Installing the evaluation version of WUDSS 2003 (with the Microsoft iSCSI Software Target) on a VM

This post is OBSOLETE. Please check the updated post at:
https://blogs.technet.com/josebda/archive/2008/01/07/installing-the-evaluation-version-of-wudss-2003-refresh-and-the-microsoft-iscsi-software-target-version-3-1-on-a-vm.aspx

 

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Overview

These are step-by-step instructions on how to install the 180-day evaluation version of the Windows Unified Data Storage Server 2003 (WUDSS 2003) on a virtual machine environment running on Virtual PC 2007. There are a few different target audiences for this post, including:

  • Microsoft OEM Partners considering a WUDSS solution
  • IT Professionals that want to understand the features of WUDSS before buying a server pre-installed with WUDSS from an OEM Partner
  • Someone who wants to experiment with iSCSI by setting up a demo environment

You could easily adapt these instructions to use other virtual machine solutions or use it to install on a physical system. Overall, the process is similar to installing Windows Server 2003 R2, but there are some additional steps and you need to pay attention to the sequence you use. It is highly recommended that you have an Internet connection available to get your required updates.

You can find more information about WUDSS 2003 (including how to buy it from an OEM) at https://www.microsoft.com/windowsserversystem/storage/wudss.mspx. Please note that WUDSS (which includes the Microsoft iSCSI Software Target) is only available via OEMs like HP and Dell. It is not provided via other Microsoft sales channels like software retailers or volume licensing. WUDSS is also not posted on MSDN or TechNet subscriber downloads.

Step 1 - Obtain the media and keys

The first thing you need to do is get the actual WUDSS 2003 media (in the form of 3 ISO files) and the required key to install it (a 25-character code you will need during the installation).

The evaluation version of WUDSS 2003 is available for download at no cost, although you will need to register to get it.  Start by navigating to the web site at https://www.download-ss.com and make sure to select the option “Windows Unified Data Storage Server 2003 – 32 bit – Standard or Enterprise”. After a while you will get an e-mail with the required key and download instructions. The key can be used only once, but you can submit another request to get a new key.

For you Virtual PC 2007 testing, you need the x86 version, not the x64 version. Even if your host OS (the OS where you installed Virtual PC) is running a x64 version of Windows and you’re using the 64-bit version of Virtual PC, the guest OS (the virtualized environment) is not. You will need the x64 version only if you’re running on real hardware that supports 64-bit or if you’re experiment with the new Hyper-V technology from Microsoft. In our case, we’re using Virtual PC 2007 with 32-bit guests, also referred to as x86 environments.

The three CD images included in the download contain:

  • Disk 1 - The Windows Server 2003 base install. You will get this with SP1 slipstreamed.
  • Disk 2 - The Windows Server 2003 R2 and Windows Storage Server 2003 R2 additional components.
  • Disk 3 - The Windows Unified Data Storage Server 2003 components and updates, including iSCSI software target.

Step 2 - Get your Virtual PC 2007 environment ready

If you never used Virtual PC 2007 before and don’t have it on your Windows PC, you need to get that done next.  I posted a set of instructions on how to get started on Virtual PC and you can read it at https://blogs.technet.com/josebda/archive/2007/08/05/testing-windows-server-2008-using-virtual-pc-step-by-step.aspx. You can follow all the instructions in that blog post, except for the section titled “d) Get the Windows Server 2008 bits and key”. You don’t need that part because you’ll be using your virtual environment for WUDSS, not Windows Server 2008.

Step 3 - Install the Windows Server 2003 base (disk 1)

Start your newly created virtual machine in Virtual PC (if you don’t know how to do that, review the blog post mentioned in the previous step).
Use the Virtual PC option to “Capture ISO image …” to mount the CD 1 ISO Image and restart the virtual machine.
Windows Setup will start.
Press ENTER to confirm you’re installing an Evaluation version.
Press ENTER to setup Windows.
Press F8 if you accept the Windows Licensing Agreement.
Press ENTER to select the “Unpartitioned Space” and create a new partition for the install.
Select the option to “Format the partition using the NTFS file system (Quick)”.
Setup will format the disk and copy the installation files.
After the files for the installation are copied, the system will reboot.
Windows Setup reboots into graphical mode and continues installation.
Click Next on the regional settings screen.
Enter the user name, organization name and click Next.
Enter the WUDSS evaluation product key you received via e-mail and click Next.
Select the required licensing mode and Click Next.
Enter the computer name, administrator password (twice) and click Next.
Adjust the date, time and time zone. Then Click Next.
Click Next on the network settings screen.
Click Next on the workgroup or domain screen.
Setup will complete and the system will reboot.

Step 4 - Install the Windows Server 2003 R2 components (disk 2)

After the reboot, logon as Administrator with the specified password.
Windows setup will continue and prompt for CD 2.
Use the Virtual PC option to “Capture ISO image …” to mount the CD 2 ISO image.
Click “OK” to continue.
Windows Server 2003 R2 Setup Wizard will start, click Next.
Click Next on the Setup Summary window.
Setup will start copying the additional Windows Server 2003 R2 files.
Click “Finish” after the copy is complete.

A while after the logon and possibly during the setup steps above, a balloon will offer to fix your screen resolution.
Click on the balloon to adjust the screen resolution.
Click “Yes” twice to confirm the screen resolution change.

A while after the logon and possibly during the setup steps above, a balloon will offer to activate Windows.
Click on the balloon to activate.
Select “Yes, let’s activate Windows over the Internet now” and click Next.
Select “No, I don’t want to register” and click Next.
Windows will be activated. Click OK to close the activation window.

Step 5 - Install the Windows Storage Server 2003 R2 components

Setup explains you need to restart. Click “Yes” to restart.
The system will reboot. Logon as Administrator with the specified password.
A script will run automatically during logon, and the Windows Component Wizard will start during the script.
The wizard will prompt for CD 1 again.
Use the Virtual PC option to “Capture ISO image …” to mount the CD 1 ISO image and configuration will continue.
The wizard will prompt for the CD 2 again.
Use the Virtual PC option to “Capture ISO image …” to mount the CD 2 ISO image and configuration will continue.
After the wizard completes, the system automatically restarts. 

Step 6 - Install required updates

After the reboot, logon as Administrator.
The “Windows Server Post-Setup Security Updates” (PSSU) opens.
Click “Update this server”.
Click OK twice to dismiss warnings from Internet Explorer. 
You will also need to click on the yellow bar in Internet Explorer to download the required ActiveX control and install it.
You will need to click “Install” to load the control and “Install Now” after that to get the latest Windows Update software.
After Windows Update is fully loaded, click on the “Custom” option to install Service Pack 2.
Click “Install Updates” to download and install Service Pack 2 (1 update, 120MB).
Installing Service Pack 2 will require you to accept the license agreement before the download (clicking “I Accept”).
You also go through a wizard after the download (click “Next” then “Restart Now”).
After reboot, logon as Administrator.
Run Windows Update (Start, All Programs, Windows Update) and click on “Custom” again to select all high-priority post-SP2 updates.
Uncheck the box for Internet Explorer 7.
Click on “Review and install updates”, then on “Install updates” (at this time, early December 2007, there are 23 post-SP2 updates, 37.6 MB) and accept the license agreement.
Click on “Restart Now” after all updates are installed.

Step 7 - Install the additional and/or updated WUDSS 2003 components

After the reboot , logon as Administrator.
Use the Virtual PC option to “Capture ISO image …” to mount the CD 3 ISO image.
From CD 3, Run x86Storage ManagementWUDSS_Registry_Key.zip.
Right-click wudds_registry.reg and click “Open”.
Click “Yes” to confirm registry changes.
From CD3, Run x86Storage ManagementWindowsServer2003-KB919455-x86-ENU.exe.
Click “Next”, select “I agree”, click “Next” to start the installation.
After the installation is finished, click “Finish”
Click Start, Control Panel, Add or Remove Programs, Add/Remove Windows Components.
Click “Application Server”, click “Details”, check the box next to “Internet Information Server (IIS)”, click “OK”, click “Next”.
The wizard will prompt for the CD 1 again.
Use the Virtual PC option to “Capture ISO image …” to mount the CD 1 ISO image and configuration will continue.
After the installation is finished, click “Finish”.
Use the Virtual PC option to “Capture ISO image …” to mount the CD 3 ISO image.
From CD3, Run x86Windows Server Remote Administration AppletWindowsServer2003-KB919458-x86-ENU.exe.
Click “Next”, select “I agree”, click “Next” to start the installation.
After the installation is finished, click “Finish”.
From CD3, run x86Microsoft iSCSI Software Targetiscsitarget.exe.
Click “Next”, select “I agree”, click “Next” to start the installation.
After the installation is finished, click “Finish”.
From CD3, Run x86Microsoft iSCSI Software Target VDS Provideriscsitargetvds.exe.
Click “Next”, select “I agree”, click “Next”, enter username (administrator) and password, click “Next” to install the installation.
After the installation is finished, click “Finish”.
From CD3, Run x86Microsoft iSCSI Software Target VSS Provider iscsitargetvss.exe.
Click “Next”, select “I agree”, click “Next”, enter username (administrator) and password, click “Next” to install the installation.
After the installation is finished, click “Finish”.

Step 8 – Complete installation

Restart and logon as administrator.
You will see the Initial Configuration Tasks.
Close it after you’re done.
After you close the Initial Configuration Tasks tool, the “Windows Unified Data Storage Server” MMC will load.

When you acquire a server with WUDSS from an OEM, it comes with the OS pre-installed and you won't need steps 1 to 7. You get your box already configured similarly to what is described here. OEMs might also decide to include extra software, like additional VDS hardware providers or management software.

WUDSS Refresh

Microsoft also released a refresh of WUDSS 2003 in September 2007, but that version did not make it to the evaluation download site yet.

The main improvements in this updated release are:

  • Service Pack 2 already included (slipstreamed into the media)
  • Updated iSCSI Software Target (version 3.1 instead of version 3.0)
  • Updated management interface (packaged as a file called WindowsServer2003-KB941003-x86-ENU.exe)

I will add another blog post with the steps for the WUDSS 2003 Refresh evaluation as soon as it becomes available in the www.download-ss.com site.