JeffreyJRiggs

Ok so im using Deployment Solution for Dell Servers and have it working...


now what we do is power on the server.... go into array controller... setup virtual disks (usually 3 unless database server then 5)

ds job does the following
1. Clear partition table
2. Create Dell Utility Partition
3. Distribute freedos.img
4. Prepare OS for deployment
5. Replace tokens in unattend file
6. Install OS
7. Wait for OS to complete..

now what i need help with is step 3. Distribute freedos.img. What I have now works.. but doesnt do the other partitions...

so additional paramaters are
-sz2:4000m -sz3:4000m -sz4:4000m

that seems to work for sz2... which is C: but doesnt take care of say.... d or e....

i need to figure this out because our altiris agent gets installed to e:.... and this way it is getting installed to C:

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Bill Sullivan

I think what is happening here is that -sz only sets the size of the disk but does not format it. Your OS install is taking care of that for the C: I believe.
You may just have to inject a quick format D: and E: in before you go to production.

JeffreyJRiggs

makes sense.. where would one do that?
ahh now thinking about it and typing... i see.. you say that it is setting them up in the OS but unformatted..... hmmm

ok so i can allow the entire thing to finish... then use a job to format the drives after the 7. Wait for OS Install


edited... actually I am deploying the freedos.img to all 3 partitions... so I shouldnt need to format it....

the sz is setting the size to max as the real size is in the array controller... works great for C:....

it just isnt deploying the freedos to the other 2 partitions... so i am testing a new job... just broke up the additional parameters... sz2 in one job... sz3 in another and sz4 in another.....

will see...

appreciate your help too!!!!

Attached Images

freedos.jpg (100.3 KB, 18 views)

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JeffreyJRiggs

do you know how to do that portion?

my way still didnt work .....

this is what i end up with when the OS is done...

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JeffreyJRiggs

altiris guy wasnt too helpful....

he said use the -p switch.. that was it..

so i gotta figure that out... but another issue is our cd rom becomes e but i want it as z...

so most likely im going to use vbscript....

install os... drop ntfs.img (need to create one)... span that on those 2 partitions with -p switch (got to figure out if it is oem, c: p1, p2, p3 or oem p1, c: p2, p3, p4).....

more to come.. when im done im probably going to share from A-Z on my build on steps, etc to get it going for others to see if it is helpful or for someone to tell me if im over complicating things...

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Bill Sullivan

The information you have is where I was going to go.

My initial thoughts were to run a format script after the driver injection
Was thinking maybe you could use some command line like format d: p1 d2
format e: p1 d3

LEt us know how you end up

JeffreyJRiggs

well upon reading this...
How to Perform Custom Partitioning with Deployment Solution for Dell Servers | Symantec Connect


they do not explain one thing...

he says to modify the unattend file... tell it not to expand.. well i still can.. because of using virtual disks... so they must be doing one big raid 5 vs me setting up each vd.....

but still good info in there.. im going to try and use his script to format my drives... I still have the delema of

1. dvd drive set to D
2. virtual cd rom set to E (not sure if can disable in bios)
3. removable drive set to F (not sure if can disable in bios)

for 2 and 3.... i can manually remove the drive letter.. so maybe able to do the same with diskpart... as that is what he is using.. so before i get to that part...

my next steps..

1. rebuild server as I currently have it (doing that now)
2. manually remove 2 and 3 drive letters
3. manually change dvd to z:
4. create script and test to see if it actually will create/format my D:/E:.

Once I get 4 working.... i will then figure out how to get diskpart to remove drive letters and or how to change dvd to z..... as i am not sure if i can go in the bios and disable the other 2 items....

part of script I am going to try and get working...but need to modify.... i did modify it below.. hopefully that works...

set TEMPFILE=%temp%\create_part.bat

echo SELECT DISK 0 > %TEMPFILE%
echo CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY SIZE=20000 >> %TEMPFILE%
echo ASSIGN LETTER=D >> %TEMPFILE%
echo CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY >> %TEMPFILE%
echo ASSIGN LETTER=E >> %TEMPFILE%
echo EXIT >> %TEMPFILE%

::Create the Partitions
diskpart /S %TEMPFILE%

::Format the partitions as NTFS
echo y | format D: /FS:NTFS /X
echo y | format E: /FS:NTFS /X

:elete the temporary file
del /Q %TEMPFILE%

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Bill Sullivan

Here is the CDRom drive letter change in a vbscript

'Windows 2003
On Error Resume Next
strComputer = "."
Set objWMIService = GetObject("winmgmts:" _
& "{impersonationLevel=impersonate}!\\" & strComputer & "\root\cimv2")
'Get which letter the CD-ROM currently is
Set colItems = objWMIService.ExecQuery("Select * from Win32_CDROMDrive")
For Each objItem in colItems
'Test the query
'Wscript.Echo "Select * from Win32_Volume Where Name =" & "'" & objItem.Drive & "\\" & "'"
'Change the drive letter to Z:
Set colVolumes = objWMIService.ExecQuery("Select * from Win32_Volume Where Name =" & "'" & objItem.Drive & "\\" & "'")

For Each objVolume in colVolumes
objVolume.DriveLetter = "Z:"
objVolume.Put_
Next
Next

JeffreyJRiggs

Thanks for your time on that...

however i have an easier way.. utilizing the diskpart as on the last post..


i could get that script to work as it was shown...
D: at 20000mb and rest e: ...
that worked great for one large partition..

now if you go into the raid controller and create ONE large raid 5... you then could use the script to chop it up and it would work..

made it a bit tougher since we use vd and will keep that portion..
Also i couldnt get it to work as one large script.. not sure why.. so i broke it apart..


jobs have to run in order..
1. change cdrom to z
2. remove virtual cdrom letter
3. remove removable device letter
4. create d
5. create e



------------cdrom to z
REM Change CD-ROM to Z:
set TEMPFILE=%temp%\create_z.bat
echo SELECT Volume 3 > %TEMPFILE%
echo Assign Letter=Z >> %TEMPFILE%
echo EXIT >> %TEMPFILE%
::Create the Partitions
diskpart /S %TEMPFILE%
:elete the temporary file
del /Q %TEMPFILE%

-----------remove virtual cdrom letter
REM Remove Virtual CD-ROM drive letter
set TEMPFILE=%temp%\create_4.bat
echo SELECT Volume 4 > %TEMPFILE%
echo Remove Letter=E >> %TEMPFILE%
echo EXIT >> %TEMPFILE%
::Create the Partitions
diskpart /S %TEMPFILE%
:elete the temporary file
del /Q %TEMPFILE%

----------remove removable letter
REM Remove Removable Device Drive Letter
Set TEMPFILE=%temp%\create_4.bat
echo SELECT Volume 0 > %TEMPFILE%
echo Remove Letter=F>> %TEMPFILE%
echo EXIT >> %TEMPFILE%
::Create the Partitions
diskpart /S %TEMPFILE%
:elete the temporary file
del /Q %TEMPFILE%

----------create d
REM Create Partition D:
set TEMPFILE=%temp%\create_D.bat
cho SELECT DISK 1 > %TEMPFILE%
echo CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY >> %TEMPFILE%
echo ASSIGN LETTER=D >> %TEMPFILE%
echo EXIT >> %TEMPFILE%
::Create the Partitions
diskpart /S %TEMPFILE%
::Format the partitions as NTFS
echo y | format D: /FS:NTFS /X
:elete the temporary file
del /Q %TEMPFILE%

----------create e
REM Create Partition E:
set TEMPFILE=%temp%\create_E.bat
echo SELECT DISK 2 > %TEMPFILE%
echo CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY >> %TEMPFILE%
echo ASSIGN LETTER=E >> %TEMPFILE%
echo EXIT >> %TEMPFILE%
::Create the Partitions
diskpart /S %TEMPFILE%
::Format the partitions as NTFS
echo y | format E: /FS:NTFS /X
:elete the temporary file
del /Q %TEMPFILE%



im rebuilding my server to test it out......
i think from me toying with it so much that is why i was getting weird results... when i combined d and e... only e would work... rem the lines for e and d worked... weird....

also going to label the partitions to with /v:label but will test that after it all works!!!!!!!!!

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JeffreyJRiggs

well diskpart is not reliable... seems to redo the volumes as you rebuild the server... so nothing consistent there.. i may have to do as you list...
also vd cdrom and remov device.. i think you can turn off in the bios... ws trying to get past that step but guess we cant...

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JeffreyJRiggs

wow that worked like a charm...


so this is the way I am seeing it..

that link i posted is with the understanding that you create 1 large raid 5 virtual disk. That is all that is needed and that works great. However we use 3-6 virtual disks. I was told mainly because when you install the OS.. they just show up as unallocated space and just need formatting. That works good to and I was told we want to keep it that way.. i dont see any other benefit other than HW is controlling the partitioning (not sure if that is really a benefit if Altiris automates it anyway)...

so for myself... i tested your vb and it worked great..

so rebuilding my test server now...
then will run your vb and i know that will work
then i will run my 1 job to format the other 2 partitions and i should be good.. will postup when done... with pics!!!!!!!!!!

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