SmartStart CD for Windows Server 2008

[Jeremy Richardson]

I received the Smart Start 8.0.0 disc with a new ML350 G5, and when it asks me to insert the Windows 2008 Standard x64 media, it won't accept:

\mount\dvd\ (configured to look for dvd/flat file; Pressed DVD from MS)
or
\mount\usb1\ (configured to look for usb/.iso; .iso DVD on USB key from MSDN)

i can navigate to both paths and I was able to mount an explore the .iso on another machine.

-Is this something that's going to be fixed?
-Are there any ill effects of installing directly from the Windows DVD and then installing the PSP?

[lbdwag]

I have received this error on a DL580-G5 using both USB/ISO and standard DVD media for Windows 2008 x64 with the SS 8.0 x64 version.

I have used all of these methods to install 2k8x64 on multiple DL380's without issue.

I am not trying a plain install; directly off the DVD media that I had tried using with SS. Hopefully I will remember to post an update with the result.

[KarloChacon]

hi guys

any of you fix the issue with the unattended message?


"Windows could not parse or process unattend answer file c:\windows\panther\unattend.xml"

bye

[Elle_4]

I am trying to install w2k08 via an ISO.
At "Browse for Media Souce" I seleted the W2K08 mounted ISO file (ss 64-bit/w2k08) and get invalid entry. I did type the /mount/dvd with no success. I used an ISO of SS and was able to use it successfully with a w2k08 dvd. Has anyone found a solution to this? I mounted and unmounted the image. it the correct image mounted. I dismounted the SS and mounted the w2k08 image. I also tried it as a DVD sound and a flat file souce with no success with either selection. Any help would be appreciated.

[Brokenjeep]

So it looks like the DL380's are still shipping with the smart start that gives the following error..

"Windows could not parse or process unattend answer file c:\windows\panther\unattend.xml"

I havn't seen this error resolved, did anyone get a positive reply?

I am downloading the HP SmartStart CD x32 and will post if Version: 8.10 (15 Sep 2008) works.

Thanks..Cam

[Brokenjeep]

So it looks like the DL380's are still shipping with the smart start that gives the following error..

"Windows could not parse or process unattended answer file c:\windows\panther\unattend.xml"

I havenâ t seen this error resolved, did anyone get a positive reply?

I am downloading the HP SmartStart CD x32 and will post if Version: 8.10 (15 Sep 2008) works.

Thanks..Cam

[Sangram_1]

To fix the "Windows could not parse or process unattended answer file c:\windows\panther\unattend.xml" during Windows installation using Smartstart perform the below steps:

In the SNMP configuration page during the Smart Start process use different texts for the monitor and the control community strings. The text in both these fields should not be the same.

[Brokenjeep]

Wow Sangram, I hope thatâ s all it is! The new Smartstart (8.1) didn't give me any more descriptive an error. I will confirm back, but I canâ t tell you how much I appreciate the quick post!

Thanks,Cam

[Brokenjeep]

That worked perfectly, thanks again for the quick reply.

[zuro]

I have exactly the same problem with Core instalation of HYPERV-V server, cannot proceed with flat files so I trying to use image and also no succes. I have newest smart start CD 8.15 x64, what did they release again :-(

[simonp169]

We had the same problem but upgrading the ilo firmware to 1.70 seemed to fix the issue.

Hope it helps.

[Vague Assumption]

Has HP come up with a solution for this?

I'm installing a DL360G5 in a hurry and I'm afraid I'm going to have to redo the whole thing because I without SmartStart, I don't have a way to get the insight manager drivers loaded. I open the System Management Home Page and see nothing.


I'm installing from MSDN media and that provides the files in .WIM format, which SmartStart doesn't seem to want to deal with at all.

Can someone help me just by advising me how to get the HP Insight Manager drivers on without blowing up the computer?

[Roger Griffiths]

We have encountered the same problem. Googled it with nothing useful coming through. This was on a new DL360 G5 server with DVD player installed.

We would always get invalid /mount/dvd/

In the end we took out a DVD player from another server and swapped out the one in the new server. The install worked fine!

We can see nothing different between DVD player models, so have to conclude it was just a temperamental DVD player.

[Vague Assumption]

On my server, the one I installed by booting off the MSDN DVD with the one big honkin' .wim file with all versions in it, I wasn't able to get the insight manager drivers loaded by resorting to my older versions of SS. They were all version 8.0 or 7.91.

However, the Proliant SupportPaq from the 8.15 x64 Smart Start did allow me to install the drivers. Whew! Looking forward to my next build when I find out whether 8.15x64 SS will handle .wim file file format.

[ravikirannetha]

Installing Win2k8 with smartstart.

Boot the server follow the steps below:

1) Configure array (either with F8 key to enter BIOS rom of array controller, configure logical drives.

2) Boot Windows 2008 DVD and install OS.

3) Install PSP 8.2 (Product Support Pack) - which installs all drivers.

4) check HP Proliant array configuration utility. check RAID configuration. RAID 1+0, RAID 5+1.

Contact
Ravikiran
919705199330

[Ryan Maider]

I am using SmartStart 8.15 still with the same issue Invalid Entry:/mount/dvd/ Did HP just not test this with 2008? I followed Karlo's instructions still no success.

[Stephen Evans_1]

We also have the same problem of mounting WS2008 from either DVD Flat files or USB ISO

DL380G5 SS 8.15

[Ryan Maider]

SUPPORT COMMUNICATION - CUSTOMER ADVISORY
Document ID: c01601312
Version: 1
Advisory: SmartStart- An "Invalid Entry" Message Will Be Displayed During a SmartStart 8.10 Assisted Installation of Windows Server 2008 if the "Without Hyper-V Media" Option is Chosen and the Operating System Cannot Be Installed
NOTICE: The information in this document, including products and software versions, is current as of the Release Date. This document is subject to change without notice.
Release Date: 2008-11-05
Last Updated: 2008-11-05
________________________________________
DESCRIPTION
The "Without Hyper-V" is a CD media set from Microsoft that completely disables Hyper-V in Windows Server 2008. The "Without Hyper-V" option is not enabled by default, however, and SmartStart Release 8.10 does not have the needed signatures to recognize the "Without Hyper-V" media. Therefore, if this CD media set is used during an Assisted installation, "Without Hyper-V" will not be an option in the OS selection tree. When browsing the Hyper-V media, the message invalid entry will be displayed when attempting the installation.
This occurs because SmartStart Release 8.10 is missing a data file needed for the Hyper-V media.
SCOPE
Any ProLiant server that support Windows Server 2008 and attempting an Assisted installation of the "Without Hyper-V" media.
RESOLUTION
A future release of SmartStart will contain the missing data file needed to install the "Without Hyper-V" media.
As a workaround, peform a manual installation of Windows Server 2008 when using the "Without Hyper-V" media.
This advisory will be updated when additional information becomes available.

[Nu IT]

Unfortunately, the "Invalid Entry" problem still exists in SmartStart v8.15!!

Feeding SmartStart the Windows Server 2008 image file that contains Hyper-V will enable the installation process to proceed, although of course, your Windows installation will then include Hyper-V.

I alerted HP Technical Support to this continuing problem, so hopefully they'll escalate the info to engineering.

FWIW, I'm using a 2 GB USB flash drive (actually a 2 GB SD card plugged into a card reader) for the SmartStart "boot disk" created using the HP USB Key Utility, and a 16 GB USB Flash Drive to hold the large Windows Server 2008 DVD .iso image file.

In the time I composed this message and re-checked some facts, the WS2k8 installation completed! Gotta love the speed and efficiency gained by using flash drives instead of CD's/DVD's or iLo Virtual Drives!!! :-)

[MattLavallee2]

Have you tried SmartStart 8.15(B)?

[Bob123_1]

8.15B has the same problem. since this has been known about for some time now and is becomming one of the upper level Google searches I hope HP can get this fixed soon. Building without the diagnostics partition could be a tech support nightmare down the road.

[GeorgeD_2]

I have found that if you are asked for directory when you select flat files
select
mount/dvd/

you will only be able to select something if you select a file first.
mount/dvd/somefile.blah

then remove somefile.blah and leave
mount/dvd

then hit continue this worked for me.

also there is a problem with the install if your snmp public and private names are the same.

[lesterw]

I just tried this with SmartStart 8.20 and Windows Server 2008 Standard x64 installing on an DL360 G4p... it simply does NOT work. There is nothing you can enter at the media prompt to make it happy.

You would have thought this would have been tested by HP before being shipped -- or that they would at least acknowledge all of the people who have clearly had this issue.

[Alpinetech]

Was having this problem (cant find flatfiles) and found this Thread..... the solution for me was use the 64 bit version for a 64 bit operating system (in this case sbs 2008). I used the first startsmart disk and did not read the fin print (for 32 bit only) and was haeing the described problem..... inserted the for 64 bit version rebooted and it worked a treat.

[Mikey C]

having the same problem using SSCD 8.20 x32 on a DL380 g3 server. since it didnt come with a dvd drive i had to use a external usb one and nothing i tried worked. ended up putting the iso file onto a usb flash drive and that worked fine.