Today I got a delivery of a new Dell PowerEdge R430 and needed to install Windows 2016 Standard on it.

I downloaded the ISO from Microsoft and created a bootable USB pen using the Windows 7 USB/DVD Download tool, but Dell’s LifeCycle controller refused to recognise the USB drive.

Dell, if you’re listening, please let us install from USB through the Lifecycle Controller !

The ISO was 5.47 Gb so would not burn to a standard DVD and I needed to deliver this server to my client the following day.

In the end I needed to configured idrac and connect the ISO through that.

To do this open LifeCycle Controller and configure your idrac with an IP address on your network. Then browse to this IP address in your browser.

The first time you connect to idrac you can log in with Username “root” and Password “calvin” (without the quotes “”). It will then prompt you to change the default password which I suggest you do.

Once logged in you need to connect your ISO. To do this select virtual Media > Connect Virtual Media

Next you need to connect to your ISO. Click Virtual Media > Map CD/DVD

Browse to your ISO and select it.

When you check the Virtual Media menu after that you should see your ISO connected.

Once you’ve done that, you can run through the LifeCycle Controller and install your Operating System as normal. I installed my OS through idrac but I believe you should be able to do this from the server console as long as you leave you idrac connection open, so the ISO stays connected.