Deployment Guide
Maintaining the Dell Hybrid Cloud System for
Microsoft
This section describes overviews of the procedures for maintaining the solution.
Topics:
• Patch and Update overview
• Field-replaceable unit overview
• Dell services and support
• Dell Hybrid Cloud System for Microsoft support site
Patch and Update overview
Throughout the lifecycle of the Dell Hybrid Cloud System for Microsoft, there are software, driver, and rmware updates that either
address issues or provide for enhanced operations. Dell releases Patch and Update (P&U) bundles to make it easier to maintain the cloud
solution. These bundles ensure that the process of applying updates is minimally disruptive to the solution and the virtual machines that it is
hosting. The bundles are available from support.dell.com, and combine the relevant software, driver, and rmware updates from both Dell
and Microsoft into a single package. This package is extracted and run from within the Dell Hybrid Cloud System for Microsoft, and takes
advantage of technologies that enable you to apply the updates in an orchestrated manner. Individual nodes or functions within the cloud
solution may be unavailable during the update process, but the virtual machines that the solution is hosting remain operational. When these
bundles are released, there are Release Notes to describe their contents and instructions that outline how to extract and apply the Patch
and Update bundle within the cloud solution.
IMPORTANT
: Do NOT install Windows Server, Windows Azure Pack, System Center, and SQL Server updates by using any
method other than the P&U framework. Install only update packages that Microsoft and Dell have tested and approved for the
Dell Hybrid Cloud System for Microsoft.
Note the following:
• The P&U update process is the only supported process to apply updates to DHCS.
• Applying updates obtained directly from Microsoft, and not via the Dell P&U package, is known to cause technical issues.
• To be fully supported, the customer must apply all P&U updates on a regular basis.
CAUTION: The addition of any non-DHCS hardware to your system will cause the Patch and Update process to fail.
Field-replaceable unit overview
The Dell Hybrid Cloud System for Microsoft has been designed with resiliency in mind. As a result, many component-level failures are not
disruptive to the cloud solution or any virtual machines that it is hosting. However, certain component failures can result in the need to
recongure software, either on the replaced component or elsewhere within the solution. This reconguration is to ensure that the cloud
solution is restored to its original state.
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