Install a preview version of Azure Stack HCI

Applies to: Azure Stack HCI preview channel

This article provides instructions on installing a preview version of Azure Stack HCI OS using Windows Admin Center or PowerShell.

Once you've joined the preview channel, your cluster will always be offered the latest available preview builds on a continuous basis.

Install feature updates

Windows Admin Center

1. In Windows Admin Center, select Updates from the Tools pane at the left. If you've successfully joined the preview channel, feature updates will be displayed.

   

2. Select Install. A readiness check will be displayed. If any of the condition checks fail, resolve them before proceeding.

   

3. When the readiness check is complete, you're ready to install the updates. Unless you want the ability to roll back the updates, check the optional Update the cluster functional level to enable new features checkbox; otherwise, you can update the cluster functional level post-installation using PowerShell. Review the updates listed, and select Install to start the update.

   

4. You'll be able to see the installation progress as in the screenshot below. Because you're updating the operating system with new features, the updates may take a while to complete. You can continue to use Windows Admin Center for other operations during the update process.

   

   Note

   If the updates appear to fail with a Couldn't install updates or Couldn't check for updates warning, or if one or more servers indicates couldn't get status during the updating run, try waiting a few minutes and refreshing your browser. You can also use Get-CauRun to check the status of the updating run with PowerShell.

5. When the feature updates are complete, check if any further updates are available and install them.

PowerShell

To install a preview version using PowerShell, follow these steps.

1. Run the following cmdlets on every server in the cluster:

   Set-WSManQuickConfig
   Enable-PSRemoting
   Set-NetFirewallRule -Group "@firewallapi.dll,-36751" -Profile Domain -Enabled true
   

2. To test whether the cluster is properly set up to apply software updates using Cluster-Aware Updating (CAU), run the Test-CauSetup cmdlet, which will notify you of any warnings or errors:

   Test-CauSetup -ClusterName Cluster1
   

3. Validate the cluster's hardware and settings by running the Test-Cluster cmdlet on one of the servers in the cluster. If any of the condition checks fail, resolve them before proceeding to step 4.

   Test-Cluster
   

4. Run the following cmdlet with no parameters on every server in the cluster:

   Set-PreviewChannel
   

   This cmdlet will configure your server to receive builds sent to the ReleasePreview-External audience. If your server wasn't already configured for flight signing, you'll need to restart after opting in. The module's output will tell you if you need to restart.

5. Check for the feature update:

   Invoke-CauScan -ClusterName <ClusterName> -CauPluginName "Microsoft.RollingUpgradePlugin" -CauPluginArguments @{'WuConnected'='true';} -Verbose | fl *
   

   Inspect the output of the above cmdlet and verify that each server is offered the same Feature Update, which should be the case.

6. You'll need a separate server or VM outside the cluster to run the Invoke-CauRun cmdlet from.

   Important

   The system on which you run Invoke-CauRun must be running either Windows Server 2022, Azure Stack HCI, version 22H2, or Azure Stack HCI, version 21H2 with the May 20, 2021 preview update (KB5003237) installed.

   Invoke-CauRun -ClusterName <ClusterName> -CauPluginName "Microsoft.RollingUpgradePlugin" -CauPluginArguments @{'WuConnected'='true';} -Verbose -EnableFirewallRules -Force
   

7. Check for any further updates and install them. See Install operating system updates using PowerShell.

Next steps

Post Installation tasks