Installing Windows Server 2008

C H A P T E R 7

This chapter describes how to install the Windows Server 2008 operating system directly onto your server using the Windows Server 2008 media.

Installation Requirements

Before beginning the operating system installation, make sure that the following requirements are met.

For all installation methods:

Complete the procedures in the previous chapters of this document that apply (Chapters 2 through 5).

Verify that a keyboard and mouse are connected to the server’s dongle cable, or to a USB hub that is connected to the server’s dongle cable.

If you are using an optional Emulex FC PCIe EM HBA, or QLogic FC PCIe EM HBA, and you want to include your boot disk as part of a RAID configuration, you must configure a RAID volume on it using the controller’s setup utility before you install the Windows operating system. The controller’s BIOS configuration utility is accessible during the server boot process by pressing a special control key sequence when prompted:

Ctrl+Q for QLogic PCIe ExpressModule

Ctrl+E for Emulex PCIe ExpressModule

If you are using an optional Sun Blade RAID 5 Expansion Module (Adaptec-based), choose one of the following installation options that best matches your needs:

If you want to include your boot disk as part of a RAID configuration, you must configure your RAID volume(s) using the controller’s array cofiguration utility before you install the Windows operating system. The controller’s BIOS configuration utility is accessible during the server boot process by pressing Ctrl+A when prompted.

If you have a clean boot disk (no partitions) and do not want to make it part of a RAID, you must still create an array volume on it using the controller’s BIOS configuration utility (accessible by pressing Ctrl+A when prompted during server boot) in order for Windows to be able to access the disk. This must be done before you install the Windows operating system. For more information, see Appendix B.

If you have a boot disk with an existing bootable array volume (and it is not part of an existing RAID that you want to keep) and you want to overwrite it to install Windows, no other disk preparation is required. During the Windows operating system installation you will be presented the option to overwrite any existing partition(s) within the array volume. The following figure shows an example of system with an existing bootable Sun Blade REM array volume.

FIGURE 7-1 Example Startup Screen Showing Existing Sun Blade REM Array Volume

Note - More information about using your controller’s BIOS configuration utility is described in the Sun Blade X6450 Server Module Installation Guide (820-3535).

For information about specific details of the operating system installation, refer to your Microsoft Windows documentation.

Note - The complete Microsoft Windows Server 2008 installation process is not documented in this section. This section documents only the steps that are specific for installing Windows Server 2008 on your server.

For requirements specific to the Windows media delivery method that you have chosen, see TABLE 7-1.

TABLE 7-1 Requirements for Each Installation Method
Method	Action or items required
Windows Local	Uses an external CD/DVD drive connected to the USB port on the server module dongle. A USB hub may also be used.
Windows Remote	Insert the Microsoft Windows Server 2008 installation media into the JavaRConsole system’s DVD-ROM drive.
Windows Image	Ensure that the Windows Server 2008 installation media is accessible from the JavaRConsole system.

Installing the Operating System

Follow these steps to install the Microsoft Windows Server 2008 software onto your your server.

Note - The Windows installation will format the drive you designate as the boot disk, any pre-existing data on that disk will be lost.

1. Make sure that you have completed all of the requirements listed in Installation Requirements.

2. Power cycle your server.

The BIOS POST process begins.

3. Press F8 when the Press F8 for BBS POPUP prompt appears on the BIOS POST screen (see FIGURE 7-2).

The BBS POPUP menu will allow you to select a boot device.

FIGURE 7-2 F8 Prompt Example

4. Once the BIOS POST process is complete, the Boot Device menu appears (see FIGURE 7-3). If you have selected the Windows Local installation method, insert the Windows Server 2008 media DVD in the server’s DVD drive now.

FIGURE 7-3 Boot Device Menu Example

5. Select CD/DVD from the Boot Device menu and press Enter.

If prompted with Press any key to boot from CD, quickly press any key.

6. The Windows installation wizard starts. Proceed through the installation wizard until you see the Installation Type page displayed, and then click Custom (advanced).

FIGURE 7-4 Select Installation Type Page

7. You will then see the Where to Install Windows page (see FIGURE 7-5), do one of the following:

FIGURE 7-5 Where to Install Windows Page Example

If you do not want to override the Windows default partition settings, click Next and skip to Step 9.

If you do want to override the Windows default partition settings, click Driver Options (advanced) and proceed to the next step.

Caution - Formatting or re-partitioning a pre-existing partition will destroy all data on the partition.

8. At the Advanced Driver Options page (see FIGURE 7-6), do the following:

FIGURE 7-6 Windows Partition Management Page

a. Click Delete to delete the existing partition.

b. Click New to create the new partition.

c. Change size settings as needed, and then click Apply.

d. Click Next and proceed to the next step.

9. The Windows installation begins.

The server will reboot multiple times during the installation process.

10. When Windows installation is complete, Windows starts and prompts you to change the user password. Click OK and proceed to set up the initial user account.

Note - Windows Server 2008 enforces stronger password schemes for user accounts than previous versions of Windows. Password standards include restrictions on length, complexity and history. If you need more details, click the Accessibility link at the account creation page.

Once the initial user account is created, the Windows Server 2008 desktop is displayed.

11. Proceed to Chapter 8 “Updating the Critical Server-Specific Drivers” to install server-specific software and the latest Sun-supported drivers.