How to install OpenManage Server Administrator (OMSA) on VMware to collect logs

Table of Contents

1. Download Dell OpenManage Server Administrator vSphere Installation Bundle (VIB)
2. Upload VIB to Datastore
3. Rebooting the Host
4. OMSA Download and Installation for Windows
5. Collecting logs with SupportAssist Enterprise

Download Dell OpenManage Server Administrator vSphere Installation Bundle (VIB)

To download Dell OpenManage Server Administrator vSphere Installation Bundle (VIB) according to your ESXi version and your server model.

• Navigate to https://www.dell.com/support/home?app=drivers enter your server model, or enter service tag.
• Click Drivers and Downloads Tab
• Select your Operating System
• Keyword OMSA 
• Download the Dell EMC OpenManage Server Administrator vSphere Installation Bundle (VIB) for your ESXi version 

Upload VIB to Datastore

1. Unzip the ".zip" file downloaded from Drivers and Downloads and extract all files
2. Take note of the location of the .vib file
3. Select the Host
4. Then click the Storage 
5. In the Storage panel, highlight the desired Datastore
6. Click Data Store Browser
   
   
   
    
7. On Datastore Browser, click Upload icon and then Upload File

Take note of the .vib file name and path as will be required later to complete the install.

Install using GUI VMware 6.5 or Greater

 

 

Note: To install using the GUI of VMware ESXi you must first extract the .vib file from the .zip file obtained from Drivers and Downloads.

 

1. Unzip the ".zip" file downloaded from Drivers and Downloads and extract all files
2. Take note of the location of the .vib file
3. Click "Manage" on navigator pane on left.
4. Click the "Package" tab and click "Install Update"
5. Fill out file path on the installation window
   
   
   
    
6. Browse to the ".vib" file - eg. /vmfs/volumes/[datastore_name]/cross_dell-openmanage-esxi_9.3.0.ESXi670-3465.vib
   
   

Rebooting the Host to complete the install

VIB Installation using SSH

Install using SSH

Enable SSH

1. Select the host
2. In Actions drop-down, select Enable SSH

 

Disable SSH after installed.

 

VIB Installation using SSH

 

1. Access the host with root user using the SSH Console in the actions drop-down or programs like Putty (or any SSH client tool)

1. Install the VIB with the command line below:

Check the correct path according to your installation package.

 

esxcli software vib install -v /vmfs/volumes/[datastore_name]/cross_dell-openmanage-esxi_9.3.0.ESXi670-3465.vib

 

If you are using the offline bundle, please use below command.

 

esxcli software vib install -d /vmfs/volumes/[datastore_name]/OM-SrvAdmin-Dell-Web-9.3.0-3465.VIB-ESX67i_A00.zip 

 

On some installation like ESXi 5.1, the ZIP file must be located in /var/log/VMware this can be uploaded to that patch using FileZilla.

If the installation succeeds, the below screen will be displayed:

 

 

Note: You can now disable SSH.

Note: The host will needs to be rebooted to complete the installation.

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Rebooting the Host

Caution: Enter Maintenance Mode if required.

1. On the host, right-click and select reboot.
   
   
    

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OMSA Download and Installation for Windows

To access the Dell OpenManage web interface from any computer on the same network as the host.

First you need to download and install OpenManage Server Administrator on your managment/Client system you wish to use to access the remote OMSA. 
 

• Navigate to https://www.dell.com/support/home?app=drivers enter your server model, or enter service tag.
• Click Drivers and Downloads Tab
• Select your Operating System
• Keyword OMSA 

1. After the installation, open the OpenManage Server Administrator shortcut on the desktop
   
   
   
   
    
2. Provide the IP address of the ESXi host, user (root) and password. Make sure the option "Ignore certificate warnings" was checked.
   
   
   
   
   

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Collect logs with SupportAssist Enterprise

Once the VIB has been installed on the VMware server, the log collection can be started from the SupportAssist Enterprise console. 

The console needs to be installed on a different server. A virtual machine can be used for this. 

One the console is installed, the next step is to discover and add the server in the SAE console. Once this is done, the button "Start SupportAssist Collection" will be available for use.

For more information step by step, articles are available.

• Install and gather logs on Windows systems with SupportAssist Enterprise - HOW11858  
• Install and gather logs on Linux systems with SupportAssist Enterprise - HOW11927 

 

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