W2K3R2 Installation problem using iLO2 Virtual Media on DL380 G5

[Jonesey3000]

I have a problem when installing Windows 2003 R2 SP2 Standard or Enterprise editions through the virtual media option in iLO2 on an HP DL380 G5. The iLO 2 firmware is 1.70.

The media mounts, completes that text mode installation, reboots the server and starts the GUI mode. At T-39 (Installing Windows) an Insert Disk message appears telling me the following:

"Please insert the Compact Disc labeled 'Service Pack 2 CD-ROM' into your CD-ROM drive (E:) and then click OK."

I click on OK and the file that it wants is 'NT5INF.CAT' and it is attempting to copy it from E:\I386. This is a multi-boot msdn cd as supplied by Microsoft. If I alter the path to the correct location as it is on the CD, then it copies that file and prompts for the next one.

This only happens when using the Virtual Media in iLO2, either by mounting an Image or a CD. The installation works fine if the CD is run from the physical CD-ROM on the server. It also works if run from Microsoft Virtual PC or Sun VirtualBox.

I also have this issue with the multi-boot DVD that I created. I've even tried altering the paths in the LAYOUT.INF file, but the same problem happens. Again this DVD does not have any problems when installing directly from the physical CD-ROM on the server or when used in Microsoft Virtual PC or Sun VirtualBox.

The pop-up box image is attached.

Any help on this would be appreciated.

[Jonesey3000]

Well an interesting work-around to this has been discovered. It looks as though the Windows installation is expecting the install files for SP2 to come from D: even though I've installed Windows from the E: drive. As there is no way to change the iLO virtual media drive letters, I removed the physical CD-Rom from the server thus making the virtual media drive D:

The installation now works without asking me to insert the CD-Rom as before. This is an ok work-around if you have physical access to the server and can remove the CD-Rom, but it doesn't help you if you can't get to it.

The installation media that I am using is a Microsoft MSDN supplied DVD, Disc 2941.4 September 2007 and contains VLK editions of

Windows Server 2003 R2, Enterprise Edition with SP2

Windows Server 2003 R2, Enterprise x64 Edition with SP2

Windows Server 2003 R2, Standard Edition with SP2

Windows Server 2003 R2, Standard x64 Edition with SP2

Windows XP Professional x64 Edition