Dell PowerEdge 2850: Need help. Complete beginner.

Discussion in 'Windows Server' started by JoshMiller, Jul 22, 2013.

  1. JoshMiller

    JoshMiller MDL Novice

    Jul 22, 2013
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    Hello everyone,

    I'm a low level desktop tech who has been given the task of rebuilding a server for one of our customers. I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing. Is it possible to get a beginning to end instructions from someone on here? Below is an email from the customer detailing what he needs. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

    Thanks, Josh

    Here is the information for the server build.

    RAID 5 using as much of each drive as possible.
    There are 6 drives in the system, all are 72 Gig drives.
    I estimated about 255 Gig of space using a 5 drive RAID 5 with 1 spare.
    You may need to recreate the RAID 5 with spare.

    I will need one Hyper-V virtual system set up on the server.

    I will need at least 90 Gig for the main C: drive partition: more if you recommend it.
    The rest can be for the D: drive partition

    Assigned IP addresses
    xxx.xx.x.xx for the base OS
    xxx.xx.x.xx for the Hyper-V environment

    Server name for the Base OS = Server Name
    Server name Virtual OS = Virtual Server Name

    I purchased Windows Server 2012 Standard but would like to downgrade to Server 2008 R2.
    I do not know if this old server hardware can handle Server 2012.
    I know it can handle 64 bit Server 2008.
     
  2. sebus

    sebus MDL Guru

    Jul 23, 2008
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    #2 sebus, Jul 22, 2013
    Last edited: Jul 22, 2013
    So what instructions do you expect?

    How to switch it on, how to connect it, how to get to BIOS, how to get to RAID config...

    What do you/ don't you know...

    Surely you must know something...

    Also ask the customer to buy something less ancient, you sure can not put production on a hardware that is 9+ years old

    Good hardware (buying from right place) cost less then one could expect these days

    sebus
     
  3. JoshMiller

    JoshMiller MDL Novice

    Jul 22, 2013
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    I've never worked on a server. I know how to switch it on, but beyond that, not much. The customer is going to buy something newer, but that will be a little down the road.
     
  4. JoshMiller

    JoshMiller MDL Novice

    Jul 22, 2013
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    Thank you Sebus. That helps a lot. I appreciate it.