You can install Windows Server on a ProLiant in two ways: let Intelligent Provisioning (F10) run an assisted install that adds HPE drivers for you, or install manually from the Microsoft ISO through iLO virtual media and provide the storage driver yourself. Either way, finish by installing the HPE drivers, the Agentless Management Service (AMS) and current firmware from the SPP. For the Windows Setup screens themselves, see Install Windows Server 2022.
Before you start
- Confirm your Windows version is supported for your model and generation (see the table below and the server-specific support guide).
- Use original Microsoft or HPE-branded media. Intelligent Provisioning does not support demo or developer media or images with slipstreamed updates.
- Prepare the boot volume (NS204i boot device or a logical drive) and have iLO remote console access.
- Back up any data on the target drives.
Supported Windows Server versions
| Source | Windows Server versions listed |
|---|---|
| Intelligent Provisioning 4.38 (Gen11) and 3.92 (Gen10/Gen10 Plus) | 2025, 2022 and 2019 LTSC |
| SPP Gen11 2026.03.00.00 | 2025, 2022 and 2019, all editions |
| SPP Gen10/Gen10 Plus 2025.03.01.00 | 2025, 2022, 2019 and 2016 |
OS support also varies by server model; HPE points to the server-specific support guide in the SPP documentation. One example from the iLO 6 guide: HPE ProLiant RL3xx Gen11 platforms do not support Windows.
Step 1 — Prepare the boot volume
- NS204i boot device: auto-creates a RAID 1 volume, needs no configuration and uses the inbox NVMe driver, so Windows sees it without extra drivers.
- Smart Array or MR controller: create the logical drive first (HPE SSA or MR controller on Gen11). For an MR controller, HPE says to configure a logical drive or select drives for JBOD before starting the OS installation.
- To install to an NVMe drive through iLO virtual media, the boot mode must be UEFI.
Warning: Creating a logical drive and installing Windows both erase the selected drives. Check the target by size and controller and back up first.
Step 2, option A — Assisted install with Intelligent Provisioning
- Boot the server and press F10 (or use Always On Intelligent Provisioning from iLO).
- In Rapid Setup, select the install source, then the OS settings and target drive. The Intelligent Provisioning guide walks through each screen.
- Review the settings and start the installation. Intelligent Provisioning installs the drivers for you.
Supported Windows sources in Intelligent Provisioning 4.38: DVD (.iso), USB (.iso or extracted folder), CIFS share (.iso or extracted folder; the CIFS password cannot contain @) and virtual media in Always On mode. Windows can be installed with UEFI Secure Boot enabled.
Note: Known issues in the 4.38 release notes: an assisted install of Windows Server 2022 through CIFS from Always On Intelligent Provisioning always installs Server Core, even if Desktop Experience is selected. Use another source or install through F10. If Always On does not let you choose the Windows version, reboot into F10. An "unattended answer file" error means slipstreamed media was used.
Step 2, option B — Manual install through iLO virtual media
Use this when you need a Windows build or setup option that Intelligent Provisioning does not offer. Windows Setup may not see drives on an HPE RAID controller until you load its driver.
- Download the controller driver from the SPP or the HPE Support Center, extract it and copy it to a folder on your workstation.
- Start the iLO HTML5 remote console and mount the Windows ISO with Virtual Media > CD/DVD > Local *.iso file.
- Drag and drop the driver folder into the console window. It is mounted on the server as iLO FOLDER.
- Boot from the ISO and continue until Windows Setup asks where to install.
- Click Load driver, browse to the iLO FOLDER and select the extracted driver.
- Select the logical drive or NS204i volume and complete Setup.
If Setup still shows no drive on an MR controller, HPE's advice is to go back, configure the logical drive (or JBOD) and retry.
Step 3 — Install HPE drivers and AMS
- Mount the SPP ISO and run Smart Update Manager (SUM) on the server. SUM discovers and updates firmware, drivers and system software, and reboots only if an update requires it. See HPE SPP firmware updates.
- Make sure the iLO Channel Interface Driver is installed. HPE says it is required for AMS, firmware flash components and other utilities to talk to iLO, and to install it in all configurations. The iLO Automatic Server Recovery driver is also available for Windows.
- Install AMS if SUM did not: place the AMS Smart Component in a temporary folder, double-click it, click Install to extract and Install again to install the service. You can create the AMS application account during installation by entering iLO credentials, or later with
amscli. - If you want the optional System Management Assistant (SMA), enable the Microsoft SNMP Service first.
Step 4 — Verify
- In Windows Control Panel, open the AMS Control Panel and the Service tab. It should report "Agentless Management Service(AMS) is enabled."
- In iLO, open System Information. AMS in the Health Summary should show OK.
- Check that the controller firmware is current. HPE recommends updating it after installation through iLO or the SPP.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Windows Setup show no drives?
Windows needs the HPE controller driver for many RAID controllers. Load it from the SPP during Setup as in option B. NS204i boot devices use the inbox NVMe driver.
Do I need AMS?
HPE states that without AMS, iLO does not show a full set of component data and has no OS-specific information. AMS also writes OS configuration and critical events to the Active Health System log.
Checklist
- Windows version confirmed for the model; original media ready.
- Boot volume created and data backed up.
- Windows installed via Intelligent Provisioning or iLO virtual media with the controller driver.
- SPP run: drivers, firmware and iLO Channel Interface Driver installed.
- AMS enabled and showing OK in iLO.
Skyline can supply, configure and maintain Dell, HPE and Huawei servers under an annual maintenance contract (AMC). Contact us.
Comments
0 total · 0 threads