Dell Embedded Management

Faster, More Efficient, More Secure Local and Remote Deployment

Server management is advancing with Dell’s embedded management strategy. When we examined common management tasks, and the inefficiencies associated with them, we discovered something interesting – it wasn’t the tools that were making these management tasks take so long, it was how they were delivered. The most common activities, like provisioning, deploying, and updating, required multiple tools, multiple forms of media, and scouring the Web for the latest enablement tools, like drivers and firmware. This traditional delivery model resulted in an inefficient use of time, potential for error, and potential exposure to security risks.

With the introduction of the 11th-generation (11G) Dell^TM  PowerEdge^TM  servers, Dell offers Embedded Management, which resolves the inefficiencies and issues associated with the traditional, media-based systems management delivery model. Dell’s embedded management houses the tools and enablement pieces for management directly on the server, allowing administrators to perform a complete set of provisioning functions from a single, intuitive interface. Dell’s embedded management enables zero-media, low-touch deployment that is more efficient, secure, and user-friendly for IT administrators.

Lifecycle Controller is the engine for advanced embedded management and is delivered as part of iDRAC Express in the new, 11th-generation Dell PowerEdge servers (“Dell 11G servers”). It includes 1 GB of managed and persistent storage that embeds systems management features directly on the server, thus eliminating the media-based delivery of system management tools and utilities needed for systems management. Lifecycle Controller’s delivery model simplifies the server lifecycle management experience, from provisioning, to deployment, patching/updates, servicing as well as user customization. It also reduces the time taken to accomplish tasks, reduces potential for error, enhances security, and results in more efficient enterprise management. For example, a study by Principled Technologies, an independent evaluator of IT technologies, determined that embedded management on PowerEdge servers reduced OS install time by one-third compared to on HP servers using HP SmartStart (Full report is available on Principled Technologies web site, http://www.principledtechnologies.com or directly at http://www.principledtechnologies.com/clients/reports/Dell/DellUSCvsHPSmartStart.pdf ).

Embedded management is comprised of several aspects

Unified Server Configurator (USC) aims at local 1-to-1 deployment via a graphical user interface (GUI) for operating system install, updates, configuration, and for performing diagnostics, on single, local servers. This eliminates the need for multiple option ROMs for hardware configuration. Remote Services are standards-based interfaces that enable consoles to integrate, for example, bare-metal provisioning and one-to-many OS deployments, for servers located remotely. Dell’s Lifecycle Controller takes advantage of the capabilities of both USC and Remote Services to deliver significant advancement and simplification of server deployment. Lifecycle Controller Serviceability aims at simplifying server reprovision and/or replacing failed parts and thus reduces maintenance downtime.

Unified Server Configurator - local 1-to-1 deployment

Basic device configuration (RAID, NIC and iDRAC (Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller)) via simple wizards Diagnose the system OS install by unpacking the drivers for the user selected OS Drivers are embed for systems with iDRAC Express, Lifecycle Controller Drivers are available on Systems Management Tools and Documentation media for systems with Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) Advanced device configuration for NIC and BIOS. This is available only in systems with iDRAC Express Update BIOS, firmware and stage updated drivers by directly connecting to relevant updates on ftp.dell.com. This is available only in systems with iDRAC Express Roll back firmware to a last known good state Supports 7 languages (English, French, German, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Korean) Recently announced feature enhancements Configure provisioning server for auto discovery of iDRAC Report the vFlash (virtual flash) media (SSD card) status Enable part replacement and configure automatic firmware flash Configure BIOS boot order Check for compatible BIOS, IDRAC and Lifecycle Controller versions Configure Self-encryption disk drives

Lifecycle Controller Remote Services - remote 1-to-many deployment available on systems with iDRAC Express and iDRAC Enterprise remote access controllers

Auto-discovery of bare metal systems. iDRAC can be configured in factory or using USC to connect and authenticate to a provisioning console Operating system install Install OS on the discovered system using drivers resident on the Lifecycle Controller Install custom OS image – allows users to install OS that does not have the desired drivers on the Lifecycle Controller Install OS by booting from service image on a network share Integration into Microsoft®  System Center Configuration Manager and BMC Software BladeLogic Operations Manager consoles WSMan interfaces can be used to integrate into home-grown consoles and script Recently announced feature enhancements Custom Factory Install of Auto-Discovery Security Certificates and Provisioning Server Name/Address WS-Man Interface for changing Auto-Discovery Certificates and re-initiation of Auto-Discovery Remote out-of-band instant Firmware Inventory of installed and available firmware images Bare metal out-of-band updates – Remotely initiate offline BIOS, firmware and driver pack update and schedule updates

Serviceability available on systems with vFlash media

Recently announced feature enhancements Part replacement – Automatic firmware flash for field/customer replaceable components in the system Pre-OS image staging on vFlash – Boot to a pre-OS image (e.g. WinPE) stored on vFlash