Installing Ubuntu 12.04 on HP Proliant DL380e with 1TB SAS Drive

Solution 1:

Some models of the HP ProLiant DL380e use a Dynamic Smart Array controller. This is a low-end controller and doesn't have the same widespread support as a proper Smart Array controller. The other problem here is Ubuntu... Windows, Red Hat and SuSE all have drivers for this controller. Ubuntu does not. See the HP/Ubuntu technical exceptions matrix.

The HP Dynamic Smart Array B110i/B120i/B320i controller driver for Ubuntu 12.04 is not available. The Ubuntu 12.04 certification was completed in SATA mode.

Ubuntu is certified for the ProLiant DL380e only if the Dynamic Smart Array controller is disabled. Please see the Ubuntu certification notes.

System is certified with Dynamic Smart Array disabled. To disable: *Press F9 to boot into RBSU *Navigate to System Options -> HP Dynamic Smart Array B320i and select disable *Go to System options -> SATA Controller options and select Legacy SATA or AHCI *Reboot the machine and now you will be able to install the OS.

It's unfortunate. The DL380e is an entry-level server. The DL380p would work properly with no modification. But the other issue is that Ubuntu doesn't have the support for the RAID controller.