Windows OS Installation Options

Language:

For single-server OS installations, Oracle System Assistant is recommended. For multiple-server OS installations, Oracle Enterprise Manager Ops Center is recommended. The scope of this document is for single-server OS installations. The table below provides some information about these two installation options.

Option

Description

Multiple servers

You can use Oracle Enterprise Manager Ops Center to install an OS on multiple servers, For information, go to http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/oem/ops-center/index.html.

Single server

Install an OS to a single server using one of the following methods:

Locally: Perform the OS installation locally at the server. This option is recommended if you have just completed the physical installation of the server in the rack.
Remotely: Perform the OS installation from a remote location. This option uses the Oracle ILOM Remote System Console Plus application to access Oracle System Assistant or to perform a manual OS installation.

Note - Oracle recommends the use of Oracle System Assistant for single-server OS installations.

For more information about single-server OS installation methods and Oracle System Assistant, see:

Single-Server Installation Methods

Select a method for providing the Windows installation media. Use the following information to determine the local or remote OS installation that best serves your needs.

Media Delivery Method	Additional Requirements
Local assisted OS installation – Uses Oracle System Assistant. (Recommended)	A monitor, USB keyboard and mouse, a USB device, and Windows distribution media. For more information, see Assisted Windows Server OS Installation.
Remote assisted OS installation – Uses Oracle System Assistant. (Recommended)	Oracle ILOM Remote System Console Plus application, a redirected CD/DVD drive or ISO image file, and Windows distribution media. For more information, see Assisted Windows Server OS Installation.
Local using a CD/DVD drive – Uses a physical CD/DVD drive connected to the server.	A monitor, USB keyboard and mouse, a USB CD/DVD drive, and Windows distribution media. For local installations, you deliver the installation media using a local DVD drive or USB flash drive attached directly to the server. For more information, see Manual Windows Server OS Installation.
Remote using a CD/DVD drive or a CD/DVD ISO image – Uses a redirected physical CD/DVD drive on a remote system running the Oracle ILOM Remote System Console Plus application.	A remote system with a browser, an attached physical CD/DVD drive, Windows distribution media, and network access to the server's management port. For remote installations, you deliver the installation media using the remote DVD, USB flash drive, or CD/DVD ISO image. For more information, see Windows Deployment Services OS Installation.
WDS WIM image – Uses a customized Windows Imaging Format (WIM) image on a Windows Deployment Services (WDS) server.	A server running WDS and a WIM image customized for your server. For more information, see Windows Deployment Services OS Installation.

Assisted Windows Server OS Installation

This is the recommended method for installing a supported OS on your server. This method involves using Oracle System Assistant. You deliver the Windows OS installation media on either a local or remote CD/DVD drive, USB device, or CD/DVD image, and Oracle System Assistant guides the installation process and gathers and installs the needed drivers when necessary. Your server must support Oracle System Assistant, and it must be installed in the server.

Manual Windows Server OS Installation

With this method, you deliver the Windows distribution media on either a local or remote CD/DVD drive, USB device, or CD/DVD image. You also need to install any necessary drivers. The drivers for your server are available on the server's internal Oracle System Assistant flash drive (if installed) and from the My Oracle Support web site as either OS-specific and server-specific packages or as an ISO image file. To install the OS, use the distribution media's installation wizard.

Windows Deployment Services OS Installation

You can install the Windows OS from a deployment server environment. For the advanced user, you can create a customized Windows Imaging Format (WIM) image for your server on a system running Windows Deployment Services (WDS). Once this installation image file has been created, you can boot your server from its network card and select the image from the WDS system for unattended deployment. For more information about WDS, go to: http://technet.microsoft.com/library/hh831620.