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The Compaq SmartStart CD contains utilities, management programs and other software used to configure and set up a Compaq Server.  The SmartStart process can install the Compaq System Partition, configure your RAID Array, update the system BIOS and install your Operating System.

This document goes through the steps to configure a server for a manual install of your Operating System, in this case, Windows NT4.0.  For more information on the Compaq SmartStart install process, see the Compaq SmartStart web site.


What’s Needed:  

Compaq SmartStart CD v4.x
A Compaq Server with a CD ROM drive

Using SmartStart:

1.   Make sure all your hardware is installed in the server before running
      SmartStart.

2.   Turn on the server, insert the bootable SmartStart CD.

3.   If the server has already been set up once, and you want to redo it, run
      the System Erase utility when the SmartStart menu appears.  The System
      Erase utility will delete the Compaq System Partition and drive 
      configurations (which will delete all data on the server) .

4.   Assuming the System Erase utility has been run, or this is a new server,
      when SmartStart boots up you will first choose a language, then set 
      the date and time.

5.   On the next screen you have the option of choosing different types
      of installs, choose Manual Configuration.

6.   Choose your Operating System.  For this document it is Windows NT 4.0

7.   The System Configuration utility will now start.  No user input is 
      needed for this process.

8.   When the System Configuration utility finishes, you will be prompted
      to set up your RAID Array if you are using a RAID controller.  
      The screens for the RAID configuration are very simple and intuitive.
      Pick the options you want, choose which drives will be part of the Array
      (don't forget to make one a hot spare), save the configuration, 
      and exit the RAID Configuration utility.
      
      Creating 2 Logical drives w/the RAID Configuration Utility
      Choose your OS
      Select custom configuration
      You will be presented with a graphical screen showing your drives.
      Click the box next to each drive and then click the Add button.
      Make the last drive a Hot Spare by clicking the Hot Spare Add button.
      
      Click Next, then click the Create Logical Drive button.
      Under "Logical Drive Size" change it to 2048MB for a NT server
      or 150MB for a NetWare server.  Under "Fault Tolerance" choose
      RAID 5, under "Array Accelerator" choose Enable, click Done.

      Highlight  "Unused Space" and click Create Logical Drive.
      Except the defaults and click Done.
      Click Next, and click Next again (if you are happy with your Array).
      On the next screen under "Rebuild Priority" choose Medium.
      Under "Expand Priority" choose Low.
      Click Next, then click Save Configuration Now.
      Close the RAID Configuration Utility.
        

9.     The server will now reboot.

10.   After the server boots up, System Configuration will run again
        on it's own.  When it finishes, you will prompted to remove
        the SmartStart CD, and the server will reboot.

11.   The SmartStart Process will now be finished and you can
        install your Operating System.  Put the Windows NT 4.0 CD
        into the CD ROM Drive, reboot the server, and start the 
        NT install.


SmartStart Menu:
   

After the SmartStart process is run, each subsequent time you boot from the
SmartStart CD you will see a Menu of SmartStart Options to choose from:

Run System Configuration   use this if you change/add server hardware       Top
Run Array Configuration use this to modfy the RAID Array Configuration
Update System Partition use this to reinstall or update the System Partition
Run System Erase utility use this to delete the System Configuration
Create Support Software   creates driver disks, server utility programs
Run Rompaq this will install/update your System BIOS
Run Array Diagnostic utility test the RAID controller and array

 

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