Frequently asked questions

HP Intelligent Provisioning
Table of contents
Common questions ....................................................................................................................................................................... 2
Support questions ......................................................................................................................................................................... 3
Deployment and configuration questions ............................................................................................................................... 4

Frequently asked questions | HP Intelligent Provisioning

Common questions
Q1. Does HP SmartStart CD support HP ProLiant Gen8 or Gen9 servers and Gen8 or Gen9 server blades?
A1. No, SmartStart CD is not available for HP ProLiant Gen8 or Gen9 servers and Gen8 or Gen9 blade servers. SmartStart CD
is only supported on HP ProLiant G7 (and earlier) servers and blade servers. Gen8 or Gen9 servers do not require separate
media (CDs or DVDs) for systems software, including drivers and firmware. HP ProLiant Gen8 or Gen9 servers and Gen8 or
Gen9 server blades have HP Intelligent Provisioning (IP) embedded on a NAND flash chip on the server motherboard that
provides this functionality.
To access Intelligent Provisioning, press F10 during server boot.

Note
No more SmartStart video is available in the right navigation bar at hp.com/go/intelligentprovisioning.

Q2. What is HP Intelligent Provisioning?

A2. Intelligent Provisioning provides similar functionality as the former SmartStart CD, but has some significant
enhancements that SmartStart CD does not have, such as:
It is embedded inside the ProLiant Gen8 or Gen9 servers and blade servers
Ability to update your drivers and systems software by connecting directly to hp.com and performing firmware updates

and installing an OS in the same step

Provisioning an HP ProLiant Gen8 or Gen9 server and Gen8 or Gen9 server blade remotely using HP Integrated

Lights-Out 4 (iLO 4)
Remote support registration
Opt-in access to download the HP StoreVirtual VSA software and take advantage of 1 TB of free storage
A simplified UI with the following capabilities for installation:

A Recommended Install for a quick installation. This express installation process has preset defaults and will
perform a software and firmware update if the network is available at your location (Recommend that you use the
HP-suggested defaults).
The Customized Install (often called Guided or Assisted install) is the full HP interview with a start to finish wizard for
deploying HP ProLiant Gen8 or Gen9 servers. It provides the network setup, remote support registration, the systems
software, driver and firmware update, the server hardware configuration, RAID configuration, and OS installation.
This interview process is also much faster than in the past and includes software driver and firmware updates as

part of the interview process.

A much simplified Manual Install that automates finding your drivers without searching the Web.

Frequently asked questions | HP Intelligent Provisioning

Q3. What media is supported with Intelligent Provisioning?

A3. The same type of OS media (CD, DVD, ISO, and flat media) that was supported with SmartStart is supported with
Intelligent Provisioning by pressing F10 during server power-on self-test (POST).
For VMware, use the current image located at hp.com/go/esxidownload.
Q4. What OSs does Intelligent Provisioning support?
A4. Intelligent Provisioning supports OSs from these vendors:
Microsoft Windows (64-bit only)
Red Hat Enterprise Linux
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES)
VMware

For specific OS support for a server, visit: hp.com/go/ossupport

Q5. How do I use Intelligent Provisioning?
A5. Intelligent Provisioning is embedded on a NAND flash chip on ProLiant Gen8 or Gen9 servers and Gen8 or Gen9 server
blades, so you can press F10 during server boot to access it. There is an easy-to-use, step-by-step wizard that will guide
you through the server setup and maintenance process. More information is available at:
The HP Intelligent Provisioning user guide: hp.com/support/IP_UG_en.
How-to videos are available in the right navigation bar at hp.com/go/intelligentprovisioning.

Support questions
Q1. Is Intelligent Provisioning support consistent across all ProLiant Gen8 or Gen9 servers?
A1. Intelligent Provisioning support is consistent across most ProLiant Gen8 or Gen9 servers, except for the HP ProLiant
Gen8 or Gen9 SL server line, which does not support OS installation.
Intelligent Provisioning 1.6x is available with all HP ProLiant Gen8 servers; Intelligent Provisioning 2.x is available for
HP ProLiant Gen9 servers and beyond.

Frequently asked questions | HP Intelligent Provisioning

Deployment and configuration questions

Q1. Are special instructions used to install SUSE Linux with Intelligent Provisioning?
A1. If you want to install SLES 11 SP2 using Intelligent Provisioning Manual Install, include the updatedir kernel parameter
for the appropriate OS:
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 32-bit: updatedir=/linux/suse/i386sles11.2
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 64-bit: updatedir=/linux/suse/x86_64sles11.2

Note
It is important to use a kernel update ISO (kISO) when installing SUSE Linux with Intelligent Provisioning. You can download a
kISO from the SUSE website: drivers.suse.com.

Q2. Are special instructions used to install VMware with Intelligent Provisioning?
A2. Use one of the HP custom ISOs from VMware when installing VMware via Intelligent Provisioning. You can download the
ISO from the HP VMware website: hp.com/go/esxidownload.
Also, remember to have eth0 port active during the VMware installation using Intelligent Provisioning.
Q3. Can I use iLO remote console to access Intelligent Provisioning?
A3. Yes, you can access Intelligent Provisioning using the iLO remote console, which is available with no additional
iLO license. To learn more about iLO, visit hp.com/go/iLO.

Learn more at
hp.com/go/intelligentprovisioning

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Copyright 2012, 2014 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only
warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should
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