Reference Guide

5 RESTful Server Configuration with iDRAC RESTful API
1 Introduction
As the scale of deployment has grown for x86 servers, IT administrators have seen their scope expand from
managing a handful of servers to hundreds or even thousands of servers. The deployment scale and the IT
models have changed – from physical to virtual, from on-premises to cloud to hybrid cloud – leading to
wholesale changes in the tools and processes of IT management.
In response to these changes, Dell and the industry have developed new systems management automation
methods and standards that utilize web and cloud computing technologies. Among these technologies, APIs
using the Representational State Transfer (REST) architecture, such as the Distributed Management Task
Force (DMTF) Redfish standard, are becoming key enablers for efficient automation of server deployment
and update.
The heart of embedded management automation in every Dell PowerEdge server—the iDRAC with Lifecycle
Controller— provides the ability to generate a human-readable snapshot of server configuration via a Server
Configuration Profile (SCP). This single file contains all BIOS, iDRAC, Lifecycle Controller, Network, and
Storage settings. After capture, this file can be modified as needed, and applied to other servers, including
different server models. The iDRAC has supported export, preview, and import operations for SCP using the
WS-Man API and RACADM command line interface since the 12th generation of PowerEdge servers. With
the version 2.40.40.40 firmware update or later, these operations are also supported using iDRAC RESTful
API extensions, enabling RESTful configuration of all settings for 12th, 13th and 14th generation PowerEdge
servers.
This whitepaper provides an overview of the iDRAC RESTful API and Redfish standard and illustrates the
practical use of the RESTful Server Configuration Profile features:
 Showing how to clone or replace settings from a designated source or “golden” server
 Preview applying these settings
 Importing the settings to a target server.
1.1 DMTF Redfish Standard
There are various out-of-band systems management standards available in the industry today. However,
there is no single standard that can be easily used within emerging programming standards, readily
implemented within embedded systems, and meet the demands of today’s evolving IT solution models.
Emerging IT solutions models have placed new demands on systems management solutions to support
expanded scale, higher security, and multi-vendor openness while also aligning with modern DevOps tools
and processes.
Recognizing these needs, Dell and other IT solutions leaders within the DMTF undertook the creation of a
new management interface standard. After a multi-year effort, the new standard, Redfish v1.0, was
announced in July, 2015.
Its key benefits include:
 Increased simplicity and usability
 Encrypted connections and heightened security