SmartStart

Forget the CD - carry your data on a bootable USB key! System administrators can now make storage, transportation, and usage of the SmartStart and Firmware Maintenance CD easy. All your CDs can be put on a single USB key for portability! Plus you get exactly the components you want and eliminate CD swap!		Product information » Overview & Features » Key benefits » Questions & Answers » Endorsements

	Simple server setup

• Assisted OS installation steps: SmartStart performs validity checks to ensure you have the appropriate hardware configuration before the OS installation
• Upon system start, configure server and array controller hardware using ROM-based setup utilities by hitting F8 and F9, or launch these utilities from SmartStart.
• Boot the SmartStart CD to validate the hardware configuration and walk through interview questions to prepare your server for OS installation
• Insert the OS CD to complete the OS installation and automatic installation of the ProLiant Support Pack, server support software
• Manual OS installation steps: Create driver diskettes from the SmartStart CD autorun, to obtain the latest storage boot controller drivers, for use during your OS installation. After your manual OS installation, apply the latest PSP from SmartStart or the new ProLiant Software Update CD.
• Upon system start, configure server and array controller hardware using ROM-based setup utilities by hitting F8 or F9, or choose the intelligent defaults.
• Boot the OS CD and walk through interview questions to complete the OS installation. Have the driver diskette ready to ensure the latest storage controller driver is installed during the OS installation.
• Apply the latest PSP from the SmartStart CD by launching the Autorun either from a Windows or a Linux system.

	Software maintenance

Easily maintain and update your server with these capabilities:

• Software and PSP Updates help you maintain the software versions on your ProLiant servers and are operating system (OS) specific bundles of ProLiant optimized drivers, utilities, and management agents. These bundles of software are tested and released concurrently with HP's SmartStart CD to insure proper installation and functionality. PSPs come with their own deployment utilities that help you get the software deployed onto your individual ProLiant systems. Obtain the PSP through the SmartStart CD Autorun. You can also access the latest PSPs and other software from the Software and Drivers download pages.
• Software Version Control - use HP Systems Insight Manager Software Version Control to automatically download ProLiant system software and firmware updates from HP's web site, allowing the customer to evaluate the updates, create system software and firmware baselines, and schedule necessary deployments. Install HP Systems Insight Manager using the Management CD or download from www.hp.com/go/hpsim.
• Get Proactive Notifications of Software Updates - subscribe to communications regarding product changes through Subscriber's Choice. Subscriber's Choice uses a secure website to proactively communicate product changes and Customer Advisories through e-mail to registered customers based on a customer-provided profile. To sign up for this free service, go to www.hp.com/go/subscriberschoice.

	Leverage embedded tools

Configure your server through SmartStart or RBSU (ROM-based server utilities). SmartStart provides maintenance utilities in an offline mode by booting the CD and launching the Maintenance tab:

• Insight Diagnostics - performs overall system and hardware component tests
• Array Configuration Utility (ACU) - configures array controllers and storage devices as well as now providing diagnostic information (this new integrated diagnostic feature was previously provided in the separate Array Diagnostics Utility).
• Erase Utility - performs a clean sweep of your system by erasing all data from attached hard drives and resets non-volatile RAM (NVRAM)
• The ROM-Based Setup Utility (RBSU) performs a wide variety of server configuration activities: viewing system information, configuring system devices and installed options and selecting the primary boot controller. RBSU is accessible by pressing F9 key after the system has booted. Review the RBSU Users Guide for more details.
• The Option-ROM Configuration for Arrays utility (ORCA) is a utility that allows users to configure array controllers. ORCA is accessible by pressing F8 after the system has booted. It allows the user to create and delete logical drives, set interrupts, and set boot controller order.
• Enhanced auto-configuration process will automatically configure a RAID selection without the user having to launch RBSU and ORCA. The RAID defaults are based on the following number of drives: 1 drive - RAID 0, 2 drives - RAID 1, 3-6 drives - RAID 5. The user always has the option of configuring the server through RBSU and ORCA.

	Ships with ProLiant ML/DL Servers

SmartStart is delivered with every ProLiant ML and DL 300, 500, and 700 BTO series of servers as well as ProLiant BL servers.

• Insight Foundation Suite for ProLiant contains the essential components you need to set up a reliable and well-integrated server. The SmartStart CD contains SmartStart, server system utilities and operating system support software for servers. The Management CD delivers a full suite of software tools to help manage your HP adaptive infrastructure.
• HP Systems Insight Manager (HP SIM) - The focal point for proactive system management across the HP product line and extending to non-HP systems. HP SIM helps maximize system uptime and performance and reduces infrastructure maintenance costs by providing proactive notification of problems before those problems result in costly downtime and reduced productivity.
• Software Version Control - through the Version Control Agents and Version Control Repository within HP SIM, system software version control capabilities make it even easier to maintain consistent software baselines across all your ProLiant servers.
• System Management Homepage- provides a web-based interface to consolidate and simplify single system management information. The System Management Homepage enables direct access to system health and in-depth configuration information through the Insight Management Agents, in addition tools that proactively monitor and administer system performance data, drive array configuration, and software version control.