Implementing Microsoft Windows Server 2012 Beta on HP ProLiant servers

Integration note

Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 2 Windows Server 2012 overview ........................................................................................................... 2 Recommended configuration ................................................................................................................. 2 Recommended ProLiant servers .............................................................................................................. 3 Recommended components for ProLiant servers ....................................................................................... 5 Software drivers ............................................................................................................................... 5 Storage Area Network components .................................................................................................... 5 Network interface controllers ............................................................................................................. 7 Pre-installation tasks ............................................................................................................................. 8 Installing Windows Server 2012 on ProLiant servers ................................................................................ 9 Updating the Smart Array controller firmware ....................................................................................... 10 Install the HP SPP on a bootable USB key.......................................................................................... 10 Load the Smart Array controller firmware onto the USB key ................................................................. 10 Update the Smart Array controller firmware ...................................................................................... 10 Confirm update results and install Windows Server 2012 ................................................................... 11 Installing the HP ProLiant Support Pack (PSP) ......................................................................................... 11 Known issues and workarounds........................................................................................................... 13 Feedback.......................................................................................................................................... 16 For more information .......................................................................................................................... 16 Call to action .................................................................................................................................... 16

Introduction
Windows Server 2012 delivers a dynamic, available, and cost-effective server platform for the private cloud. It offers a scalable, flexible, and multitenant-aware cloud infrastructure that securely connects across locations, allowing you to respond to business needs faster and more efficiently. The code name for Windows Server 2012 was Windows Server 8. The current version of the OS is a beta version. It is not a final, commercial version of the OS. This integration note describes the level of support available for Windows Server 2012 on HP ProLiant servers. It also provides guidance for implementing Windows Server 2012 on ProLiant servers. The OS and our support may change before the OS is commercially available.
NOTE Some websites or documentation may still refer to Windows Server 8. These references will be changed to the official product name Windows Server 2012.

This paper addresses several key topics: Recommended configurations of ProLiant servers Recommended system configurations Recommended software, storage options, and NICs Procedures for a new installation Known issues

Windows Server 2012 overview

Windows Server 2012 is a 64-bit server operating system. It delivers value in four key areas: Virtualization: You can scale and secure workloads, cost-effectively build your cloud, and securely connect to cloud services. Manageability: You can manage multiple servers as easily as you can manage a single server. Scalability: You can use a consistent set of tools and frameworks to build and deploy applications and websites on-premises, in the cloud, and in a hybrid environment. Accessibility: You can access data and applications from virtually anywhere on any device. For detailed information or to download the beta OS, see the Windows Server 2012 website www.microsoft.com/en-us/server-cloud/windows-server/v8-default.aspx.

Recommended configuration
Microsoft has established the recommended system configurations listed in this section for Windows Server 2012 base OS installations. Actual requirements vary based on the specific system configuration. Carefully review this document for the recommended system configuration and possible issues. Do not use this document as the sole source of information. (For links to websites with more information, see the For more information section of this document.)

We recommend configuring your server with any of the following processor families: Intel Xeon Processors with Intel 64 architecture Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD64) Opteron Series Processors
Table 2. Recommended system configuration as established by Microsoft Component Processor Requirement RAM per processor (socket) Monitor Optical storage Peripherals Minimum: 1.4 GHz Recommended: 2 GHz Minimum: 512 MB Maximum: 4 TB Recommended: 4 GB

SVGA resolution (800x600) or higher DVD-ROM drive Keyboard Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device Minimum: 10 GB Recommended: 40 GB

Available disk space*

*Available disk space is the free disk space on the partition that will contain the system files. Additional space is required to copy the Windows Server 2012 DVD contents to the disk during installation. Computers with more than 16 GB of RAM will require more disk space for paging and dump files.

Recommended ProLiant servers

Upon commercial release of Windows Server 2012, we will support the current generation of ProLiant servers and one generation back; therefore, we will not support ProLiant G6 servers with Windows Server 2012. Table 3 lists the recommended ProLiant servers and minimum ROM version required to run Windows Server 2012. For a link to the ROM updates, see the Business Support Center at www.hp.com/go/bizsupport. Use the ROM update for your server and the Windows Server 2008 R2 OS. You will be able to choose the Windows Server 2012 OS upon its commercial release.
IMPORTANT The information in this document is for the beta release of Windows Server 2012. Our recommended servers and components for this OS may change before the final, commercial release.

Table3. Recommended ProLiant servers Server platform BL2x220c G7 BL460c G7 BL460c Gen8 BL465c G7 BL490c G7 BL495c G7 BL620c G7 BL680c G7 BL685c G7 ProLiant DL servers DL120 G7 DL160 Gen8 DL165 G7 DL360 G7 DL360p Gen8 DL380 G7 DL380p Gen8 DL385 G7 DL580 G7 DL 585 G7 DL980 G7 ProLiant ML servers ML110 G7 ML350p Gen8 J01 P72 05/13/11 02/21/12 J01 J03 O37 P68 P71 P67 P70 A18 P65 A16 P66 05/13/11 02/21/12 05/25/10 06/24/10 02/21/12 06/24/10 02/21/12 12/31/11 02/14/12 02/27/12 09/07/10 ROM family I29 I27 I31 A19 I28 A14 I25 I25 A20 ROM date (minimum) 01/30/11 01/29/11 02/21/12 07/07/10 01/29/11 05/02/11 03/10/11 03/10/11 07/07/10

ProLiant Blade/SL line servers SL165z G7 SL170z G6 O37 O34 02/09/12 12/09/11

Table3. Recommended ProLiant servers Server platform SL335s G7 SL390s G7 ProLiant MicroServer ProLiant MicroServer O41 08/29/11 ROM family A24 P69 ROM date (minimum) 01/12/10 04/02/11

Recommended components for ProLiant servers

Before you install the beta OS, review the following sections for information on the subsystems we suggest for Windows Server 2012.
IMPORTANT The information in this document is for the beta release of Windows Server 2012. Our recommended servers and components for this OS may change before the final release.

Software drivers
To download the drivers that support Windows Server 2012, see the HP Windows Server 2012 Beta Home Page www.hp.com/go/ws2012 or use the Windows Server 2008 R2 driver from the Business Support Center website at www.hp.com/go/bizsupport. HP has moved all of the drivers and related software to the HP Service Pack for ProLiant (HP SPP). However, since Windows 2012 is BETA software at the time of this paper, you must utilize the old method of using the HP ProLiant Support Pack (PSP). When Windows 2012 releases officially, new instructions will tell you how to use the HP SPP. For details on installing the PSP, see the Installing the ProLiant Support Pack section.

Storage Area Network components

We recommend the storage options listed in Table 4 for Windows Server 2012.
Table 4. Recommended ProLiant storage controller options Option Driver Web download Management drivers SAS/SATA Notification Service CISSESRV.EXE Location Windows media PSP 9.05

StorageWorks Fibre Channel CPQFCAC.SYS Array Notification Driver for Windows 2000/Server 2003

Table 4. Recommended ProLiant storage controller options Option Driver Web download Smart Array P212 P220i P222 P410 P410i P411 P420 P420i P421 P711 P712 P812 Storage Works 1210m Host Bus Adapters SC11Xe SC08Ge LSI_SAS.SYS LSI_SAS.SYS HPCISSS2.SYS (full featured) HPCISSS2.SYS (full featured) HPSAMD.SYS (basic) Location Windows media PSP 9.05

Fibre Channel Host Bus Adapters QLogic 81Q PCIe 82Q PCIe FC1142SR / FC1242SR FC1143 / FC1243 QMH2462 c-Class mezzanine QMH2562 c-Class mezzanine Emulex 81E PCIe 82E PCIe FC2143 / FC2243 FC2142SR / FC2242SR Lpe1105 c-Class mezzanine Lpe1205 c-Class mezzanine ELXSTOR.SYS QL2300.SYS

Table 4. Recommended ProLiant storage controller options Option Driver Web download Brocade 81B PCIe 82B PCIe 41B PCIe 42B PCI2 StorageWorks DAT Autoloader 72*6 DAT Autoloader 72*10 HPDAT.SYS HPDATCHG.SYS ELXSTOR.SYS Location Windows media PSP 9.05

Network interface controllers

We recommend the NICs listed in Table 5 for Windows Server 2012.
Table 5. Recommended ProLiant NICs NIC Driver Download 331FLR 331T 331i NC105i NC107i NC150T NC320i/T NC324i NC325i/m NC326i/m NC1020 NC7761 NC7771 NC7781 NC7782 NC370i/F/T NC371i NC373i/F/T/m NC374m NC380T NC382i/T/m BXVBDA.SYS, BXND60A.SYS B57ND60A.SYS Location Windows Media PSP 9.05

Table 5. Recommended ProLiant NICs NIC Driver Download NC365T 361i 366i NC110T NC360T/m NC364T/m NC112i/T NC362i NC532i NC532m 530FLR-SFP+ 530FLB 530M NC542m NC550m/SFP NC551m/i NC552m/SFP NC553m/i 554M 554FLB 554FLR-SFP+ CN1000E CN1100E NC522m/SFP NC524SFP NC375i/T NC523SFP CN1000Q QLXGND64.SYS MLX4_BUS.SYS, MLX4ETH63.SYS BE2ND62.SYS EVBDA.SYS, BXND60A.SYS E1Q63X64.SYS E1E6332E.SYS E1R63X64.SYS Location Windows Media PSP 9.05

Pre-installation tasks
To prepare for installation, ensure that you complete the following tasks: Select a server from the recommended system platform table. If necessary, update the ROM to the required version. Use the ROM update for your server and the Windows Server 2008 R2 OS. ROM updates are available from the Business Support Center website at www.hp.com/go/bizsupport. If necessary, select additional storage options from the storage options table.

 If necessary, select additional NICs from the ProLiant NICs table. If necessary, use the ROM-Based Setup Utility (RBSU) to set the date and time and to configure the boot controller order. Use the Array Configuration Utility to configure the RAID settings for the server. Update iLO firmware to the latest version. To download the latest iLO firmware, see the Business Support Center website at www.hp.com/go/bizsupport.

Installing Windows Server 2012 on ProLiant servers

We will not support HP Intelligent Provision with Windows Server 2012 until the commercial release of the OS. Until support for Intelligent Provisioning is available, manually install Windows Server 2012 from the Microsoft Windows Server 2012 media. Intelligent Provisioning support for ProLiant Gen8 servers will be available with the updates for the commercial release of the OS. ProLiant G7 servers will not have assisted installation support.
IMPORTANT Steps in the remaining sections of this document may refer to the HP SPP or the PSP. Please use the specific tool noted in the step. Full HP SPP support will be available for the commercial release of the OS.

To install Windows Server 2012, complete the following steps:

1. If your server includes any of the following embedded Smart Array controllers, update the

controller firmware to the latest version before starting the OS installation: HP Smart Array P220i Controller HP Smart Array P222 Controller HP Smart Array P420 Controller HP Smart Array P420i Controller HP Smart Array P421 Controller For instructions on updating the Smart Array P420i controller, see the Updating the Smart Array controller firmware section. 2. Make sure that the server has a DVD drive (either installed or attached to the server).
NOTE A license key is required to use iLO virtual media with HP ProLiant ML or DL servers.

3. Insert the Windows Server 2012 media into the DVD drive and boot the server to the DVD to

begin the installation.

4. Follow the steps on the installation screens to complete the installation. 5. If the drivers for the storage controller or NIC is not found, download the driver from the

HP website as follows: a. Go to the HP website. b. Select the Support and Drivers tab.

c.

Select Download drivers and software (and firmware).

d. Type the server product name (such as, ProLiant DL380 G6). e. Click the Go button. f. Select Microsoft Windows 2008 R2 for the operating system.

g. Under Quick jumps to downloads, select the appropriate Driver Storage Controller and the Driver Network for your component. h. Click the Download button.

Updating the Smart Array controller firmware

If using an HP Smart Array controller, you must update the firmware before installing the OS. To update the firmware complete the steps in the following sections.

Install the HP SPP on a bootable USB key

1. Mount the HP SPP Version 2012.02.0 either through iLO Virtual Media or by using a CD-ROM or

DVD drive in a Windows client.

2. Navigate to the path: SPP 2012.02.0\USB\hpusbkey. 3. Double click on the hpusbkey.exe file to start the USB Key Utility. 4. After the USB key utility launches, click Next. 5. Select Agree, and then click Next. 6. Select Create a bootable USB key from CD/DVD, and then click Next. 7. Click Next. 8. Select the source location using either of the following methods:

Select the appropriate CD-ROM or DVD drive in which the HP SPP is mounted. Select "Browse for ISO file and select the location for ISO image file to mount the ISO image file directly.
9. In "Target USB key" section, select the USB key that you want to make bootable. 10. After selecting the appropriate source and target, click Next. 11. Click Next when the USB key utility prompts you to format the USB key. The utility starts creating

the bootable USB key.

Load the Smart Array controller firmware onto the USB key
1. Download the Smart Array controller firmware from the HP FTP site at

ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softlib2/software1/sc-linux-fw-array/p889307071/v77209.
2. Copy the firmware onto the bootable USB key in the folder:

<USB drive>\<SPP release name folder>\hp\swpackages.

Update the Smart Array controller firmware

1. Boot the server using the bootable USB key. 2. When the HP SPP loads, select Interactive Firmware Update Version. 3. Select the language that is appropriate for your installation. 4. If you agree to the End User License Agreement, select Agree, and then click Next. 5. Launch HP Smart Update Manager (HP SUM) Version 5.0.1.

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6. On the HP SUM Welcome page, click Next. 7. In the Source Selection page, check the Repository Contents link, and then click Next. 8. In the Select Targets page, enter the credentials for the local host. Observe the status for local

host as Doing self-discovery.

9. When the Status changes to Ready to Proceed, click Next. 10. On the Review/Install Updates page, click the Select Bundle link. 11. Compare the installed component version and the available component version on Select Bundle

page option for Firmware DVD Supplement Update /Online ROM Flash Component for Linux Smart Array Smart Array P220i, P222, P420i, P420, P421, P822, and complete one of the following steps: a. If the installed version and the available component version are identical, click OK and proceed to Step 26. b. If the installed component version is lower than the available component version and the status is Ready for installation, click OK and go to Step 24.
12. On the Review/Install Updates window, click Install. The utility installs the component update on

the localhost.

Confirm update results and install Windows Server 2012

1. When the update completes, check the status on the Installation Results screen and proceed with

either of the following steps: a. If the HP SPP installs successfully, the process is complete. Proceed to Step 3. b. If one or more of the components did not install successfully, complete the following steps: i. Exit HP SUM. ii. Update the environment as indicated in the failure message. iii. Restart the installation of the HP SPP.
2. Click Reboot now. 3. When the server reboots, verify the controller firmware has upgraded successfully. 4. Mount Windows Server 2012 OS image and proceed with the OS installation.

Installing the HP ProLiant Support Pack (PSP)

Although the HP SPP is available for software and drivers, when installing this beta version of Windows Server 2012, you must use the PSP. Full HP SPP support will be available for the commercial release of the OS. Before installing Windows Server 2012, update your systems using the HP ProLiant Support Pack for Windows Server 8 Beta PSP 9.05 at www.hp.com/go/ws2012.

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IMPORTANT The PSP includes drivers and software for all ProLiant Gen8 100 series servers and the ProLiant ML110 G7 and DL120 G7 servers. For all other ProLiant 100 series servers, download drivers from the HP website at http://h18004.www1.hp.com/products/servers/management/re motemgmt/easy_setup_cd/index.html.

After downloading the self-extracting executable PSP file (psp-psp.winserver8.exe), complete the following steps:
1. Go to the directory where you saved the PSP file. 2. Double-click the executable and extract the PSP to a desired location. 3. Go to the directory where the extracted PSP is located. 4. Double-click setup.exe to start the PSP deployment.

NOTE All PSP files must reside in the same directory as the setup.exe file.

5. The Source Selection screen appears. Verify that the directory path in the Directory field has the

location of the smart components in the PSP, and then select Start Inventory.
6. HP Smart Update Manager performs an inventory of the installed hardware and software, and

then checks for available updates.

7. After the inventory and discovery processes finish, the Select Installation Hosts screen appears.

Select either the local host or one (or more) remote hosts for PSP deployment.
8. After selecting the host(s), the Select bundle filter screen shows the PSP bundle information. Select

the bundle and the appropriate filter options. For remote deployments, additional screens allow you to update information on a per-host basis.
9. After selecting the bundle for all hosts being updated, open the Select Items to be Installed screen

to complete the following tasks: a. Select the components for installation. b. If necessary, configure the components.
NOTE The Configure Now link is not available when running Windows Server 2012 with the Server Core option. To configure components: 1. Access the system as a remote host using HP Smart Update Manager (SUM), where HP SUM is running on a system with a supported Windows OS. 2. Configure the components and resolve any failed dependencies before deploying the OS.

c.

Review the revision history of the components.

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After selecting the components, click Install. When the installation is complete, the Installation Results screen appears. If the PSP installs successfully, the process is complete. If one or more components did not install successfully, complete the following steps: a. Exit HP Smart Update Manager. b. Make the required update to the environment. c. Restart the installation of the PSP.

Known issues and workarounds

Table 6 lists known issues with ProLiant servers and Windows Server 2012 Beta.
Table 6. Known issues on ProLiant servers and Windows Server 2012 Beta Issue Issue 1 Details After installing the Server Core Installation of Windows Server 2012 Beta, you cannot toggle from the Server Core Installation to the Server with a GUI (Full installation) option. Description You can install the Full installation of Windows Server 2012 Beta and then move to the Server Core Installation; however, after doing so, you cannot toggle back to the Full installation version.

Workaround For information to work around this issue, see the Windows Server Installation /Solution Options page on the Microsoft website at http://technet.microsoft.com/enus/library/hh831786.aspx. Issue 2 PowerShell of Windows Server 2012 Beta does not open from the Server Manager. Description In the server manger under Hyper-V Windows PowerShell option does not open.

Workaround To work around this issue, load PowerShell from the command prompt /Solution C:\Windows\system32\windowsPowerShell\v1.0\powershell.exe. Issue 3 You cannot create a Windows Server 2012 Beta as a guest virtual machine (VM) on SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 Service Pack 2 (SLES11SP2) or Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.8 (RHEL5.8). Description On a server with SLES11SP2 or RHEL5.8 as the OS, attempting to install Windows Server 2012 Beta as the guest OS in the VM fails.

Workaround There is no workaround or solution available at this time. /Solution Issue 4 Windows Server 2012 Beta does not start on a server with an embedded Smart Array P220i, P222, P420, P420i, or P421 controller. Description After installing Windows Server 2012 Beta on a server with an embedded Smart Array controller, the OS fails to start and a black screen with the message "Windows Fails to Start" displays.

Workaround/ To resolve this issue, install the latest version of the firmware for Smart Array P420i Solution controller, and then reinstall the OS. For information on updating Smart Array controller firmware, see the Updating the Smart Array controller firmware section of this document. The firmware is available from the HP FTP site at ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softlib2/software1/sc-windows-fwarray/p348620118/v77208.

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Issue Issue 5

Details WBEM providers are not available with Windows Server 2012 Beta. Description Without the WBEM Providers, ProLiant-specific management data such as health status is not available.

Workaround You can use the SNMP service to view ProLiant-specific management data. To /Solution configure the SNMP service, go to the Server Manager and complete the following steps:
1. 2. 3. 4.

Select Add roles and features. Select Server Selection. Select Features. Select Install SNMP service.

The System Management Homepage will now display ProLiant specific management data. Issue 6 If you update virtual memory to 2048 MB, a disk full error message displays. Description Changing the virtual memory size to 2048 MB causes the disk full error to display even if the physical disk size is empty.

Workaround There is no workaround or solution available at this time. /Solution Issue 7 Error message displays when double clicking on a JPEG file on the Windows Server 2012 Beta desktop. Description Double clicking on a JPEG file on the Windows Server 2012 Beta desktop causes the message Picture Printing is not available without the desktop experience feature to display.

Workaround There is no workaround or solution available at this time. /Solution Issue 8 The Virtual Machine setting under the Add Hardware tab does not list the hardware to be added. Description The Virtual Machine settings drop-down list does not show the list of hardware to add.

Workaround To see the list, scroll through the drop-down list until you see the hardware to add. /Solution Issue 9

After installing Windows Server 2012 Beta, the Device Manager shows a yellow bang for a PS/2 keyboard or PS/2 mouse. Description After installing the OS on a server with a PS/2 keyboard or a PS/2 mouse, a yellow bang displays in Device Manager for those devices.

Workaround There is no workaround or solution available at this time. /Solution

Issue 10 You cannot change the Windows Server 2012 Beta screen resolution.

Description

After the installation of Windows Server 2012 Beta, you will not be able to change the screen resolution.

Workaround There is no workaround or solution available at this time. /Solution

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Issue

Details

Issue 11 The driver for a Broadcom NIC does not load when installing Windows Server 2012

Beta. Description
When installing the OS on a server with a Broadcom 1 GB, 1 GB Multi-Function, or 10 GbE NIC, the driver for the NIC does not load, an error message displays, and the installation stops.

Workaround There is no workaround or solution available at this time. /Solution

Issue 12 After installing Windows Server 2012 Beta, the Event Viewer displays errors in the

Windows Log showing that the license activation failed after providing the Product Key. Description
After installing Windows Server 2012 Beta, the Event Viewer displays errors in the Windows Log: The System information displays a message Boot-start or system start drivers fail to load. Application information displays a message License Activation Failed.

Workaround There is no workaround or solution available at this time. /Solution

Issue 13 You may need to restart the Insight Management Agent service after every reboot.

Description

The Insight Management Agent service may not automatically start after rebooting the server.

Workaround After a reboot check to verify that Insight Management Agent service is started and /Solution if not, manually start it.

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Feedback
Send customer feedback about Windows Server 2012 to [email protected]. Beta operating systems are not supported through the normal HP services channels. You can report HP-specific issues with Windows Server 2012 on ProLiant platforms to [email protected]. We will review the issue and provide guidance on a best effort basis.

For more information

For additional information, refer to the resources listed below.
Resource description HP Windows Server 2012 Home Page Microsoft Windows Server 2012 Home Page Web address www.hp.com/go/ws2012 www.microsoft.com/en-us/server-cloud/windows-server/v8default.aspx

Call to action
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Copyright 2012 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein. Intel, Intel Itanium, and Intel Xeon are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the United States and other countries. AMD is a trademark of Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. TC1204923, April 2012