Dell™ Systems Build and Update Utility 1.2 User’s Guide w w w. d e l l . c o m | s u p p o r t . d e l l .
Notes NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your computer. ___________________ Information in this document is subject to change without notice. © 2009 Dell Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of these materials in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc. is strictly forbidden. Trademarks used in this text: Dell, the DELL logo, PowerEdge, and OpenManage are trademarks of Dell Inc.
Contents 1 About This Document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 . . . . . . . . . . . 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Who Should Read This Document? How Will This Document Help Me? How Do I Use This Document? 2 Dell Systems Build and Update Utility Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 What’s New in This Release . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Overview of Functionalities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
5 Launching the Systems Build and Update Utility . . . . . . . . . Using the Systems Build and Update Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Flexibility That the Systems Build and Update Utility Offers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Using the Systems Build and Update Utility in Different Scenarios . . . . . . . . . . 26 Updating Your System Firmware . . . . . . . . . . 27 . . . . . . . . 28 . . . . . . . . . .
6 Important Information and Frequently Asked Questions Firmware Update . . . . . . . . . . 45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Important Information Frequently Asked Questions Hardware Configuration Server Operating System Installation . Important Information . . . . . . . . . 50 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Frequently Asked Questions Glossary . . . .
Contents
About This Document It is strongly recommended that you read the current chapter, the "Dell Systems Build and Update Utility Overview" chapter, and the "Before You Begin Using the Systems Build and Update Utility" chapter before proceeding. Who Should Read This Document? This document is for system administrators who are responsible for deploying and updating Dell™ PowerEdge™ systems in their organizations.
Table 1-1.
Table 1-1.
About This Document
Dell Systems Build and Update Utility Overview This chapter provides an overview of the Systems Build and Update Utility. This chapter helps you understand the functionalities that the Systems Build and Update Utility provides to update and deploy your Dell systems. What is the Systems Build and Update Utility? The Systems Build Update and Utility is an integrated tool for deployment and update of your Dell systems. It has modules such as Server OS Installation, Firmware Update, and Hardware Configuration.
• You can create customized bootable media to deploy multiple systems (different platforms) of your choice. • You can deploy your newly purchased Dell systems for which you had already created a bootable media. This is possible with a multi-system configuration file (.csv file) that you create and save in a centralized network location. For more information about the configuration file, see "Generic Prerequisites and Requirements.
Table 2-1. Dell Systems Build and Update Utility Functionalities (continued) You Want To Go To For Install an operating system on your system.
Dell Systems Build and Update Utility Overview
Before You Begin Using the Systems Build and Update Utility This chapter lists the prerequisites for using the Systems Build and Update Utility and where to get other information that you may need while using this utility. Prerequisites and Requirements You should have a Dell system with: • Minimum memory of 512 MB • DVD drive Table 3-1 lists the prerequisites and requirements for the Systems Build and Update Utility.
Table 3-1. Prerequisites and Requirements Module Prerequisites and Requirements Generic Prerequisites and Requirements • To make effective use of the Systems Build and Update Utility, you will need at least two Network File System (NFS) or Samba multiple network shares. If you do not have network connectivity for the system you are deploying, ensure that you have multiple USB keys.
Table 3-1. Prerequisites and Requirements (continued) Module Prerequisites and Requirements Server Operating System Installation • Operating system media or a network share or a USB key on which to save the operating system ISO image. • Dell Systems Management Tools and Documentation DVD (if you want to install Dell OpenManage™ System Administrator). This is not applicable for Dell PowerEdge™ SC systems.
Are There Other Dell Documents I Might Need? In addition to this guide and the Systems Build and Update Utility online help, you might need to refer to the following documents to get details on specific Systems Build and Update Utility modules and Dell OpenManage products. These documents are available on the Dell Support website at support.dell.com and the Dell Systems Management Tools and Documentation DVD.
• The Dell OpenManage Deployment Toolkit User's Guide provides information on how to run Linux DUP in the Dell-provided or your customized Embedded Linux (ELI) environment considering the dependencies. • The Dell OpenManage Deployment Toolkit Command Line Interface Reference Guide provides general, best practice procedures on how to run the Deployment Toolkit (DTK), which is a set of command line tools for configuring and deploying Dell PowerEdge™ systems.
Before You Begin Using the Systems Build and Update Utility
Launching the Systems Build and Update Utility To launch the Systems Build and Update Utility locally: 1 Insert the Dell Systems Management Tools and Documentation DVD in your system drive. 2 Reboot your system. The boot menu screen appears. To launch the Systems Build and Update Utility on a remote system: 1 In the Dell Remote Access Controller (DRAC) 4 or DRAC 5 UI, click the Media tab. The Virtual Media screen appears.
6 To boot the host system with the Systems Build and Update media, select Power Cycle System under Power Control Operations, and click Apply. 7 Click Console. The Console Redirection screen appears. 8 Click Connect. You can now access the boot menu screen on your host system from your client system and proceed to use the Systems Build and Update Utility remotely. Figure 4-1.
Table 4-1 lists the options and their descriptions available on this screen. Table 4-1. Boot Menu Options Boot Menu Option Does This for You Dell Systems Build and Takes you to the Dell Systems Build and Update Utility Update Utility Home screen. Optical Media (CD/DVD) Check Checks if the Dell Systems Management Tools and Documentation DVD you inserted has any errors. Skip Optical Media Enables you to boot from your system hard drive.
Launching the Systems Build and Update Utility
Using the Systems Build and Update Utility This chapter describes the flexibility that the Systems Build and Update Utility offers to deploy and update your systems and also the various scenarios in which you can use the Systems Build and Update Utility.
– You can perform the following deployment or update operations for multiple systems: • export the configuration scripts (for all three modules or a combination of your choice) for future use.
Updating Your System Firmware If you have purchased a newly released Dell PowerEdge™ system, it is likely to have the latest firmware. However, if more than a quarter has passed since the release of your system, you may have to update the firmware. 1 On the Dell Systems Build and Update Utility Home screen, click Configure against Firmware Update or click Firmware Update on the left pane. The Repository Selection screen of the Firmware Update module appears.
5 To update your current system, click Apply/Export Configuration on the Systems Build and Update Utility Home screen. The Configure Apply /Export Options screen appears. 6 Select the Apply Configuration to Current System option and click Apply/Export. The progress bar appears after which your system reboots with the firmware updates configured. NOTE: For more information on the specific Firmware Update screens and what you can do on each screen, see the Systems Build and Update Utility online help.
5 On the Systems Build and Update Utility Home screen, click Apply/Export Configuration. The Configure Apply/Export Options screen appears with the Apply Configuration to Current System option selected, by default. You can export the hardware configuration for later use by selecting Export Configuration. 6 Click Apply/Export. A progress bar appears indicating that the configuration changes you saved in step 3 are being applied to your system.
7 On the Configuration Status Summary screen, click Save Settings and Go Back to Home Page. 8 On the Systems Build and Update Utility Home screen, click Apply/Export Configuration. The Configure Apply/Export Options screen appears with the Create Auto-Deployment Bootable Image option selected, by default. You can export the hardware configuration for later use by selecting Export Configuration. 9 Click Destination to provide the location where you want to save the bootable ISO image.
3 Select the appropriate operating system, choose whether you want to create a utility partition, and click Continue. NOTE: The utility partition does not have DOS-based RAID tools. For this procedure, let us assume that you select the Microsoft Windows 2003 Server Service Pack 2 operating system and choose to create a utility partition. The Select RAID Configuration screen appears.
9 In the Systems Build and Update Utility Home screen that appears, click Apply/Export Configuration. The Configure Apply/Export Options screen appears with the Apply Configuration to Current System option selected, by default. You can export the operating system installation configuration for later use by selecting Export Configuration. 10 Click Apply/Export. The Script Generation Progress screen appears indicating that the configuration is being saved.
Deploying Your Current ("Bare-Metal") Dell System In this scenario, you can see how to update and deploy your current system.
1 Update your system firmware, if required. For details on the Firmware Update, see "Firmware Update." For details on how to use the Firmware Update module, see step 1 through step 4 under "Updating Your System Firmware." 2 Configure your system hardware and make sure you click Save Settings before you navigate away from a component screen. For details on the Hardware Configuration module, see "Hardware Configuration.
5 On the Systems Build and Update Utility Home, click Apply/Export Configuration. The Configure Apply/Export Options screen appears. 6 Provide your inputs as required and click Continue. NOTE: You can choose to configure the multi-system configuration file so that system settings are taken from this file. See Table 3-1 for details on the multi-system configuration file. NOTE: You can check the Exit on Failure option so that the Systems Build and Update Utility exits when a failure occurs.
Deploying More Than One System With the Same Configuration In this scenario, you can see how to deploy more than one supported system with the same configuration (that is, having the same cards, controllers, hard drive, memory, and so on), for example, 50 Dell PowerEdge™ R710 systems.
1 On the Systems Build and Update Utility Home screen, click Change against System(s) Selection on the left pane. The Select System(s) screen appears. NOTE: Ensure that you click Select Systems so that the option to save the ISO image (Create Auto-deployment Bootable Image) is enabled on the Select Options screen. 2 Select PowerEdge R710 (for this example) from the Supported Systems list and click the right arrow. 3 Click Save Settings and return to the Systems Build and Update Utility Home screen.
Deploying More Than One System With Slightly Different Configurations In this scenario, you can see how to deploy more than one supported system with slightly different configurations. For example, you can configure 50 PowerEdge R710 systems but the systems may have different cards, controllers, hard drives, memory, and so on.
Important! • Ensure that you select multiple systems that you want to deploy on the Select System(s) screen. • The Firmware Update module displays all the update packages for the systems you selected. Depending on the system model, you must select the components that need to be updated. • The Hardware Configuration module displays all the configuration options under different tabs. Ensure that you select all relevant options for all the systems you selected.
Select Systems Yes Firmware Update No SBUU Home Import Edit SOI (Set to RHEL 5.3) Generate ISO SBUU Home Import Edit SOI (Set to W2K8) Generate ISO Save Yes H/W Config No Save Yes SOI Set to W2K3 Required if Reconfiguring in Future No Save Yes No Export Export Generate ISO 1 If Configuring in Current Session Go to SBUU Home 40 Edit SOI (Set to RHEL 5.
1 Follow step 1 through step 8 in "Deploying More Than One System With Slightly Different Configurations" to create a bootable image to deploy an operating system, for example, Windows Server 2003 operating system. On the Systems Build and Update Utility Home screen, click SOI. On the Select an Operating System to Install screen, select Windows Server 2003.
Important! • When you import the configuration file, all the GUI fields are populated. • You can edit the Firmware Update Configuration, Hardware Configuration, and Configure SOI modules, as required. However, ensure that you do not make any changes on the System(s) Selection screen; if you do so, all existing configuration for the three modules will be reset. 1 On the Systems Build and Update Utility Home screen, click Import Saved Configuration. The Import Configuration screen appears.
3 Click Systems Build and Update Utility Home. 4 Edit the existing configuration for the Firmware Update, Hardware Configuration, and SOI modules, if required. 5 Create the ISO image for this configuration by following step 4 through step 8 in "Deploying More Than One System With the Same Configuration.
Using the Systems Build and Update Utility
Important Information and Frequently Asked Questions This chapter contains important information about the different modules in the Systems Build and Update Utility, including answers to some frequently asked questions. Firmware Update Important Information The Firmware Update module in the Systems Build and Update Utility enables you to update the BIOS and firmware versions of your Dell systems in a pre-operating system environment.
A: If you want to use your custom repository for firmware updates using the Systems Build and Update Utility, you will need a Linux repository. Also, you must ensure that the repository contains updates for the system on which you want to run firmware updates. Q: What should I do if I want to downgrade the firmware? A: If you want to downgrade the firmware, you will not be able to do it using the Firmware Update module. Use the Dell Server Updates DVD to downgrade the firmware on your system.
Q: How do I know which components to configure? A: Table 6-1 lists the components you can configure depending on your Dell system. NOTE: This list is not exhaustive and is only meant for quick reference. Table 6-1.
Q: When setting the boot sequence for devices, what happens if I choose a device that is not on my system? A: The configuration utility selects the boot devices in the sequence that you specify for boot order. However, if you choose a device that is not present on your system, the utility ignores the device, selects the remaining boot devices, and lists them based on the specified order.
Q: What should I do if I find that one or more virtual disks are in a failed or degraded state? A: If any virtual disk is in a failed or degraded state, do not start the server setup program. Use the RAID controller's firmware utility (by using Ctrl+A, Ctrl+M, or Ctrl+C while booting) to reset the RAID controller's state.
Q: Why does the Novell® SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) version 10 operating system installation sometimes fail on systems equipped with multiple RAID and SCSI controllers? A: When two or more RAID or SCSI controllers are present, install Novell SLES I0 with only one configured RAID or SCSI controller. Configure the other controllers after you install the Novell 10 operating system.
Q: What happens if I disconnect the network connection while I am copying the operating system image from a Server Message Block (SMB) share? A: If you disconnect the network connection while the operating system image is copying, an error message appears indicating that the network is being disconnected. A Reboot button is also enabled. However, the operating system installation process does not resume after you reconnect the network cable. You need to reboot your system.
Important Information and Frequently Asked Questions
Glossary BIOS Acronym for basic input/output system. Your system's BIOS contains programs stored on a flash memory chip. The BIOS controls the following: • Communications between the microprocessor and peripheral devices, such as the keyboard and the video adapter • Miscellaneous functions, such as system messages BMC Abbreviation for baseboard management controller, which is the controller interface between the DRAC and the managed system’s embedded systems management (ESM).
USB Abbreviation for Universal Serial Bus. A USB connector provides a single connection point for multiple USB-compliant devices, such as mice, keyboards, printers, and computer speakers. USB devices can also be connected and disconnected while the system is running. utility partition A bootable partition on the hard drive that provides utilities and diagnostics for your hardware and software. When activated, the partition boots and provides an executable environment for the partition's utilities.
Index B F Boot Menu accessing, 21 options, 23 Firmware Update FAQs, 45 C H Configuring System Hardware current system, 28 multiple systems, 29 Hardware Configuration FAQs, 46 what BIOS options on your system?, 47 which components to configure for which Dell system, 47 D Functionalities in brief, 12 Deploying Current System, 33 Deploying More Than One System With Same Configuration, 36 I Installing Operating System, 30 Deploying More Than One System With Slightly Different Configuration, 38 M D
P Prerequisites Firmware Update, 17 Generic, 16 Hardware Configuration, 17 Server Operating System Installation, 17 Product overview functionalities, 12 R Reusing Configuration Files, 41 S Server Operating System Installation (SOI) FAQs, 50 uses, 50 Systems Build and Update Utility flexibility, advantages, 25 functionalities overview, 12 key features, 11 usage in different scenarios, 26 what is, 11 U Updating Your System Firmware, 27 56 Index
