Using a sysprepped blade image on a different machine

[Stuart Burns]

Hi everyone.

Go easy on me. This is a first post :)

Basically in order to get a bit of sanity in our windows servers we created a master image of W2K3 on a BL465c and sysprepped it. It works well and makes standardisation easier.

Now we have a few (4 or 5) ML370 G6 servers with P410i controllers etc.

The question is basically, can we use the sysprepped image over the top of the ML370s and just run a Proliant support pack over the top to change the drivers.

I suspect the main issue will be that the SAS controller card drivers for W2K3 would be the issue due to the disks not booting because the driver required isn't there.

Thanks

Stuart

[Michal Kapalka (mikap)]

hi,

i think it will no work,

in my cases i always clon the same servers.

but if you try it, you will know if its possible.

mikap

[Calvin Staples]

In Theory - when you put it on a different type of server and run the PSP it will install the appropriate drivers as needed. I have not tried it between different types so I don't have any first hand knowledge. Try it and if it works you are way ahead - if it doesn't, you have wasted a short amount of time.

Cal

[Michal Kapalka (mikap)]

hi,

the theory is very good but you need to be able to start the system, and without drivers,
i think it will be not possible.

mikap

[marcus1234]

if the controller drivers are the same family you would get away with it and let add correct drivers etc in dev manager , but not in this case..

other wise you sit with hal issues ...


This is how we thank each other in the forum
NB for the folk that reply too thanks..


http://forums11.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/helptips.do?#33

Enjoy:)

[WFHC-WI]

Hi Stuart,

You should be able to get this to work if you inject the driver INFs for multiple models into the Windows system directory before sysprepping. When you load the image onto another model server, it will boot up to the mini-setup wizard and attempt to load all applicable drivers from there. Read MS's sysprep documentation for more on this.

good luck