RE: [ActiveDir] OT: Compaq Servers

[Glenn Corbett]

Title: RE: [ActiveDir] OT: Compaq Servers

Rick,   I may have been a bit harsh...sorry bout that.   We did encounter a similar issue with running SS 6.x on older hardware (like the 3xxx series, 5500, 8000's, G1 series etc), and yes, I blame HP squarely for this.  What we basically did is pull the new driver kits out of the new SS and retrofit them into a modified version of the previous SS (using things like the SST - Smartstart scripting toolkit). All of our SS 6.x series boxes get recycled into CD-cases *grin*.   The only real major components that require support during the basic Win2k / Win2k3 build is the RAID Controller, basic hardware and network interfaces, most of which is covered in the base Windows installation kit anyway.  Additional support for the multitude of hardware components (ilo boards etc) is enabled by installing the appropiate Support Pack (NTSSP or whatever its currently called) AFTER windows is installed, and thats pretty much what our build does (and is essentially what SmartStart does under the covers anyway).  Use the absolute minimum mods to get the system up and running appropiately, then install the Support Pack to get the rest of the functionality.   Not 100% foolproof - HP introduced a driver mismatch between some versions of the RAID controller software / hardware combinations (the models escape me atm), which necessitated a forked build until we got the problem resolved.   There will of course end up being an issue where HP depreciate support for older hardware types under the new operating systems, however we are hoping that the hardware has well and truly reached its use-by-date by then.  The "canned" SmartStart however masks this to a large extent, and "forces" you down the path you described - buying newer hardware.   My suggestion would be to look into the SSST (SmartStart Scripting Toolkit), and forego the "canned" SmartStart installation completely.  The toolset basically allows the creation of a scripted build using essentially the same tools the canned install does. Adding additional hardware support is trivial, AND you arent subjected to the whims of HP marketing who may decide that your hardware is "too old" to support anymore - even though it still may be quite capable (and technically still supported from a driver prespective).   Glenn From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Rick Kingslan Sent: Thursday, 10 June 2004 11:20 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: [ActiveDir] OT: Compaq Servers Huh.  Well, clearly I'm doing something wrong, or don't have the build that you do, Glenn.  There is no option to choose Win2k3, so the right drivers can't get installed.  Is there something specific that you're doing, like installing as a Win2k and then upgrading the drivers after the fact?   I guess I'm a bit confused now.....   -rtk From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Glenn Corbett Sent: Wednesday, June 09, 2004 3:54 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: [ActiveDir] OT: Compaq Servers Rick,   I’m not quite sure what you mean by this.  Sure, SmartStart version 6.x is only *really* useful for G3 based computers, but there isn’t anything stopping you from using SmartStart 5.5x on older and newer hardware.   We have a unified build (based on the 5.5x SmartStart) that will quite happily do builds on G1, G2, G3 (even the older PL1600, 5500’s, 8000 based hardware) that supports Win 2k / Win 2k3.  It’s really not too difficult.  Just don’t use v6.0 (I know we don’t).   Glenn   From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Rick Kingslan Sent: Wednesday, 9 June 2004 11:02 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: [ActiveDir] OT: Compaq Servers   Sadly, HP/Compaq flat pissed me off with orphaning all of my '2nd gen' systems to Windows 2000, unless I don't want to use SmartStart for anything other than coasters.  So, I really have no need for the 6.0 stuff that they keep sending me that DOES support Windows Server 2003, but not my still quite useful but somewhat dinosaur-ish (according to HP/Compaq, I suppose....)   To me - dumb move.  But, I'm sure that they had a great reason for it.  Like, not having any interest in customers who weren't buying brand new machines for Windows Server 2003....   Rick Kingslan  MCSE, MCSA, MCT, CISSP Microsoft MVP: Windows Server / Directory Services Windows Server / Rights Management Windows Security (Affiliate) Associate Expert Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone WebLog - www.msmvps.com/willhack4food     From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Kitchens Arthur E Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2004 9:38 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: [ActiveDir] OT: Compaq Servers I believe RDP is free. The smartstart cd *is* free and you could build a master image with that then distribute/implement with any of the methods/tools previously mentioned in this thread. You can also get a 30 day eval license for the altiris deployment server (what utilizes the RDP tool set) so I don't see any money invovled with exploration of that either.  It may also be the case the one of the Insight Manager flavors would be useful for you. At least one (4.something) was free by download a few weeks ago.  Just my 2 cents. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of Rutherford, Robert Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2004 10:30 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: [ActiveDir] OT: Compaq Servers I've spied the RDP tool before and it does look like a quality system, but can't really warrant the £££. If I remember it was expensive. **drifts off to dreamland** Oh how I wish HP would provide me with a simple and free tool... Or a good old gui based front end to produce a script. **wakes to reality** Thud! -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: 08 June 2004 15:09 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: [ActiveDir] OT: Compaq Servers   You can use also our tool RemoteDeploymentPackage (http://h18013.www1.hp.com/products/servers/management/rdp.html). RDP offers templates to deploy,image and re-deploy servers-images and also additional software. RDP is based on Altiris solution.... > I used Ghost to distribute Sysprep'd  images either by Multicast or IP > connections on DL380's.  After the first build, each server was up and > ready to run DCPromo within 10-15 minutes including the time to load > the image over 100BaseT.  You can save a lot of time with the > Sysprep.inf file for many of the tedious settings, but I found running > DCPromo from the sysprep.inf to be hit and miss because of network > configuration, so I opted > to do that manually. > >   _____ > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of Rutherford, > Robert > Sent: Tuesday, June 8, 2004 9:26 AM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: RE: [ActiveDir] OT: Compaq Servers > > > Thanks Roger, > > ADS does look sxy.....problem is that we are still mainly W2K :O( > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Roger Seielstad [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Sent: 08 June 2004 14:16 > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: RE: [ActiveDir] OT: Compaq Servers > > > Have you considered something like the Automated Deployment System? > Its part of the Dynamic Systems Initiative and its geared towards this > kind of deployment. Its also more or less free. > http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/technologies/management/ads/defau > lt.mspx > <http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/technologies/management/ads/defa > ult.mspx> > > Roger > -------------------------------------------------------------- > Roger D. Seielstad - MTS MCSE MS-MVP > Sr. Systems Administrator > Inovis Inc. > > > >   _____ > > From: Rutherford, Robert > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2004 8:42 AM > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: [ActiveDir] OT: Compaq Servers > > > > I'm sorry this is off topic but just thought I'd throw it out to see > if I get a bite.... > > It must be that time of year again...... a large number of new servers > coming in.I don't want to, or have anyone else build numerours > DL360's/380's .. All with more or less the same spec and o/s build. > Has anyone ever actually got the things to work with the scripting > toolkit? > > TIA > > Rob > > > This e-mail and the information it contains are confidential and may > be privileged. If you have received this e-mail in error please notify > the sender immediately and delete the material from any computer. > Unless you are the intended recipient, you should not copy this e-mail > for any purpose, or > disclose its contents to any other person. > The MCPS-PRS Alliance is not responsible for the completeness or accuracy > of > this communication as it has been transmitted over a public network. > Whilst > the MCPS-PRS Alliance monitors all communications for potential viruses, > we > accept no responsibility for any loss or damage caused by this e-mail and > the information it contains. > It is the recipient's responsibility to scan this e-mail and any > attachments > for viruses. Any > e-mails sent to and from the MCPS-PRS Alliance servers may be monitored > for > quality control and other purposes. > > The MCPS-PRS Alliance Limited is a limited company registered in > England under company number 03444246 whose registered office is at > c/o 29-33 Berners Street, London, W1T 3AB. > > > > This e-mail and the information it contains are confidential and may > be privileged. If you have received this e-mail in error please notify > the sender immediately and delete the material from any computer. > Unless you are the intended recipient, you should not copy this e-mail > for any purpose, or > disclose its contents to any other person. > The MCPS-PRS Alliance is not responsible for the completeness or accuracy > of > this communication as it has been transmitted over a public network. > Whilst > the MCPS-PRS Alliance monitors all communications for potential viruses, > we > accept no responsibility for any loss or damage caused by this e-mail and > the information it contains. > It is the recipient's responsibility to scan this e-mail and any > attachments > for viruses. Any > e-mails sent to and from the MCPS-PRS Alliance servers may be monitored > for > quality control and other purposes. > > The MCPS-PRS Alliance Limited is a limited company registered in > England under company number 03444246 whose registered office is at > c/o 29-33 Berners Street, London, W1T 3AB. > > List info   : http://www.activedir.org/mail_list.htm List FAQ    : http://www.activedir.org/list_faq.htm List archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/activedir%40mail.activedir.org/ This e-mail and the information it contains are confidential and may be privileged. If you have received this e-mail in error please notify the sender immediately and delete the material from any computer. Unless you are the intended recipient, you should not copy this e-mail for any purpose, or disclose its contents to any other person. The MCPS-PRS Alliance is not responsible for the completeness or accuracy of this communication as it has been transmitted over a public network. Whilst the MCPS-PRS Alliance monitors all communications for potential viruses, we accept no responsibility for any loss or damage caused by this e-mail and the information it contains. It is the recipient's responsibility to scan this e-mail and any attachments for viruses. Any e-mails sent to and from the MCPS-PRS Alliance servers may be monitored for quality control and other purposes. The MCPS-PRS Alliance Limited is a limited company registered in England under company number 03444246 whose registered office is at c/o 29-33 Berners Street, London, W1T 3AB. List info   : http://www.activedir.org/mail_list.htm List FAQ    : http://www.activedir.org/list_faq.htm List archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/activedir%40mail.activedir.org/