Westcoast Solutions Lab - What we can offer you..

The Westcoast Solutions Lab is Perfect if you sell to SMB's (small and medium businesses) allowing you to demonstrate the latest technology innovations from HP and Microsoft within realistic IT budgets.



If you would like more information or want to book the solutions lab then please go to http://www.westcoast.co.uk/lab for more information.

Regards

Technical ISS Solutions Team

Intelligent Provisioning replaces SmartStart (v1.30 now supports Windows Server 2012)

If you have bought a HP Gen8 Server recently you may have noticed that the SmartStart CD is no longer included. This is because HP now have a feature called Intelligent Provisioning which is embedded on the server.

Intelligent Provisioning provides similar functionality as SmartStart, but has some significant enhancements that SmartStart did not have such as:

• Ability to update your drivers and systems software by connecting directly to HP.com and perform firmware updates and install an OS in the same step.

• Provision a server remotely using HP iLO 4

• Remote Support registration. 

• A new "Recommended Install" for quick one-click, simple fast installation  - This express installation process has preset defaults and will perform a software and firmware update if the network is available at your location. (Recommend that you use the HP suggested defaults.
• The "Customised Install" (often called Guided or Assisted install) - has been simplified, updated, and refreshed. This is the full HP interview with a start to finish wizard for deploying HP ProLiant Gen8 servers. It provides the network setup, remote support registration, the systems software, driver and firmware update, the server hardware configuration, RAID configuration, and OS installation. This interview process is also much faster than in the past and includes software driver and firmware updates as part of the interview process
• A much simplified "Manual Install" is provided that automates finding your drivers without you searching the web. 

Once you are ready to install your system software, you'll notice the next difference; with HP Intelligent Provisioning all your needed firmware, drivers, and tools are pre-loaded and ready to deploy at your command. No CD's to load, no software to find, no guesswork. The built-in Smart Update capability recognises if the system software is out-of-date and will automatically download the latest update for you.

Important Note for Windows Server 2012 users - Intelligent Provisioning v1.30 now includes support for Windows Server 2012.

If you need help with any additional details or need a solution then please contact us and we will be happy to help you.

Regards

Technical ISS Solutions Team

How to install Microsoft Server 2012 on HP ProLiant Servers

The HP Smart Start Disk that is shipped with all 3xx series servers and above, does not currently support Microsoft Server 2012 as yet. HP however has made this very handy step by step guide to help you get up and running with Server 2012 without the use of the Smart Start Disk.

As soon as Smart Start supports Server 2012 I will notify on a new blog post and link it from here as well.

In the meantime please download the white paper below (By clicking on the HP Logo) for the instructions on how to install 2012 without Smart Start.

If you need help with any additional details or need a HP server solution then please contact us and we will be happy to help you.

**UPDATE** Intelligent Provisioning (Which replaces SmartStart on a Gen8) now supports Windows Server 2012 - Please click This link (Intelligent Provisioning)

Regards

Technical ISS Solutions Team