What is the difference between "smart start cd" and "HP Proliant Support Pack"

[senthil_kumar_1]

Hi All,

I would like to know the difference between "smart start cd" and "HP Proliant Support Pack"

[Steven E. Protter · Accepted solution]

Shalom,

Smart CD really isn't produced any more. It let you boot off it, run some system diagnostics, set up disk raid groups and then start a Linux or Windows installed.

PSP is the current product, most of the smart CD functionality is built into G4 G5 G6 system nvram anyway, it can be done from the console.

SEP

[wobbe]

@Steven. I still get a smartstart cdrom with every new HP server I buy. (haven't bought a G7 yet)

A smart start cdrom does an assisted installation of Windows. (not linux)
But I guess a normal Windows installation + psp will give you more or less the same result.

[Steven E. Protter]

Ah yes, the reduced the smart portion to Windows. my bad. The Windows part never concerned me.

Smart start is useless for Linux install. Most of its features are built into system nvram.

SEP

[Jimmy Vance]

The SmartStart CD contains setup utilities and the ability to do an assisted installation of Windows.

The PSP contains drivers and the health agents for HP SIM.

If you do an assisted Windows installation via SmartStart, the PSP is automatically installed.

Most system setup can be configured using RBSU and ORCA during POST. The only utility you might need from the SmartStart CD is the ACU (Array Configuration Utility). The ORCA utility built into the Smart Array controllers can only setup simple RAID configurations, if you need multiple Logical Drives on an array you have to use ACU.

[Kranti Mahmud]

Hi Senthil,

Check the below links:

http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/servers/management/psp/

http://h18000.www1.hp.com/products/servers/management/smartstart/index.html

Rgds-Kranti