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How to config boot from iscsi on HP proliant dl360 G9 / Gen9

Hi all

Does someone has it ever managed to boot an HP Proliant Server G9 from iscsi network? For educational purposes we want to manage that. We tried it how it is described in the HP UEFI Manual www.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c04398276.pdf
But it does not even try to boot from iscsi. No error, no message, nothing.

- UEFI Boot is enabled
- tried with different network ports.

The odd thing is, we have a pxe server here and the server does not even boot from PXE in the UEFI Mode, altough we I have activated it. It just does not get an IP.

But, it gets an IP, because ILO is working and we are able to update the firmare in the intelligent provisioning. So Server has network (even internet) access.

Any thoughts?
thx
Thomas

Salah Eddine ELMRABET

Hi,

Do you have separete vlans in your network?

Regards.

Salah

Thomas U

ASKER

Hi Salah

No. Everything is in the same subnet and everything is connected to the same switch (No VLAN, No specific config, just everything default)
LAB enviroment.

For ISCSI connect we have a small synology ds212. I also tried to connect to this iscsi LUN from a Windows 2012 server and that works.

regards
Thomas

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Thomas U

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Thomas U

ASKER

Altough I managed it by myself to configure it. The mentioned link from andyalder is very useful and one I didn't find googling that by myself.

Salah Eddine ELMRABET

Hi Peter,

You didn't mention that you want to install Windows 2008 before, you was talking about 2012.

The windows 2008 R2 install media don't have the drivers to reconize Gen9 storage and controllers, if you want to install windows 2008 in the server you need to build a costomized compilation of Windows DVD by adding necessary driver into the install package.

There RT7Lite, nLite and vLite, both tools can integrated the drivers on the Windows installation media.

I never used the tools for Win 2K8 but you can refer to the following links:

http://lifehacker.com/5793427/how-to-create-a-custom-windows-installation-dvd-or-usb-install

http://www.nliteos.com/guide/part1.html

https://www.terabyteunlimited.com/howto/howto-xp-sata.htm

http://www.komku.org/2007/11/integrate-driver-into-windows.html

For HP OS compatibility matrix, have a look here:

http://h17007.www1.hp.com/us/en/enterprise/servers/supportmatrix/windows.aspx#.V1a2mSFyU7o

Regards.

Salah

Thomas U

ASKER

Hi Salah

One link to rule them all: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/975535

I _never_ mentioned installing Windows 2012 on that server. And yes I am aware of that.

At least UEFI should tell me that there is NO Bootmedium if I configure it to boot from ISCSI. But nothing, not even an errormessage. So you see it only if it works when you actually install an OS which is capable of booting from UEFI

Salah Eddine ELMRABET

Hi Peter,

If we consider the answer that you accepted as a solution, boot form iSCSI is impossible!! this means boot from SAN is impossible!! since iSCSI or FC are only type of media to access the SAN wich is WRONG!!!

You have to meet the right conmbination of all parameters, here is other related articles:

Boot to UEFI Mode or Legacy BIOS mode

Installing Windows in UEFI-mode

UEFI Implications for Windows Server

Salah

Member_2_231077

I dont see how a link to Boot From iSCSI Deployment Guide could prove iSCSI boot was impossible. There is an error in thr guide however, it says iSCSI boot was not possible before UEFI which is true for software initiator but not true for HBAs.

Thomas U

ASKER

Its the best answer to my question. I needed a manual which is readable. So I marked it as best answer. simple.

and by the way. I managed it to boot Windows and esxi6 from iscsi now.