Installing Operating Systems

Introduction

Cisco UCS-SCU has integrated device drivers including RAID drivers to seamlessly install operating systems on supported RAID logical arrays without additional load driver steps or devices such as the USB.

This chapter provides procedure and information on how to use SCU with Cisco UCS C-Series rack-mount standalone servers.

For information on how to use SCU with Cisco UCS C-Series and B-Series Cisco Intersight managed servers, see Installing an Operating System.

UCS-SCU supports OS installation on the following:

  • Virtual disks

  • NVMe device

  • M.2 device

  • Disks in JBOD mode

  • SD Cards

  • SW RAID


    Note

    This is available only on Cisco UCS M4, M5 and M6 servers.

Note

Before you begin the operating system installation, be sure that you have disabled the Watchdog Timer. If this feature is enabled and the value is set for a time duration that is less than the time needed to install the OS, the operating system installation process is interrupted. This Watchdog Timer feature automatically reboots or powers off the server after the specified time duration.

You can use the following two options to install the operating system:

  • Quick Install—Use the Quick Install option to install the operating system with the default settings.

  • Custom Install—Use the Custom Install option to modify the default settings prior to installing the operating system.

Quick Install

The Quick Install option allows you to quickly install the operating system with the default parameters. You can view the OS Install page with the default parameters depending on the target operating system. The Quick Install method does not require any user input and is a one-click operating system installation method.

Before you begin

If you wish to install the OS on a physical/virtual/logical disk, then ensure that virtual/logical disks are created before you install the operating system. If logical disks are not created, the disk details are not displayed under Default Settings area.

Procedure

Step 1

Select OS Installation in the left navigation pane.

The OS Installation page displays all the OS installation options.

Step 2

From the OS category drop-down list, select the desired operating system.

Step 3

From the OS version drop-down list, select the desired version.

Step 4

From the OS edition drop-down list, select the desired edition.

Note 

This is available only on Windows operating system.
Step 5

From the Installing Disk drop-down list, select the disk where you want to install the OS.

Step 6

Click Quick Install to begin installation.

Step 7

Click Yes to confirm.

Step 8

Once the installation is complete, login using the default password.

Note 

Factory default password is Pa55w0rd@. Cisco recommends that you change the password after the first login.

ESXi Custom Installation

Installing ESXi

The ESXi Install option allows you to install the operating system and customize the default settings.


Note

ESXi installation is also supported on SD cards for Cisco UCS C220 M4/M5 and C240 M4/M5 servers after enabling the virtual drive on the HV partition and rebooting the host.

Procedure

Step 1

Select OS Installation in the left navigation pane.

The OS Installation page displays all the OS installation options.

Step 2

From the OS category drop-down list, select VMware.

Step 3

From the OS version drop-down list, select the desired ESXi version.

Step 4

From the Installing Disk drop-down list, select the disk location.

Step 5

Click Custom install button.

The VMware ESXi Custom Install page of the selected ESXi version appears.

Step 6

Perform the following in the VMware ESXi Custom Install page:

  1. In the Basic Configuration area, do the following:

    1. From the Keyboard drop down list, select the desired language.

      By default, the language is English.

    2. In the Root Password field, enter the root password.

    3. In the Confirm Root Password field, re-enter the root password.

    4. In the Product key field, enter the product license key.

  2. For Installation Disk area, perform the steps in Selecting a Installation Disk.

  3. For Network Settings area, perform the steps in Network Settings.

Windows OS Custom Installation

Installing Windows Server Operating System

Perform this procedure to install Windows Server OS with custom settings.

Procedure

Step 1

Select OS Installation in the left navigation pane.

The OS Installation page displays all the OS installation options.

Step 2

From the OS category drop-down list, select the Windows.

Step 3

From the OS version drop-down list, select the desired Windows version.

Step 4

From the OS edition drop-down list, select the desired edition.

Step 5

From the Installing Disk drop-down list, select the disk location.

Step 6

Click Custom Install to begin installation.

The Windows Custom Install page of the selected Windows version appears.

Step 7

Perform the following in the Windows Custom Install page:

  1. In the Basic Configuration area, do the following:

    1. From the Time Zone drop-down list, choose a time zone.

    2. From the Language drop-down list, choose a language.

    3. In the Administrator Password field, enter the password.

    4. In the Confirm Administrator Password field, re-enter the password.

    5. In the Organization field, enter a name of the organization of the administrator.

      The maximum limit is 15 characters.

    6. In the Workgroup field, enter a workgroup name.

      The maximum limit is 20 characters.

    7. In the Host name field, enter a Windows host.

    8. From the Auto logon drop-down list, select ON or OFF.

    9. In the Product key field, enter OS license key.

  2. For Installation Disk area, perform the steps in Selecting a Installation Disk.

  3. For Network Settings area, perform the steps in Network Settings.

  4. For Installation Drivers area, perform the steps inSelecting Installation Drivers.

Linux OS Custom Installation

Installing Linux Server Series Operating System

Perform this procedure to install Linux Server OS with custom settings.

Procedure

Step 1

Select OS Installation in the left navigation pane.

The OS Installation page displays all the OS installation options.

Step 2

From the OS category drop-down list, select the Linux.

Step 3

From the OS version drop-down list, select the desired Linux version.

Step 4

From the Installing Disk drop-down list, select the disk location.

Step 5

Click Custom Install to begin installation.

The Linux Custom Install page of the selected Linux version appears.

Step 6

Perform the following in the Linux Custom Install page:

  1. In the Basic Configuration area, do the following:

    1. From the Keyboard drop down list, select the desired language.

    2. From the Timezone drop down list, select the desired time zone.

    3. From the Language drop down list, select the desired language.

    4. In the Root Password field, enter the root password.

    5. In the Confirm Root Password field, re-enter the root password.

  2. For Installation Disk area, perform the steps in Selecting a Installation Disk.

  3. In the Package Selection area, select the applicable packages.

  4. For Network Settings area, perform the steps in Network Settings.

  5. For Installation Drivers area, perform the steps in Selecting Installation Drivers.