Installing Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Drivers on Dell PowerEdge Servers

feature section:MICROSOFT WINDOWS SERVER 2008
Installing Microsoft
Windows Server 2008
Drivers on Dell
PowerEdge Servers
By David Troeger T TUpgrading Dell PowerEdge servers to the Microsoft® Weijia (John) Zhang, Ph.D. Windows Server® 2008 OS also typically requires selecting, installing, and troubleshooting device drivers. Using tested and validated drivers and following best practices can help administrators ensure optimal performance in their environments.
fundamental challenge for successfully drivers helps provide a seamless experience from OS installing Microsoft Windows Server 2008 on installation to first use of the system. However, in Dell PowerEdge servers is locating and some cases recent out-of-box drivers may also iAnstalling o ptimal device drivers for the system. Device become available, and these drivers can contain drivers-the software components that act as the updates or fixes that help increase the performance essential glue for binding the server environment to of systems running Windows Server 2008. In addition, an OS-are available in two types: those available in although default in-box drivers support many devices, the OS are known as in-box drivers, while those not out-of-box versions can offer advanced features and available in the OS are known as out-of-box drivers. extended management capabilities. Administrators can choose from several methods Dell typically factory installs the latest available when installing Windows Server 2008 device drivers, in-box and out-of-box drivers on PowerEdge servers. Related Categories: and from several sources for obtaining drivers that are Administrators can also take advantage of the fol-Dell OpenManage not native to the OS. In addition, administrators need lowing resources available for locating and accessing Dell PowerEdge servers to be aware of symptoms caused by unsuccessful device drivers:Device drivers installations and the resolutions for fixing or working ??Microsoft around errors that may occur. Recognizing the differ- Dell Web site: Administrators can visit DELL.COM Microsoft Windows Server 2008 ences between both types of drivers, the methods to see recent PowerEdge server releases available Operating system deployment available for planning driver upgrades, the priorities with Dell factory-installed operating systems, Operating system migration necessary to assess system needs, and the processes which contain updated in-box and out-of-box driv-for troubleshooting unexpected results can help ensure ers for servers. Visit DELL.COM/PowerSolutions ??for the complete category index. a successful installation of drivers when upgrading Dell support Web site: The Dell support Web site PowerEdge servers to Windows Server 2008. at support.dell.com is routinely updated with the latest drivers for PowerEdge servers. Figure 1 illus-Obtaining in-box and out-of-box trates the process for locating and downloading drivers drivers on this site. ??Administrators responsible for maintaining environ- TDell OpenManage Systems Managem­ ent CD: In ments employing PowerEdge servers may find that addition to systems management tools and docu-the device drivers they need are already available in mentation, this CD contains a set of device drivers Windows Server 2008. The availability of these in-box that support PowerEdge servers. It also contains
34 DELL POWER SOLUTIONS | May 2008 Reprinted from Dell Power Solutions, May 2008. Copyright © 2008 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.?? ??a device driver extraction tool that Optional: Dell recommends that Dell OpenManage Systems Manage­allows administrators to obtain drivers administrators review specifics about ment CD: Administrators can use this based on custom filters. an optional driver update to determine CD to install updated and optimal Dell-?? Vendor Web sites: Vendor Web sites applicability to specific systems. These supported drivers when installing an often have resources that can be help- updates typically contain changes that OS. The Dell OpenManage software ful for some devices, such as tape stor- affect only certain configurations or also provides self-extracting packages age systems. Frequently, vendors provide new features that may or may to update drivers directly. ??provide advanced management tools not apply to a specific environ... [download for more]