Haris at the client’s server rack, working on a laptop beside the patched network cabinet
On site with the client’s server rack during deployment.

HPE DL20 Gen11: Windows Server 2025 deployment

A fresh server build for a client, from OS install to a RAID 5 array with a hot spare. The client’s own IT team pulled a drive to test it, and the spare took over without a problem.

Hardware
HPE ProLiant DL20 Gen11
Operating system
Windows Server 2025
Storage
3 SSDs in RAID 5, plus 1 hot spare
Status
Completed and verified

What I did

  • Installed Windows Server 2025 on the new HPE DL20 Gen11
  • Configured RAID 5 across 3 SSDs
  • Assigned a fourth SSD as a hot spare
  • Ran a failover test with the client’s IT team

Failover test

This is what the client’s team checked on site. Pull an SSD and watch the spare take its place.

Array optimal: all drives healthy

Why Windows Server 2025

  • Stronger security, with new kernel-level protections
  • Better virtualization and hybrid cloud support
  • Higher performance and scalability for modern workloads
  • Azure Arc integration for hybrid deployments
  • Smarter storage and failover clustering

Still on Windows Server 2012, 2016 or 2019? Server 2025 offers stronger security, better performance and longer support, so now is a good time to plan the move.