C H A P T E R 4 - Installing the Windows OS and Drivers

C H A P T E R 4

Installing the Windows OS and Drivers

The Sun Ultra 24 Workstation is WHQL certified to run the following Windows operating systems:

Windows XP SP2, 32-bit and 64-bit (WHQL certified)

Windows 2003 Enterprise Server R2 SP2 32 and 64-bit (WHQL certified)

Windows Vista Ultimate 32 and 64-bit (WHQL certified)

You have several options for installing Windows:

Install Windows using a Windows CD, and manually load drivers during and after the OS installation.

Use the 2003Reburn and XpReburn scripts to create a Windows CD that includes the platform and Intel SATA and RAID drivers, then use the newly created CD to install the OS. (You must install video and audio drivers separately.)

Create a RIS image of the Windows OS and drivers, then install the OS from a RIS server.

Note - For instructions to create a RIS image of the Windows OS, see the Readme file on the Tools and Drivers DVD.

The order of Windows XP OS and driver installation is as follows:

1. If necessary, set the BIOS for Window. See Section 4.1, Setting the BIOS for the Windows OS.

2. If required, remove the preinstalled Solaris OS. See Section 4.2, Understanding the Diagnostic Partition and Section 4.3, Erasing Partitions on the Boot Hard Disk Drive.

3. Install the OS using one of the following sections.

Section 4.4, Installing Windows Manually.

Section 4.5, Using the XpReburn Script to Create a Windows CD that Includes Drivers.

Note - Do not delete the diagnostic partition when you perform the OS installation. If the diagnostic partition is erased, the Sun Ultra 24 Workstation Service Manual provides instructions for using the Create Diagnostic Partition option on the Sun Ultra 24 Workstation Tools and Drivers DVD.

Note - Windows XP cannot mount the diagnostic partition. A workaround is detailed in the Sun Ultra 24 Workstation Service Manual.

4.1 Setting the BIOS for the Windows OS

This section describes how to set the system BIOS and Intel Matrix Storage Manager option ROM for the Windows OS and Intel SATA and RAID.

4.1.1 Setting the System BIOS for Windows OS and Intel SATA and RAID

To configure the system BIOS for a Windows OS and, optionally, Intel RAID:

1. Power on the workstation.

2. Perform the following steps to set the system BIOS for Windows:

a. Press the F2 key at the Sun logo screen to enter the BIOS Setup menu.

b. Go to Advanced => Integrated Devices.

c. Change the Configured SATA as option to AHCI for ICH9R SATA or RAID for Intel RAID.

3. Press the F10 key to save your changes and exit the system BIOS.

4.1.2 Setting the Intel Matrix Storage Manager Option ROM

To configure the Intel Matrix Storage Manager option ROM:

Note - After creating the RAID volume, you might have to configure the BIOS to boot from the newly created RAID volume.

1. Reboot the workstation.

2. Press the Control I to enter the Intel Matrix Storage Manager option ROM.

3. Select menu option 1. Create RAID Volume and go through selections:

a. Name your RAID volume.

b. Select the RAID level (0, 1, 5, 10).

c. Select the disks for the array.

d. Select the strip size (default: 128KB).

e. Select the volume capacity (default: total size of disks).

f. Select Create Volume to finish creating the RAID volume.

4. Select 5 to exit the Intel Matrix Storage Manager option ROM.

Note - You will need to re-write the MBR on the RAID volume. You can do this by booting the Tools and Drivers DVD, and selecting 4. Exit to DOS at the main menu. In DOS, type fdisk. When prompted that the hard disk sector zero has no boot sector ID, press the y key to initialize the disk.

4.1.3 Setting the LSI RAID Configuration

To configure a RAID array in LSI:

1. During the BIOS portion of the boot, press Control-C to open the LSI configuration tool.

2. Select the SAS controller you want and press Enter.

3. Select RAID properties.

4. Select the type of RAID array you would like.

5. Select the volumes you would like to include in the RAID.

Note - Do not mix SAS and SATA volumes within a given RAID.

6. When the array is set up, save changes and exit.

Note - After you create IM and IME RAID arrays, the system will perform an automatic reset to enable the write cache feature.

4.2 Understanding the Diagnostic Partition

Diagnostics (system test) software is included on the Tools and Drivers DVD. Instructions for using the diagnostics software are provided in the Sun Ultra 24 Workstation Service Manual.

A diagnostic partition is required for the test scripts to write their log files. Without a diagnostic partition, the only output is the display on the diagnostic screens.

The diagnostic partition is preinstalled on the Sun Ultra 24 Workstation. You do not need to reinstall the diagnostic partition unless you removed it.

If you removed the diagnostic partition, you can re-create it using the Create Diagnostic Partition option on the Tools and Drivers DVD. See the Sun Ultra 24 Workstation Service Manual for instructions.

Note - Windows XP cannot mount the diagnostic partition. A workaround is detailed in the Sun Ultra 24 Workstation Service Manual, 820-2480.

4.3 Erasing Partitions on the Boot Hard Disk Drive

To erase all partitions on the boot hard drive, except the diagnostic partition, use the Erase Primary Boot Hard Disk option on the Tools and Drivers DVD main menu.

Caution - The Erase Primary Boot Hard Disk option erases all partitions and all user data on the hard drive, except the diagnostic partition. Be sure to back up all data on the hard drive before performing this action.

To erase the primary boot hard drive.

1. Back up all data that you want to save on the hard drive.

2. Insert the Tools and Drivers DVD into the workstation.

3. When the main menu appears, select the following option from the Tools and Drivers DVD main menu:

3. Erase Primary Boot Hard Disk

This option erases all partitions currently located on the primary hard drive, except for the diagnostic partition. The diagnostic partition, if it is present, remains untouched.

4. When prompted, confirm that you wish to delete the partitions.

5. When prompted, press any key to reboot the system.

4.4 Installing Windows Manually

This section describes a manual installation of Windows, including the optional NVRAID drivers, platform drivers, and display drivers. This section does not describe the complete Windows installation process.

This section contains the following subsections:

Section 4.4.1, Creating an Intel SATA and RAID Drivers Diskette

Section 4.4.2, Installing Windows Using the Diskette

Section 4.4.3, Installing Windows Vista Using the Floppy Diskette

Section 4.4.4, Installing NVIDIA Graphics and RealTek Audio Driver

4.4.1 Creating an Intel SATA and RAID Drivers Diskette

This section describes the process to create a diskette containing the Intel RAID drivers. You will use this diskette during the Windows installation process.

Requirements

To install the Intel RAID drivers using a boot diskette, you need the following:

Windows system with a CD-ROM drive

A blank diskette

A Sun Ultra 24 Workstation Tools and Drivers DVD

For RAID configuration, a USB diskette drive (2003/XP/Vista) or USB flash (for Vista only)

A Windows 2003/XP/Vista Installation media (non-OEM version)

Creating the Diskette

To create an Intel RAID diskette for Windows 32-bit and 64-bit, you need a Windows system with a DVD drive and a diskette drive.

1. On a Windows workstation, insert the Tools and Drivers DVD.

2. Change to the following directory on the DVD. Enter:

C:\> cd d:\utilities\

3. Extract the OSReburn_x.x.zip.

where:

OS is XP or 2003

x.x is the version number.

4. Insert a blank diskette into the workstation.

5. Extract the intel_ahci_xx.zip file to the floppy diskette drive.

where xx is 32 or 64 for 32-bit or 64-bit.

4.4.2 Installing Windows Using the Diskette

To install Windows 2003 or XP with the Intel AHCI/RAID drivers on the Sun Ultra 24 Workstation:

1. Attach a USB diskette drive to the workstation.

2. Insert a Windows 2003/XP 32-bit or 64-bit installation CD into the DVD drive.

3. When prompted, press the F6 key to install third-party SCSI or RAID drivers.

4. Press the S key then Enter to specify additional drivers, then insert the diskette.

5. Select the Intel ICH9 SATA AHCI Controller for SATA or Intel ICH9 SATA RAID Controller for RAID.

6. Press Enter to continue the Windows 2003/XP installation.

7. After the OS installation is complete, install the NVIDIA graphics and RealTek audio drivers as described in Section 4.4.4, Installing NVIDIA Graphics and RealTek Audio Driver.

4.4.3 Installing Windows Vista Using the Floppy Diskette

To install Windows Vista with the Intel AHCI/RAID drivers on the Sun Ultra 24 Workstation:

1. Attach a USB diskette or flash drive to the workstation

2. Insert a Windows Vista 32-bit or 64-bit installation DVD into the DVD drive.

3. Boot from the DVD drive.

4. Follow the onscreen instructions, and load the AHCI/RAID driver from the USB or flash drive when Setup prompts you to load the driver

5. Select the Intel ICH9 SATA AHCI Controller for SATA or Intel ICH9 SATA RAID Controller for RAID

6. Click Next to load the driver and continue the installation.

7. After the OS installation is complete, install the NVIDIA graphics and RealTek audio drivers as described in Section 4.4.4, Installing NVIDIA Graphics and RealTek Audio Driver.

4.4.4 Installing NVIDIA Graphics and RealTek Audio Driver

Perform this procedure, after you install the Windows OS, to install the NVIDIA graphics and RealTek audio drivers.

1. Insert the Tools and Drivers DVD into the DVD drive.

2. If required, perform the following steps to install the NVIDIA graphics drivers:

a. Change to the directory on the Tools and Drivers DVD by typing the following command:

C:\> cd D:\drivers\windows\video\OS

Where OS is 2003, XP, or Vista.

b. Run the executable file.

c. Follow the instructions in the installation software.

3. If required, perform the following steps to install RealTek audio drivers:

a. Change to the directory on the Tools and Drivers DVD by typing the following command:

C:\> cd D:\drivers\windows\audio\OS

Where OS is 2003, XP, or Vista.

b. Run the executable file.

c. Follow the instructions in the installation software.

4. Reboot the workstation.

4.5 Using the XpReburn Script to Create a Windows CD that Includes Drivers

The 2003Reburn or XpReburn script creates an installation CD-ROM for Windows, or an ISO CD image, that incorporates Intel platform-specific and Intel RAID drivers.

You can use the CD-ROM created by 2003 or XpReburn to install the Windows OS without having to separately install platform-specific and RAID drivers.

The Tools and Drivers DVD includes the 2003 and XpReburn scripts. Further information about 2003 and XpReburn is available in the readme.txt file within the /utilities/OSReburn_x.x.zip file (where OS is either 2003 or XP, and x.x is the version number).

4.5.1 Requirements

To use 2003Reburn and XpReburn to create a Windows OS installation CD, you need the following:

A system running Solaris 10, RHEL, or SUSE

CD burner

Blank CD-R or CD-RW

Windows 2003 or XP CD (retail media only - not OEM version)

The Sun Ultra 24 Workstation Tools and Drivers DVD

4.5.2 Using 2003Reburn or XpReburn

To create a Windows 2003 or XP installation CD with the Sun Ultra 24 Workstation and Intel RAID drivers:

1. On a Solaris OS, Red Hat, or SUSE system, insert the Tools and Drivers DVD.

2. As superuser, create a temporary directory with at least 1.2 GB of space.

For example:

# mkdir /files

3. Copy the 2003 or Xp Reburn_version.zip file to that directory.

Where version is the current version of 2003 or XpReburn.

For example:

# cp /utilities/XpReburn_1.0.zip /files

4. Eject the Tools and Drivers DVD and insert your retail Windows 2003 or XP CD.

5. Unzip the 2003 or Xp Reburn_version.zip file. For example:

# unzip -q XpReburn_1.0.zip

6. Run the 2003 or XpReburn script. For example:

# ./files/XpReburn

7. After the ISO image is created, insert a blank CD-R or CD-RW to burn the image.

8. After the CD is created, insert the CD into the workstation and boot from it.

9. After the OS installation is complete, install the graphics and audio drivers as described in Section 4.4.4, Installing NVIDIA Graphics and RealTek Audio Driver.