Users Guide

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Deploying operating systems
You can use any of the following utilities to deploy operating systems to managed systems:
Remote File Share
Virtual Media Console
Related links
Deploying operating system using remote file share
Deploying operating system using virtual media
Deploying operating system using remote file share
Before you deploy the operating system using Remote File Share (RFS), make sure that:
Configure User and Access Virtual Media privileges for iDRAC are enabled for the user.
Network share contains drivers and operating system bootable image file, in an industry standard format such as .img or .iso.
NOTE: While creating the image file, follow standard network-based installation procedures, and mark the
deployment image as read-only to make sure that each target system boots and runs the same deployment
procedure.
To deploy an operating system using RFS:
1. Using Remote File Share (RFS), mount the ISO or IMG image file to the managed system through NFS or CIFS.
2. Go to OverviewSetupFirst Boot Device.
3. Set the boot order in the First Boot Device drop-down list to select a virtual media such as floppy, CD, DVD, or ISO.
4. Select the Boot Once option to enable the managed system to reboot using the image file for the next instance only.
5. Click Apply.
6. Reboot the managed system and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the deployment.
Related links
Managing remote file share
Setting first boot device
Managing remote file share
Using Remote File Share (RFS) feature, you can set an ISO or IMG image file on a network share and make it available to the
managed server’s operating system as a virtual drive by mounting it as a CD or DVD using NFS or CIFS. RFS is a licensed feature.
NOTE: CIFS supports both IPv4 and IPv6 addresses and NFS supports only IPv4 address.
Remote file share supports only .img and .iso image file formats. A .img file is redirected as a virtual floppy and a .iso file is
redirected as a virtual CDROM.
You must have Virtual Media privileges to perform an RFS mounting.
NOTE: If ESXi is running on the managed system and if you mount a floppy image (.img) using RFS, the connected
floppy image is not available to the ESXi operating system.
RFS and Virtual Media features are mutually exclusive.
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