Server Update Utility: How to create and a bootable ISO file within DRM

This training video steps through the process of creating a SUU (Server Update Utility) and a bootable ISO file within DRM. This video also provides a demo on their uses.


Link to the Dell Technologies YouTube channel video:
Create a bootable ISO and Server Update Utility from Dell EMC Repository Manager (DRM)


 

Bootable ISO: 

Features of Smart Bootable ISO: 

• Out of Band update method using self-contained ISO 

• Leverages Dell System Update in a CentOS Environment 

• Same logic as in-band updates in a clean reproducible environment 

• Only leverages .BIN Linux Bundles 

• Used mostly in smaller environments or in scenarios where there are no iDRACs configured and operating system updates are not allowed 

Create a Smart Bootable ISO: 

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

• Browse to any Repository that you want to Export as a Bootable ISO 

• Select the Repository or Selection of Linux Bundles 

• Select Export on the upper menu 

• Select Smart Bootable ISO and then pick a Save Location 

NOTE: Select Enable Force Update if downgrade is needed. Bootable ISO logic only does upgrades by default. 

Bootable ISO workflow: 

• ISO Loads up CentOS operating system 

• Once the kernel loads immediately runs Dell System Update(DSU) 

• This kicks off the Inventory Collector operating system DUP to pull the current hardware inventory 

• Then compares against the catalog created from the DRM export wizard 

• Then automatically do the upgrade of all out-of-date components(or force applies everything if you selected that option during export) 

• When completed, it asks you to press any key to reboot 

Troubleshooting Bootable ISO: 

Inventory Collector has a partial failure: 

• This error will not prevent the ISO from updating the components 

• It always ends up being tied to an Inventory Collector Defect, usually with a particular NIC model 

• If it is the newest, it is a Defect that should be escalated 

• To work around, import a different Inventory collector DUP 

DSU only runs a DSU update and then is done: 

• DSU update is also in the repository 

• This issue is caused when an older DRM ISO plug-in is used, which has an older DSU version 

• DSU updates itself and then stops running to reboot as if it were a normal operating system 

• Since the Bootable ISO is an image when it boots again its running the old DSU and updates itself again 

• Removed DSU from the bundle or update the Bootable ISO Plugin 

DSU runs and finds no updates: 

• This likely means that the ISO was made without this model's bundle 

• No valid updates exist in the catalog for the server you are running it on 

• Mount the ISO in a Windows operating system and compare the catalog to the iDRAC Inventory to rule out that the server is up to date per the ISO contents 

• Re-create the ISO with the proper server model/updates in the bundle