C240 m5

[kevinlgregory]

Just had this delivered to us, and this is the first time I have seen one of these servers.  I am trying to get the server to boot from a USB stick so I can install windows 2016.  I am bald now due to pulling my hair out.  I was wondering if anyone can point me in the right direction for powering this server up and having it boot to a USB. Thank you.

[Kirk J]

Do you get any options when you hit the F6 boot menu?

Usually if there is any detected bootable media, it will show up in the list.

Did you use the MS USB boot maker utility to apply an ISO to the USB stick?

Usually requires the MS tool, vs some of the other USB boot makers that work OK on Linux, but not always on MS install ISOs.

You should also configure the CIMC via F8.

From the IP address you assign here, you will get a web interface that allows you to configure boot order, and a vKVM that allows you to mount an ISO file.

The bootable install USB option would probably install faster, but can take more work to prep the USB stick. 

I'd use the vKVM virtual media as plan B.

Kirk...

[kevinlgregory]

I was able to get the USB drive to Boot and during the install, it does not want to pick up the Drives I created.  I have 2 x150GB drives raid 1, then 9X900GB set as RAID 5, and another 8X900GB, set as Raid 5.  I thought I could install drivers from the Windows installer on the USB, but doesnt want to find them. 

Thanks.

[Kirk J]

Which driver's ISO did you use?

Looks like the 3.13 windows driver ISO at https://software.cisco.com/download/release.html?mdfid=286318800&flowid=83148&softwareid=283853158&release=3.1(3)

should have the 7.701.04.00 SAS RAID driver called out by the HCL tool

Try mounting a folder of the LSI megaraid SAS driver folder via the vKVM virtual media if the USB stick method for the driver doesn't work.

If your OS Mirror volume (assuming the mirror) happens to be on N4K sector drives, then you will need to enable UEFI boot options.

Are your boot mirror drives connected to Megaraid SAS controller, or internal drives, NVME, etc?

Thanks,

Kirk...

[Leo Laohoo]

And don't forget to upgrade the CIMC to 3.0(4a) firmware (or later).