OpenManage Essentials and Network Discovery for Windows Server 2008

What are server models to be managed using OME ?

What are they key features of interest in OME (Ex: Hardware Inventory, hardware monitoring, pushing BIOS, firmware and driver updates) ?

Enabling Network discovery in Windows 2008 is required for managing 11G servers and earlier. 12G servers can be managed via iDRAC 7.

Thanks,

Raj Shresta

It's a variety of server models, only one of which is R720 12G, but a good number of 2900's and R510 and R610 series.

Basically hardware inventory and hardware inventory are the two features we are looking for.

I see, thanks. Honestly it's kind of disappointing to know that network discovery needs to be enabled, as that will be the "deal breaker" for us when it comes to using OME. But we'll probably use it for our 12G servers and our virtualized ones. Thanks.

One more question I had: Is the communication between Dell OpenManage Essentials and the servers or clients encrypted? Or is it in "plain text"?

Got it, thank you Rob. Appreciate the help. So basically if I use WS-MAN authentication, the communication between the OME box and the ESX would be encrypted as well, correct?

Hi there,

Everything is encrypted.  Though note that SNMP v1/v2 is used for some traffic on the monitored devices.  But the app uses SSL.

Thanks,

Rob

Great, thanks!

Another question: what's the recommended way to have OME communicate with 12G and pre 12G servers that are ESX 5.x hosts? We currently don't have iDRAC enabled on any of the servers, but I am assuming we can also install the ESX VIB and have them communicate with OME?

Thanks again for your help.

Hi there,

Have a look at the whitepapers on www.delltechcenter.com/ome and  see if they might help.

Perhaps this one:

en.community.dell.com/.../20229206.aspx

Thanks much,

Rob

Can Network Discovery be disabled after the initial discover/inventory has been successfully run and the Server has shown up correctly in the console?  Or does it have to be on in perpetuity?

Hi,

You can disable scheduled network discovery using Manage -> Discovery and Inventory -> Discovery Schedule wizard. Uncheck Enable Discovery option and hit Ok.