This blog post was originally written by Tino Hernandez and Thomas Cantwell. Send your suggestions or comments to WinServerBlogs@dell.com. To read more technical articles about the OEM release of Windows Server 2012 and Dell, go to the Windows Server 2012 page on Dell TechCenter.
First, how many people know what an OEM operating system (OS) is? A big misconception is that an OEM OS is exactly the same as a Retail OS, only rebranded with an OEM logo. This isn’t the case at all; in fact, it’s far from the truth.
Dell factory-installed OEM OSes are customized, tested, and supported for each server platform so as to provide increased stability and reliability of your Dell server.
Here are the top 5 reasons why you should buy a Dell OEM OS (which includes a DVD Media Kit).
- Peripherals and Devices have optimal drivers: OEM Dell factory-installed operating systems include the latest drivers for all devices shipped in the system. These drivers have been through Dell testing to ensure they are stable and reliable. In contrast, Retail OS media kits have only “in-box” drivers and sometimes no drivers for various devices. In some cases, in-box drivers have issues that are fixed via later driver revisions (these are the drivers Dell has factory-installed for the customer). Dell tests and supports any devices shipped in Dell servers, and the latest drivers are included in the factory-installed OS.
- Hotfixes are already installed: Dell factory-installs hotfixes that are necessary for proper function, and also, in some instances, to improve system security on first power-up. Dell reviews security hotfixes and determines if they should be installed (most security hotfixes are not installed, but those required to remove system vulnerabilities on first power up, without user intervention, are installed, and in addition, the latest Internet Explorer updates are always installed to ensure your browser is as secure as possible when shipped). Dell’s testing may also result in specific hotfixes for hardware issues or incompatibilities, and those are also installed in a Dell factory OS. These hotfixes may or may not be listed as “critical” by the vendor. If they are not critical, then they will not automatically be pushed to your server when running Windows Update.
- One-stop shop for support: Dell provides Level 1 and 2 support for OEM OSes (with a ProSupport contract). This means that Dell is your one-stop support provider for both hardware and OS software.
- Pre-enable Hyper-V virtualization on Windows-equipped servers: When you purchase a Dell factory-installed Windows Server OS, you can opt for the Hyper-V role to be installed and enabled. Just select “Enabled Virtualization” option and Dell will enable the hypervisor role, and provide a virtual hard drive (VHD) with the same OS image. This makes deploying a Hyper-V VM easier and quicker.
- No additional activation necessary: When you purchase a Dell factory-installed OS from Dell, the OS is already activated – no additional validation with Microsoft is required, whereas an OS installed from retail media will usually require either Internet or phone validation to become activated. This can be especially useful when a server does not have Internet access during setup, as the phone validation mechanism is a manual process that may have to be done for each server deployed.
Conclusion - A Dell factory-installed OEM OS:
- Costs less than a Retail OS, can be cost-competitive with Volume License OS.
- Offers latest Dell-tested drivers
- Preinstalls a selection of important security updates and reliability hotfixes
- Is pre-activated
- Can be customized to add the Hyper-V role and a VHD on first startup.
A Dell factory-installed OEM operating system reduces time to set up at the customer site, enhances security and reliability, and offers a better user experience than a retail OS installation.