Dell Repository Manager: How to use Smart Scripts

The following video covers how to integrate and use Smart Scripts in DRM. Smart Scripts can be performed before or after an update process.

Link to the Dell Technologies YouTube channel video:
How to use Smart Scripts in Dell EMC Repository Manager
 

Smart Script: 

Features of Smart script: 

• In-Band update method - Designed to run in Host OS 

• Essentially functions as an offline DSU against a custom catalog 

• Commonly used in Windows environments with tools that push .bat files, like SCCM 

Create a Smart script: 

• Under Application Preferences > Plug-ins, ensure that the Dell EMC Smart Script plugin is installed. If not, check the box next to it and select Update in the upper right 

• Navigate to any Repository you want to Export as an SUU 

• Select the Repository or Selection of Bundles 

• Select Export on the upper menu 

• Select Smart Script and then select OS and pick a Save Location 

Pre and Post script options: 

Smart script workflow: 

• Run apply components script 

• Installs Dell System Update(DSU) 

• Runs DSU immediately following install 

• This kicks off the inventory collector in the bundle to see what is installed 

• Then do a catalog comparison and automatically runs the updates needed 

• Once updates are completed, it uninstalls DSU 

Troubleshooting Smart Scripts: 

NOTE: DSU saves logs at the following locations, but since the Script installs and uninstalls DSU the logs are missing unless DSU errors out on uninstall. 

Windows: C:\ProgramData\Dell\Dell EMC System Update\dell_dup 

Linux: /usr/libexec/dell_dup 

No Components are updated: 

• Review the apply_components.log at the directory that the script is run from 

• Correct DUP Types? 

• If the DUP types are correct, then it is most likely an inventory collector problem. 

Inventory Collector issue: 

• Review the apply_components.log at the directory that the script is run from 

• Inventory Collector mounts a USB partition, so ensure that USB is not be blacklisted/blocked 

• The inventory collector may have difficulty enumerating a particular device, but in this scenario should still complete.  

• If the logs do not tell you anything, run inventory collector in debug mode 

• How to run invcol in debug mode 

      1. Download the version of invcol you are already using(In same directory as the script) 

      2. Extract the DUP for invcol 

      3. Run it in debug mode:

  invcol –type=debug 

      4. Review the output for the real error to resolve 

      5. Engage SST if no traction can be made 

   

A single Update fails to run: 

• Check the apply_components.log in the default log location for errors 

• Check release notes for firmware and Driver to rule out any known issues like being too out of date 

• Attempt to reflash the component with the same version  

If the reflash succeeds, it is an issue with that specific DUP. May need to step or there is a defect. 

If the reflash fails, it is an OS issue or Component issue. 

• Run DUP in Debug Mode 

• Debug Mode instruction

All Updates fail to run: 

• Check the apply_components.log in the default log location for errors 

• Almost certainly an OS level issue though 

• To root cause why it is blocked run a DUP in debug mode 

• Debug Mode instruction:

Smart Script does not run: 

• Install DSU manually and attempt it to get better logging out of DSU itself