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Windows Server 2012 and the HP ProLiant DL380 G5

Tags:
  • Windows Server
  • Hewlett Packard
  • Business Computing
  • Proliant
Last response: in Business Computing
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July 30, 2013 10:11:14 PM

Hi,

First of all I would like to say that I am starting my second year as A computer Information Systems major, so I am not a complete noob. I have not made it far enough into my major yet to start with server "stuff", we have done mainly math and programming up to this point. But next semester I begin taking the appropriate networking classes. But I wanted to learn and self-teach before that.

But now down to business, I purchased an HP ProLiant DL380 G5(specifically this one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/330970471725?ssPageName=STRK:ME...) to learn the basics on before I start my real classes in college. I know the hardware is older but its going to get the job done for what I want it to do.

My first question:

It has 4 72 gig sas hard drives that I want to put into Raid 0 for the OS. Is there a setup utility that you use prior to installing the OS to put them into raid, or do you install the OS first then use an HP utility?

Secondly, I have heard yes and no's to whether you can install server 2012 onto this machine. This article seems to confirm it but I just want to double check. http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/data-center/how-to-ins...

Thirdly, this isn't really a question but are there any tips you guys have for a first timer trying to configure a server for home use.

Particularly for the following:

File Server
Print server
Media Server(plex which is dead easy to use)
VPN Server
and remote access (to use the server headless of course)

Hopefully I posted this in the correct place. if not please move it!

Thanks a bunch.

More about : windows server 2012 proliant dl380

July 31, 2013 6:48:36 AM

Technically, the G5 servers are not supported under Server 2012, only G6 (most models) and later are supported. That being said, I think the main thing that is lacking driver support is older RAID controllers really, so if you can pick up a newer P410 RAID card for cheap, you should can download the Windows Server 2012 drivers for that RAID card and have access to your storage to begin installation. I'm not 100% positive because I haven't set up WS2012 on a G5 server before, but that should allow you to do it.

Setting up RAID 0 on the hard drives requires configuring the array during the BIOS startup of the computer. Watch the prompts, as it should show you what component it is starting and reading configurations from as the server is booting. You should see a prompt such as "HP SmartArray P400" and then it will state which Function key you need to press to enter the configuration window. Once you enter that configuration, there should be an option to Create Logical Array, and you can then set up the drives in which ever RAID type you wish.
July 31, 2013 12:11:39 PM

choucove said:
Technically, the G5 servers are not supported under Server 2012, only G6 (most models) and later are supported. That being said, I think the main thing that is lacking driver support is older RAID controllers really, so if you can pick up a newer P410 RAID card for cheap, you should can download the Windows Server 2012 drivers for that RAID card and have access to your storage to begin installation. I'm not 100% positive because I haven't set up WS2012 on a G5 server before, but that should allow you to do it.

Setting up RAID 0 on the hard drives requires configuring the array during the BIOS startup of the computer. Watch the prompts, as it should show you what component it is starting and reading configurations from as the server is booting. You should see a prompt such as "HP SmartArray P400" and then it will state which Function key you need to press to enter the configuration window. Once you enter that configuration, there should be an option to Create Logical Array, and you can then set up the drives in which ever RAID type you wish.



Thanks for the detailed response. Would server 2008 be a better option? Not only because it's compatible but because there are many more detailed tutorials for this os than 2012?
Related resources
July 31, 2013 1:46:14 PM

Windows Server 2008 R2 may be a better fit for the G5 servers, as they are supported. However, in some ways I feel hesitant recommending someone train to learn on an older OS platform. While WS2008 is still very widely used and is the majority share, it is being replaced with Windows Server 2012, and there are a lot of improvements made in WS2012 especially for things like virtualization and storage. Sometimes it is best to learn the latest that is available and apply what you have learned from the latest to older generations, because it's not always possible to do the reverse. However, there is enough in common between the two that I think you should be able to work around with it and still learn quite a bit. The choice on that really is up to you, but basically there is one additional step you will have to do to make the physical server compatible with WS2012 if that is what you choose, but it would also probably be the recommended choice if you are setting this up for education and learning how to work with Windows Server environments.
July 31, 2013 2:00:57 PM

choucove said:
Windows Server 2008 R2 may be a better fit for the G5 servers, as they are supported. However, in some ways I feel hesitant recommending someone train to learn on an older OS platform. While WS2008 is still very widely used and is the majority share, it is being replaced with Windows Server 2012, and there are a lot of improvements made in WS2012 especially for things like virtualization and storage. Sometimes it is best to learn the latest that is available and apply what you have learned from the latest to older generations, because it's not always possible to do the reverse. However, there is enough in common between the two that I think you should be able to work around with it and still learn quite a bit. The choice on that really is up to you, but basically there is one additional step you will have to do to make the physical server compatible with WS2012 if that is what you choose, but it would also probably be the recommended choice if you are setting this up for education and learning how to work with Windows Server environments.



Thanks.

I think I will stick with server 2012 then. I have read other articles online about getting around the issue with the unsupported raid card, and it seems others have had success. I'll try server 2012 with the current workarounds on the raid card and if it doesn't work out the 410 is around 80 bucks on ebay which isn't too big of a deal. Thanks for your advice.
July 31, 2013 2:00:59 PM

choucove said:
Windows Server 2008 R2 may be a better fit for the G5 servers, as they are supported. However, in some ways I feel hesitant recommending someone train to learn on an older OS platform. While WS2008 is still very widely used and is the majority share, it is being replaced with Windows Server 2012, and there are a lot of improvements made in WS2012 especially for things like virtualization and storage. Sometimes it is best to learn the latest that is available and apply what you have learned from the latest to older generations, because it's not always possible to do the reverse. However, there is enough in common between the two that I think you should be able to work around with it and still learn quite a bit. The choice on that really is up to you, but basically there is one additional step you will have to do to make the physical server compatible with WS2012 if that is what you choose, but it would also probably be the recommended choice if you are setting this up for education and learning how to work with Windows Server environments.



Thanks.

I think I will stick with server 2012 then. I have read other articles online about getting around the issue with the unsupported raid card, and it seems others have had success. I'll try server 2012 with the current workarounds on the raid card and if it doesn't work out the 410 is around 80 bucks on ebay which isn't too big of a deal. Thanks for your advice.
November 28, 2013 7:57:25 AM

Solution:
I installed server 2008 on the G5, then run server 2012 setup from windows GUI (not upgrade). it will create an old windows directory which you can delete. this the the only way i got server 2012 to install in a HP G5 Server. For some reason it picks up the raid driver this way and installs with no issues. added note i setup my raid before the server 2008 portion of the install. and you don't need the full install of 2008... you only need to get to the GUI and run setup of 2012.

hope this helps

choucove said:
Technically, the G5 servers are not supported under Server 2012, only G6 (most models) and later are supported. That being said, I think the main thing that is lacking driver support is older RAID controllers really, so if you can pick up a newer P410 RAID card for cheap, you should can download the Windows Server 2012 drivers for that RAID card and have access to your storage to begin installation. I'm not 100% positive because I haven't set up WS2012 on a G5 server before, but that should allow you to do it.

Setting up RAID 0 on the hard drives requires configuring the array during the BIOS startup of the computer. Watch the prompts, as it should show you what component it is starting and reading configurations from as the server is booting. You should see a prompt such as "HP SmartArray P400" and then it will state which Function key you need to press to enter the configuration window. Once you enter that configuration, there should be an option to Create Logical Array, and you can then set up the drives in which ever RAID type you wish.


!