Linux runs well on ProLiant servers, but which distribution and which install path you can use depends on HPE's support lists. Intelligent Provisioning (F10) can install Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) for you; other distributions, including Ubuntu, are installed manually through iLO virtual media. Afterwards you add the Agentless Management Service (AMS) and HPE's software repositories. For the distribution installers themselves, see Installing Ubuntu Server 24.04 on bare metal and Install Rocky Linux 9.
Before you start
- Check that your distribution and version are supported for your model (see below and the server-specific support guide in the SPP documentation).
- Use original vendor media. Intelligent Provisioning does not support modified or slipstreamed media.
- Prepare the boot volume (NS204i boot device or a logical drive) and iLO remote console access.
- Back up any data on the target drives.
Which distributions HPE lists
| Source | Linux versions listed |
|---|---|
| Intelligent Provisioning 4.38 (Gen11) | RHEL 8.6 to 8.10, 9.0 to 9.7, 10 and 10.1; SLES 15 SP4 to SP7 and SLES 16 |
| Intelligent Provisioning 3.92 (Gen10/Gen10 Plus) | The same RHEL and SLES versions |
| SPP Gen11 2026.03.00.00 | RHEL 9.6, 9.7, 10, 10.1; SLES 15 SP6, SP7, 16; Ubuntu 22.04 and 24.04 LTS |
| AMS release notes, September 2026 | RHEL 9.7, 9.8, 10.0 to 10.2; SLES 15 SP6, SP7, 16; Ubuntu 24.04 and 26.04 |
Ubuntu is not in the Intelligent Provisioning lists, so install it manually. The HPE lists above do not include RHEL rebuilds such as Rocky Linux; check HPE's support matrix before using them on a supported contract. Canonical also lists certified ProLiant models at ubuntu.com/certified.
Step 1 — Prepare BIOS and the boot volume
- Use an NS204i boot device (auto-created RAID 1, inbox NVMe driver) or create a logical drive with HPE SSA or the MR controller tools.
- To install to an NVMe drive through iLO virtual media, the boot mode must be UEFI.
- Decide on Secure Boot: Intelligent Provisioning cannot install RHEL (or VMware) with Secure Boot enabled (see Step 2).
Warning: Creating logical drives and partitioning during install erase data on the selected drives. Confirm the target and back up first.
Step 2, option A — RHEL or SLES with Intelligent Provisioning
- Press F10 during POST (or use Always On Intelligent Provisioning) and open Rapid Setup.
- Select the source: DVD (.iso), USB (extract the ISO to a folder for RHEL and SLES), CIFS (SLES), FTP (extracted ISO, selected RHEL versions), Internet repository (most RHEL versions from 8.7, and SLES 15 SP5 and later; check the release notes for the exact list) or virtual media in Always On mode.
- Configure the OS settings and target drive, review and install. See the Intelligent Provisioning guide.
Documented issues to plan around:
- Secure Boot: with Secure Boot enabled, an assisted RHEL install boots straight into the image without configuring it. Disable Secure Boot, install from Intelligent Provisioning, then enable Secure Boot again.
- RHEL from FTP: the assisted install with FTP source media might not work reliably. HPE's action is to install outside Intelligent Provisioning.
- SLES over CIFS with DHCP: may stop after reboot because of a DHCP lease timeout. Use iLO virtual media as the source.
- SLES 16: installs with default passwords that stay active until changed. Change the user and root passwords at first login.
Step 2, option B — Manual install through iLO virtual media
- Open the iLO HTML5 remote console and mount the distribution ISO (Virtual Media > CD/DVD > Local *.iso file); see iLO virtual media.
- Boot from the virtual drive and run the installer.
- If the installer does not see the logical drive, provide the controller driver: download it from the SPP or HPE Support Center, drag the folder into the HTML5 console (it appears as iLO FOLDER) and point the installer to it.
Step 3 — Install AMS and HPE repositories
The iLO driver (hpilo) is part of the Linux kernel for supported distributions and loads automatically. AMS lets iLO show full component data and OS information. Install it from the SPP or HPE Support Center package as root:
rpm -Uvh amsd-<version>.rpm # RHEL / SLES
dpkg -i amsd-<version>.deb # UbuntuThe installer offers to create an AMS application account with iLO credentials; if that fails (wrong credentials or vNIC issues), create it later with amscli. No reboot is required. For ongoing updates, the SPP release notes describe HPE's Software Delivery Repository: subscribe to spp-gen11 for drivers and agent software and fwpp-gen11 for firmware, using Yum, Zypper or Apt.
Note: On Ubuntu, the SPP Gen11 release notes state that only remote iLO-based firmware updates are supported. Plan firmware updates as remote, iLO-based updates; the Smart Update Manager documentation describes the method. See also HPE SPP firmware updates.
Step 4 — Verify
rpm -qi amsd # RHEL / SLES: AMS installed
dpkg -l amsd # Ubuntu: AMS installed
systemctl status amsd
systemctl status smadIn iLO, System Information should show AMS as OK in the Health Summary.
Frequently asked questions
Can Intelligent Provisioning install Ubuntu?
Not according to the Intelligent Provisioning 4.38 and 3.92 release notes, which list only Windows Server, RHEL, SLES and VMware. Install Ubuntu manually through iLO virtual media.
Do I need extra drivers for iLO on Linux?
No. HPE states that the hpilo driver is part of the kernel for supported distributions and loads at startup. You still install AMS separately.
Checklist
- Distribution and version confirmed against HPE's lists for your model.
- Boot volume ready and data backed up.
- Secure Boot disabled for an Intelligent Provisioning RHEL install, then re-enabled.
- OS installed; SLES 16 default passwords changed.
- AMS installed and running; iLO shows AMS OK.
- HPE repositories or SPP set up for updates.
Skyline can supply, configure and maintain Dell, HPE and Huawei servers under an annual maintenance contract (AMC). Contact us.
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