Dell server setup

If you use the Dell disc which came with you server and follow the install process, there will be a step where you can create partitions. Note that you must configure any applicable raid array first.

I'm past the Dell CD portion.  I accepted the default RAID.  I've go the 2008 CD in there now.  Did I miss a step?  I can start over.

"I'm past the Dell CD portion."

If, by this, you mean that you already have 2008 installed, then yes, it is too late to set the size to what you want, BUT 2008 can "shrink" partitions in Disk Management ... but only so far.  If you can't shrink it to the size of your liking, then you need to start over.

No problem I'll start over.  Exactly where is the option to set the partitions?

I don't know exactly which number of screen it is , but you will see a slider bar on one of the screens where you set the system/boot partition size.

ok.  Starting over

no luck.  On the first couple of screens, option 4 is listed for the partitions, but after I click continue to accept the raid, the partitions option is gone.

I'm not sure I follow and I don't have a system I can try to recreate what you are seeing at the moment.  When configuring RAID, it should also be giving you an option to set the VD/array size ... this is different from setting the actual system/boot partition for the OS.  If this is what you are actually seeing, the OS system/boot partition option will come later.

Don't worry about the points ... I guess I'm still not sure exactly what the question/problem was, especially considering the answer Dell gave you, which doesn't make any sense.  If you understand and you're satisfied, then that's all that really matters, but if I can provide more insight into "why" and "how", let me know a little more about exactly what was going on.

Thanks for the help.  So far I'm good.  Everything went as he explained.

Sorry, but what you write and what Dell told you to do sounds like you created two separate containers and disk management (likely) displays two disks as opposed to one partitioned.  There's nothing terribly wrong with this if that's the case, but it's not what you were specifically asking for.

That's what I started to wonder too lee, thinking that perhaps the disks are large enough to require a smaller VD for the OS - or just simply separate VD's for whatever reason ... since he got it sorted out, I didn't push for more details though.

@leew what Dell said to do was don't make any changes during the installation.  Then after 2008 is installed, shrink the partition and allocated the unused to another drive.  That's what I did.  Sorry if I wasn't clear.

Found my own solution