Partitions on brand new Dell BOSS drive?

Posted by Phratros@reddit | sysadmin | View on Reddit | 10 comments

I went to install Windows Server 2022 on a brand new Dell R360 with a BOSS card and it shows up as having a couple partitions on it already: ESP and OS. Are those partitions supposed to be there? What are they? Do I have to keep them or can I delete them? The system was specced without an OS.

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MrYiff@reddit

Just delete them and let Windows install on the full 100% empty space and it will be fine, chances are these are leftovers as /u/Aperture_Kubi suggests or from a mistake where they factory installed the OS and then tried to remove it.

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Phratros@reddit (OP)

I deleted them and currently test driving Server 2022 on it. After installing the Windows updates, I installed DSU and let it do its updates, installed the video driver as the DSU doesn't do this one, and installed the iDRAC Service Module. It seems to be running fine. Do you know if there are other drivers other than the video one that the DSU doesn't include?

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MrYiff@reddit

DSU normally picks up most things so that seems similar to what I've done with recent builds.

You may want to run the firmware update tools either from idrac or boot into system manager (or whatever dell call it now), or add the server to openmanage enterprise if you use to so you can check for any bios/idrac/firmware updates if you havent already done so.

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Phratros@reddit (OP)

I checked the firmware (s?) and they are on the latest version.

I wanted to start a new thread because I don't stand up new servers often so it's been a while but maybe you can answer this: are there any negatives to enabling SecureBoot, TPM and/or Intel TXT? This machine will be a Hyper-V host exclusively.

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