Workstation updates - best practices

Question

I have about 80 Dell Precision workstations that I manage. These stations do not have internet access. I would like to know some recommendations for keeping the drivers, bios and firmware up to date for these stations. I already use Dell SUU for keeping the Dell servers up to date, but for workstations, I mostly wait until I have to rebuild one (rare event) before I check the drivers for updating. Is there something like SUU for workstations? As I said, these stations do not have internet access, so something like Dell Command | Update doesn't look like a good fit me. Thanks for any help.

cameronredux · Answer

Open Manage Essentials could work for this. If you put OME on the same private network as the workstations and give the OME server a public address so it can download the catalog and the firmware updates to forward on to the workstations. Do the workstations have OMSA installed?

dvandekraats · Answer

Thanks for the reply!

I have OME installed and I've installed Dell Command | Monitor on the workstations. I've been able to load the updates from the Dell SUU disk into OME and it sends the updates to the servers, but I have nothing equivalent to load updates for the workstations. Our OME server is also isolated from the internet; this unfortunately can't be changed. If it were possible to download a repository of the updates that I could then move it to the OME server and load as a catalog source?

Derrick.

rohanmaloney · Answer

OK Just rang a super quick test , I rang the Business Client Version of DELL Repository Manager, when I created a new repository i selected all the Precision range and it created a file that had 940 updates in it . The only thing i haven't tried is to migrate it over to OME yet.

#iwork4dell

rohanmaloney · Answer

What about using DELL repository Manager That could create a Workstation repository for your and then you could potentially use that in the OME Server it is doubling up on work by i have seen a number of my customers that have AIR Gapped systems use this way.

#iwork4dell

dvandekraats · Answer

Thanks for the ideas.

I tried this and I am stuck at the same point. I have a directory that RPM downloaded all the updated files into, but OME will not import the CATALOG.XML file, even though OME has a specific option for using repository manager files.

rohanmaloney · Answer

Ok, then it might be time to open a case with Prosupport they will route it to the Open Manage software team that should be able to get you through this issue. #iwork4dell

dvandekraats · Answer

Agreed. Thanks for the help.

Systems Management General

Workstation updates - best practices

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