Dell 12th Generation Server will launch on 6th March 2012 - Stay tuned!
VMWare vSphere 4.0 / 4.1 Network Issue
Network connectivity failure and system crash while performing control operations on physical NICs
In some cases, when multiple X-Frame II s2io NICs are sharing the same pci-x bus, performing control operations, such as changing the MTU, on the physical NIC causes a loss of network connectivity and a system crash.
Workaround: Avoid having multiple X-Frame II s2io NICs in slots that share the same pci-x bus. In situations where such a configuration is necessary, avoid performing control operations on the physical NICs while virtual machines are doing network I/O.
Dell System Management Tools & Documentation version 6.5 is out!
1. Download both ISO from below:
Image 1: OM_6.5.0_SMTD_A01.iso.001 Image 2: OM_6.5.0_SMTD_A01.iso.002
copy /b OM_6.4.0_SMTD_A00.iso.001+OM_6.4.0_SMTD_A00.iso.002 OM_640_SMTD_A00.iso
cat OM_6.4.0_SMTD_A00.iso.001 OM_6.4.0_SMTD_A00.iso.002 > OM_640_SMTD_A00.iso
After that, boot with this DVD to enter the Pre-Install configuration interface.
PowerEdge 1800 PowerEdge 1850 PowerEdge 1855 PowerEdge 1950 PowerEdge 1955 PowerEdge 2900 PowerEdge 2950 PowerEdge 2970 PowerEdge 6800 PowerEdge 6850 PowerEdge 6950 PowerEdge 800 PowerEdge M600 PowerEdge M605 PowerEdge M610 PowerEdge M610x PowerEdge M710 PowerEdge M710HD PowerEdge M805 PowerEdge M905 PowerEdge M910 PowerEdge 1900 PowerEdge 830 PowerEdge 840 PowerEdge 850 PowerEdge 860 PowerEdge 2800 PowerEdge 2850 PowerEdge R200 PowerEdge R210 PowerEdge R300 PowerEdge R310 PowerEdge R410 PowerEdge R415 PowerEdge R510 PowerEdge R515 PowerEdge R610 PowerEdge R710 PowerEdge R715 PowerEdge R805 PowerEdge R810 PowerEdge R815 PowerEdge R900 PowerEdge R905 PowerEdge R910 PowerEdge T100 PowerEdge T105 PowerEdge T110 PowerEdge T300 PowerEdge T310 PowerEdge T410 PowerEdge T605 PowerEdge T610 PowerEdge T710 PowerVault DL2000 PowerVault DL2100 PowerVault DP100/NF100 PowerVault DP500/NF500 PowerVault DP600/NF600 PowerVault MD1000 PowerVault MD1120 PowerVault MD3000 PowerVault MD3000i PowerVault NX1950 PowerVault NX3000 |
End of Sales/Support for Windows XP, Windows Vista & Windows 7
For me, Vista is one of the failure from Longhorn series. Although the interface is quite impressive, but it require or I should said it utilize at least 30-40% resources from your PC or Laptop. In other words, it will slow down or cause hang/freeze when you run 3 or more 'resources-drained' application, such as Adobe Photoshop, PPS Player, Movie Editing software and etc. That is why I quickly change to Windows 7 when I heard most of the people said it is the 'improved-version' of Vista. I'm using it for more than a year, still I will giving 7 out 10 for it.
Microsoft had declare the end of sales and end of support as below.
End of Sales Date:
Desktop operating systems | Date of general availability | Retail software end of sales * | End of sales for PCs withWindows preinstalled |
---|---|---|---|
Windows XP | December 31, 2001 | June 30, 2008 | October 22, 2010 |
Windows Vista | January 30, 2007 | October 22, 2010 | October 22, 2011 |
Windows 7 | October 22, 2009 | To be determined | To be determined |
End of Support Date:
Desktop operating systems | Latest service pack | End of mainstream support | End of extended support |
---|---|---|---|
Windows XP | April 14, 2009 | April 8, 2014 | |
Windows Vista | April 10, 2012 | April 11, 2017 | |
Windows 7 | To be determined | Not applicable |
Reference:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/products/lifecycle
What should I do if one of the hard disk from Dell PowerEdge Server failed?
Many customers, especially those Server Admin with technical knowledge wouldn't ask this question but take action to the server which they think is right. However, it just messed up everything, and worst will cause data lost. Then, we have a lot of job to do afterward.
Sometimes, I feel funny that customer call to the toll-free number only if they ruined everything. When I tried my very best to 'reverse' the situation, but failed, they will shout at me with the sentence as below:
"..I pay so much for the warranty, but you said you can't help me?.."Therefore, I beg you guys (Server admin) give call to Technical Support to confirm before you take any action that you think is right.
Hard disk failure may have 2 different situation:
i) Single hard disk failure
- Check the hard disk status from OpenManage Server Administrator or DSET
- After confirm the status is FAIL, you may re-seat the hard disk while the server is ON/Power-up, to see the hard disk can proceed to rebuilding or not.
- If the hard disk is able to rebuild, monitor the rebuilding progress. If the rebuilding progress can reach 100%, monitor the hard disk status for 1 day.
- If it fail to kick-start the rebuild, or fail during the rebuilding progress, you may call up Technical Support to claim the hard disk replacement.
- Check the hard disk status from OpenManage Server Administrator or DSET
- After confirm the status is FAIL, check Controller Log so that we know which hard disk failed the first. (E.g. PERC Log)
- We always Force Online the hard disk failed the first, due to the hard disk that failed the last will contained latest data.
- If this isn't work, kindly call Technical Support for assistance.
*re-seat: Pull out and push in the hard disk (applicable for hot-swap hard disk)
How can you downgrade from Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2003?
Many customer called and ask is there anyway to downgrade from Windows Server 2008 to Windows Server 2003. Hereby I would like to say : "..It can be done!"
For Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Operating System, it have two different types of downgrade options:
- Downgrade license (bundle with Windows Server 2008)
When Windows Server 2008 launched for one quarter, Dell start not to upsell Windows Server 2003. Therefore, the Sales team introduce Windows Server 2008 with Downgrade license to Windows Server 2003. During the installation, the interface slightly different with the usual one, you will see extra options called: "Downgrade" is available to chose.
- Downgrade media
If your OEM Windows Server 2008 doesn't come with the downgradeable license (due to price different), you may contact your Sales Account Manager to request a Downgrade Media from Microsoft. Please note that this is not a new license, and it is chargeable.
Please refers to the below for further info from Microsoft.
From an OEM. From now until March 31, 2011, some OEMs may support fulfilling Windows Server 2003 R2 downgrades (includes Windows Server 2003 Web Edition, Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition for Itanium-based Systems, and Windows Server 2003 Datacenter Edition for Itanium-based Systems) to their customers. There are several options available. Contact your OEM to determine if it supports downgrade fulfillment. Please note that downgrade media is not a new license for Windows Server. It only enables a customer to install, activate and run an earlier version of Windows Server under a Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2 license.
- OEMs may provide their existing Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2008 R2 customers one copy of downgrade Windows Server 2003 R2 media only if their customer requests it.
Some OEMs have pre-activated their software. In these cases, a customer would not need a product key or to activate over the internet or via the phone.For Windows Server 2008 R2 downgrade requests, end customers should fulfill downgrade requests through the Windows Server Downgrade Fulfillment site.
Reference: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/downgrade-rights.aspx
Dell Server: Strike the F1 key to continue, F2 to run the system setup program
A very common issue for server to encounter the P.O.S.T (Power-on Self Test) error as below:
Strike the F1 key to continue, F2 to run the system setup program
Cause:
It may due to the reason below:
- System BIOS updates
- Power-trip cause server shutdown unexpectedly
- CMOS battery (or slot) issue
Workaround:
You may go to System BIOS by pressing F2 during P.O.S.T, and perform as below:
1. Integrated devices
- Ensure "Embedded Gb NIC 1" and "Embedded Gb NIC 2" are set to "Enabled" (or Enabled without PXE)
2. SATA port
- Turn all SATA port to OFF, except CD/DVD-ROM.
Then "Save Changes & Exit", and server will proceed for reboot.