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Sue TaylorFlag for United States of America

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Dell PowerEdge 2950 -- How to install Server 2012 Standard manually?

I have a Dell PowerEdge 2950 (DST: 2ZZWNH1) that I'd like to install Server 2012 onto. I know it can work, but it asks for drivers to see the hard drives. I know the system is running RAID, I see that it has:

ASSEMBLY, CARD (CIRCUIT), PERC6I-INT, SERIAL ATTACHED SCSI, SLED
ASSEMBLY, CABLE, SASX4-PERC5X4-X4BKPLN

I just don't know what to download so that I can do this...

If anybody could be so kind as to guide me through this. I'm having a high-stress week, so feel free to explain like I'm 5... :-)
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Neil Russell
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Better option. Download and install a free copy of ESXi 5 and install that. Will spot all of the hardware. Not you can create a virtual machine and install 2012 in it with no problems.

UNLESS of course you wanted 2012 as a Hyper-V server?
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I think I'd rather run a Hyper-V server. In fact, I currently am. My current setup is:

2012 Standard -- Hyper V Server
2012 Essentials -- Hyper V Guest

I'm running Essentials as a guest because it just makes us feel safer that way to know we can move the system from one server to another when it's time to upgrade hardware. I'd consider switching to ESXi 5 if you think it'll be better and less hassle, but I don't really have any experience with VMware. Not that I'm opposed to learning something new. :-)

Your thoughts?
My only reason for the suggestion was that you can install ESXi quickly and easily on the 2950 with no additional drivers. If you are already running hyper-v then on other servers then I would say stick with it and get the 2950 up and running with it.
There's only 1 guest. We need to migrate everyone to this server. Can VMware read my Hyper-V disk and/or convert it?
Yes you can convert the guest to a vmware guest with vmware converter stand alone, easy to do.

See one of Andrews excellent articles on converting.  https://www.experts-exchange.com/Software/VMWare/A_12555-HOW-TO-FAQ-VMware-P2V-Troubleshooting.html

Just treat your current Guest as a physical machine and away you go.
This link will allow you to download a copy of ESXi 5.5 tailored for DELL hardware.

http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/04/Drivers/DriversDetails?driverId=5YC4T

Burn the iso to a CD and away you go.
If you really want to look at VMWare then make your way over to Andrews profile here on EE and absorbe!

https://www.experts-exchange.com/members/hanccocka.html

Andrew has a whole host of guides and info on vmware and what he cant tell you, you dont need to know.
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David Johnson, CD
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While the other gentleman was helpful, this truly answered my question.