquen la vida no hay modo Facil de instalar con una usb lo mejor es usar el dvd que viene con el equipo y un simple lector. :)

Re: Intelligent Provisioning and Server 2012R2 from USB

wooju — Tue, 27 Jun 2017 10:26:15 GMT

Hello,

Did anyone find a solution? I was able to install windows from the usb stick (using an iso file) on dl360 gen8 servers and some of the ealrier gen 9, but now for a while i can't. It sees the drive but not the ISO file on it. I tried formating the drive using different file formats, but it made no difference.

Can somebody assist please?

Re: Intelligent Provisioning and Server 2012R2 from USB

alinnesilva — Tue, 27 Jun 2017 12:00:53 GMT

Install with iLo intergrated remote console - then go to virtual drive map iso to image file to CD/DVD-ROM, like AlanLive said. It works for me.

Re: Intelligent Provisioning and Server 2012R2 from USB

wooju — Tue, 27 Jun 2017 18:54:30 GMT

I know it can be done using an ilo, but it is a lot of "faffing" around in my enviroment. What is the point of having a feature if it doesn't work?

I may open a case with HP to see what they have to say about it...

Re: Intelligent Provisioning and Server 2012R2 from USB

Zuka007 — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 16:08:51 GMT

Hello,

Seems to me like an IP version issue rather than IP not supporting NTFS formatted USB sticks as previously mentionned.

I only experienced this issue on version 2.50 of IP for our ML350 GEN9 servers but it was not an issue with IP version 2.30 and IP version 2.61(latest available version at present) therefor you can always update your Intelligent Provisioning with the latest version. To update/flash your IP to the latest version you will need the latest IP ISO for your model and the HP USB Key Utility for Windows.

You can download the HP USB Key Utility for Windows at: https://h20565.www2.hpe.com/hpsc/swd/public/detail?sp4ts.oid=1008862658&swItemId=MTX_360731071b404454b454390208&swEnvOid=4168#tab1

*Alternatively, you can also use this same tool to simply create a bootable USB with Windwos 2012R2 if you don't want to use IP to deploy your OS to your server.

I also would like to confirm as many have already pointed out, that it is also possible to connect to your server via iLO and mount a virtual drive via the remote console to the Win2012R2 ISO and then boot to IP and select CD-ROM(iLO virtual media) as the OS source. Unlike what a previous user commented, you can actually use this methode even if you don't have a fully licensed version of iLO. Note that once the OS is installed you will no longer be able to use the remote connection feature in iLO until you activate a license for it but you can certainly use it to initially install your OS. Clearly, the person who commented on needing a licensed version of iLO simply didn't try it.

Hope this helps someone

Re: Intelligent Provisioning and Server 2012R2 from USB

corrigun — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 15:42:35 GMT

I know this is old but we just bought a G10 and unlike on my G7's, 8's and 9's none of these solutions work.

I have tried the HP USB tool from v 1.8 to 3.0. None will read an iso of any kind. Linux or Windows.
I have tried 3rd party USB tools but the server does not recognize any of them as bootable media.
I have tried iL0 but all virtual media is disabled without a license. I can provide a screenshot if this is in dispute.
I'm not setting up a network share and hope I can map it from iLO to install an O/S on a $7000 server. This is nuts.

I'm trying the Windows7 tool now and after that a high capacity DVD. That will be the last stop before sending this back to my rep.

EDIT: Windows7 USB tool does work.

Re: Intelligent Provisioning and Server 2012R2 from USB

Torsten. — Thu, 18 Jan 2018 15:52:09 GMT

>> I have tried the HP USB tool from v 1.8 to 3.0.

To create an USB from which ISO?

The USB tool (current version is 3.00) is used to create a bootable USB from SPP or IP ISO.

It expects several configuration settings stored in a file inside the ISO, hence it will not work with any ISO.

Re: Intelligent Provisioning and Server 2012R2 from USB

Leaner — Mon, 19 Feb 2018 14:09:32 GMT

I have HP DL560 Gen 9 Server. I am trying to install Windows Server 2012 R2 using Bootable USB Drive. After boots, its giving the error that "Windows Cannot find tjhe Micrsoft Software License Terms. Make sure the installation sources are valid and restart the installation".

Please help me to solve this issue.

Re: Intelligent Provisioning and Server 2012R2 from USB

PeteLong — Thu, 16 May 2019 17:40:09 GMT

I had this very problem today, I can confirmthe ILO and ExFAT approaches were both sucessful;

HP Intelligent Provisioning Cant See USB Media?

Regards,

Pete