Setting up Ubuntu Server on HPE ProLiant MicroServer Gen10

Disclaimer: do this at your own risk. No fancy web gui here (except monitoring), just raw unix power.

Original project was about setting up Ubuntu Server on WD PR4100. Some time passed, so LET'S upgrade!

Overview

This tutorial covers how to install Ubuntu Server on HPE ProLiant MicroServer Gen10.

It goes from preparation, downloading required packages, running installation, initial configuration and extras that most likely are intended to be used.

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But this time, lets monitor it like a pro!

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Ansible (automated way)

There is ansible automatization of most steps and more.

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HPE ProLiant MicroServer Gen10 Spec

* Release date: 2016
* CPU: AMD Opteron™ X3216 Processor (1.6-3.0GHz/2 compute cores/4 graphic cores/1MB/12-15W)
* RAM: 8GB (1 x 8GB) PC4-2400T DDR4 UDIMM / 32GB (2 x 16GB) PC4-2400T DDR4 UDIMM
* USB: 4 x 3.0 ports + 2 x 2.0 ports
* Bays: 4 x 3.5" SATA III (over RAID controller) + Internal SATA III port
  Maximum Internal Storage Non-hot plug SATA 16TB (4 x 4TB)
* LAN: 2 x 1 Gbit/s Ethernet

Suggested addon:

HPE 870212-B21 - SSD converter kit:

• https://buy.hpe.com/us/en/options/cables-cable-kits/server-enablement-kits/server-enablement-kits/hpe-enablement-kits/hpe-microserver-gen10-sff-nhp-sata-converter-kit/p/870213-B21

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Links:

• https://www.hpe.com/psnow/doc/a00008701enw
• TBD

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Requirements

• USB flash drive (8GB+)
• Ansible

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Ansible

Pre-requirements

Browse vars/ folder and do necessary changes like:

• main:
  • macaddress
  • authorized_keys
  • hostname
  • username
  • password
• zfs:
  • zfs_pools
  • zfs_datasets
  • zfs_dataset_pass

as well as:

• ansible.cfg:
  • remote_user

Config generation

ansible-playbook autoinstall-generator.yml

Then take ./tmp/user-data file and place it on http(s) server.

Get ISO

Download chosen iso from here.

BIOS part

Boot into BIOS and turn off BIOS_CHECK_NAME (raid thing).

Pendrive part

Make bootable usb and boot.

Boot part (with pendrive)

While booting up, press e key to edit grub settings from:

setparams ' Try or Install Ubuntu Server'

set gfxpayload=keep
linux /casper/vmlinuz ---
initrd /casper/initrd

and append some changes:

setparams ' Try or Install Ubuntu Server'

set gfxpayload=keep
linux /casper/vmlinuz --- autoinstall ds=nocloud-net\;s=http://<ip>:<port>/<location-of-user-data-folder>
initrd /casper/initrd

Hit F10 and then auto install should start.

Ansible part (optional)

Just run:

ansible-playbook all_in_one.yml --ask-become-pass -e "target=10.0.0.101 custom_dns=true" -i 10.0.0.101,

And watch the magic.

After it's done, it's done :)

Extras

• ZFS
• LVM
• HPE