Using a USB CD-ROM to Boot the SmartStart CD and the Smart Update Firmware DVD

[epretorious]

Unfortunately (for me) the DL365 G1 Base Model (411360-001) does not have a DVD-R/CD-R so I'm left with using an external USB DVD-R/CD-R to boot the SmartStart CD & the Smart Update Firmware DVD but, AFAICT, neither kernel contains the code to recoginize USB storage devices so both fail:

• Sometimes they die immediately:

Atempting to boot from CD-ROM

ISOLINUX 3.75 3.75 ETCD Copyright (C) 1994...

Could not locate kernel.
boot: 

Atempting to boot from CD-ROM

ISOLINUX 3.75 3.75 ETCD Copyright (C) 1994...

vesamenu.c32: attempted DOS system call INT 21 0D00 E80054CB
boot: 

• Other times they go a bit further before dieing:

Starting udevd:
Loading drivers, configuring devices:
Loading drivers...done.
INIT: version 2.86 booting
(none):~ #

Starting udevd:
Loading drivers, configuring devices:
Loading drivers...done.
unlzma: short read
tar: short read
INIT: version 2.86 booting
(none):~ #

How can I get around this? Is it difficult to transfer the DVD-R/CD-R from one of my DL365 G1 Performance Models (411361-001) to the Base models (411360-001) for this task?

[epretorious · Accepted solution]

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@epretorious wrote:

How can I get around this? Is it difficult to transfer the DVD-R/CD-R from one of my DL365 G1 Performance Models (411361-001) to the Base models (411360-001) for this task?

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The answer can be found on Pages 41-42 of the HP ProLiant DL365 Server User Guide (418292-002): The CD-ROM / blank can be removed by depressing the "multibay drive ejector button" (i.e., the small, black button on  the left of the opening).

I'll just move the DVD-ROM's over manually.

[epretorious]

BTW: I did try using the SmartStart CD's "Create a Bootable USB Key" feature but have had limited sucess - Only one of my two 4GB USB keys will boot. The other one hangs (indefinitely) after announcing "Attempting Boot From USB DriveKey (C:)"