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Adding a Bootable Volume to HP DL360e Gen8 Server Without SATA or SAS Drives

To effectively add a bootable volume to your HP DL360e Gen8 server without utilizing SATA or SAS hard drives, there are several viable alternatives. These methods include using USB drives, NVMe drives via PCIe adapter cards, and booting from SD cards. Each option comes with its own set of requirements, configurations, and considerations.

1. Booting from USB Drives

Requirements:

A bootable USB drive prepared with the desired operating system (such as VMware ESXi).
Access to the server's BIOS/UEFI settings.

Instructions:

Create a Bootable USB Drive:
- Use a tool like Rufus or UNetbootin to create the bootable USB drive. Be sure to choose the correct partition scheme; MBR is often recommended for compatibility with older BIOS systems.
- Format the USB drive as FAT32 for maximum compatibility with various operating systems.
Insert the USB Drive:
- Connect the USB drive to one of the rear USB ports of the server, preferably one of the USB 2.0 ports.
Access BIOS/UEFI:
- Power on the server and press F9 to enter BIOS setup.
- Navigate to the "Boot Options" menu.
- Change the boot order to set the USB drive as the first boot device. Ensure USB boot support is enabled.
- Save changes and exit the BIOS. Upon restart, the server should boot from the USB drive.

Resources: For further assistance regarding booting from USB, consider exploring the Spiceworks Community Discussion.

2. Using NVMe Drives via PCIe Adapter

Requirements:

A compatible PCIe NVMe adapter card (for example, the IOCREST IO-PEX40152).
One or more NVMe SSDs to connect to the adapter.

Instructions:

Install the PCIe NVMe Card:
- Power down the server and open the chassis.
- Insert the PCIe NVMe adapter card into an available PCIe expansion slot on the motherboard.
- Connect the NVMe SSD(s) to the adapter card.
Configure BIOS Settings:
- Power on the server and enter the BIOS setup using the F9 key.
- In the BIOS, navigate to the "Boot Options" menu.
- Ensure that the NVMe drive is detected and set it as the preferred boot device.
- Save changes and exit BIOS.
Install the Operating System:
- If not already done, use a bootable USB drive or other installation media to install an operating system onto the NVMe SSD.

Resources: Detailed guidance on adding NVMe capability can be found in Stephen Wagner's Guide.

3. Booting from SD Cards

Requirements:

A bootable SD card prepared with the required operating system.
Access to the server's internal SD card slot.

Instructions:

Prepare the SD Card:
- Use tools like Rufus or Win32 Disk Imager to create a bootable SD card.
Insert the SD Card:
- Insert the SD card into the server’s internal SD card slot.
Configure BIOS Settings:
- Power on the server and press F9 for BIOS setup.
- Navigate to the "Boot Options" menu.
- Set the SD card as the primary boot device and save your changes.

Resources: For more discussion on booting from SD cards, refer to the ServerFault Discussion.

4. Important Considerations

BIOS and Firmware Updates: Ensure that your server’s BIOS is updated to the latest version. Compatibility for booting from these methods often relies on having the correct firmware.
Community Resources: Engaging with user communities—like Spiceworks, Level1Techs, and HP forums—can help resolve issues and provide additional troubleshooting steps.
Compatibility with Third-Party Components: Be mindful that while using third-party hardware for NVMe may void any server warranties, many users have successfully implemented such configurations.

Conclusion

There are effective methods to add a bootable volume to an HP DL360e Gen8 server without relying on SATA or SAS hard drives. Utilizing USB drives, NVMe drives through PCIe, or SD cards can open up new possibilities for system configuration and management. Each method requires specific hardware and BIOS configuration, and ensuring proper compatibility is crucial for success. Engaging with community forums can aid in troubleshooting and enhance your experience.