Dell Command | Update Version 5.x Reference Guide
Dell Command | Update CLI commands
This section provides information about the CLI commands available in Dell Command | Update.
The CLI syntax is as follows:
/<command> -option1=value1 -option2=value2 -option3=value3...
NOTE:When entering the command, ensure that you do not enter a space after the forward slash.
NOTE:If the files or folder paths contain spaces, then use double quotes for the option values.
| CLI options | Description | Syntax | Supported Options |
|---|---|---|---|
| /help or -help | Displays usage information.
NOTE:Any other command that is specified with this command is ignored.
|
dcu-cli.exe /help | Not Applicable |
| /? | Displays usage information.
NOTE:Any other command that is specified with this command is ignored.
|
dcu-cli.exe /? | Not Applicable |
| -? | Displays usage information.
NOTE:Any other command that is specified with this command is ignored.
|
dcu-cli.exe -? | Not Applicable |
| /version | Displays the Dell Command | Update version.
NOTE:Any other command that is specified with this command is ignored.
|
dcu-cli.exe /version | Not Applicable |
| /configure | Allows configuration of Dell Command | Update based on settings that are provided in the supported options.
NOTE:Options that passed here are persistent, available through the life of the application on the system.
|
dcu-cli.exe /configure -<option>=<value>
Examples: dcu-cli.exe /configure -userConsent=disable |
-allowXML -importSettings -exportSettings -lockSettings -advancedDriverRestore -driverLibraryLocation -catalogLocation -downloadLocation -updateSeverity -updateType -updateDeviceCategory -userConsent -secureBiosPassword -biosPassword -customProxy -proxyAuthentication -proxyHost -proxyPort -proxyUserName -secureProxyPassword -proxyPassword -scheduleWeekly -scheduleMonthly -scheduleDaily -scheduleManual -scheduleAuto -scheduleAction -silent -outputLog -restoreDefaults -autoSuspendBitLocker Mutually exclusive options These options cannot be used with the specific commands that are listed below: -importSettings, - exportSettings, -lockSettings. NOTE:This option cannot be used with any other options except -outputLog and -silent
-scheduleAuto, -scheduleManual, -scheduleMonthly, -scheduleWeekly,-scheduleDaily |
| /customnotification |
Allows configuration of custom notifications.
NOTE:To configure a custom notification, all the three options -heading, -body, and -timestamp must be provided.
|
dcu-cli.exe / customnotification -<option>=<value> -<option>=<value> -<option>=<value> |
-heading -body -timestamp |
| /scan | Performs a system scan to determine the updates for the current system configuration.
NOTE:Options passed for this command run only once. If no options are specified with this command, the Command Line Interface uses the existing application settings to process this command.
|
dcu-cli.exe /scan -<option>=<value>
Ex: dcu-cli.exe /scan dcu-cli.exe /scan dcu-cli.exe /scan -updateType=bios,firmware dcu-cli.exe /scan - updateSeverity=security, recommended |
-silent -outputLog -updateSeverity -updateType -updateDeviceCategory -catalogLocation -report |
| /applyUpdates | Applies all updates for the current system configuration.
NOTE:Options passed for this command run only once. If no options are specified with this command, the Command Line Interface uses the existing application settings to process this command.
|
dcu-cli.exe / applyUpdates -<option>=<value>
Ex: dcu-cli.exe /applyUpdates dcu-cli.exe /applyUpdates -silent dcu-cli.exe /applyUpdates -updateType=bios,firmware |
-silent -outputLog -updateSeverity -updateType -updateDeviceCategory -catalogLocation -reboot -encryptedPassword -encryptedPasswordFile -encryptionKey -autoSuspendBitLocker -forceupdate Mandatory options: These options are required to be provided with the specific commands listed below: -encryptedPassword and -encryptionKey -encryptedPasswordFile and - encryptionKey |
| /driverInstall | This CLI option installs all the base drivers for the present configuration on a newly installed Windows operating system.
NOTE:Options passed for this command run only once. If no options are specified with this command, the command line interface uses the existing application settings to process this command.
NOTE:To apply a driver pack, -driverLibraryLocation path must be set to the location of the CAB or EXE driver pack.
|
dcu-cli.exe / driverInstall -<option>=<value>
Ex: dcu-cli.exe / driverInstall dcu-cli.exe / driverInstall -silent |
-driverLibraryLocation -silent -outputLog -reboot |
| /generateEncryptedPassword | Generates an encrypted BIOS password. | dcu-cli.exe /generateEncryptedPassword -encryptionKey=<inline value> -password=<inlinevalue> -outputPath=<folderpath>
-dcu-cli.exe /generateEncryptedPassword -secureEncryptionKey -securePassword -outputPath=<folderpath> |
-secureEncryptionKey -securePassword -encryptionKey -password -outputPath NOTE:-outputPath is optional for the user to apply.
These options are required to be provided with the specific commands listed below: -password and -encryptionKey or use-secureEncryptionKey and -securePassword |
| CLI options | Description | Syntax | Expected values |
|---|---|---|---|
| -advancedDriverRestore | Allows the user to enable or disable the Advanced Driver Restore feature in the UI. | dcu-cli.exe /configure -advancedDriverRestore=disable | <enable|disable> |
| -allowXML | Allows the user to enable or disable the use of XML catalog file. |
dcu-cli /configure -allowXML=enable dcu-cli /configure -allowXML=enable -catalogLocation=C:\\catalog.xml dcu-cli /configure -catalogLocation=C:\\catalog.xml -allowXML=enable |
<enable|disable> |
| -autoSuspendBitLocker | Allows the user to enable or disable the automatic suspension of BitLocker, when applying BIOS updates. | dcu-cli.exe /configure - autoSuspendBitLocker=disable | <enable|disable> |
| -secureBiosPassword | Allows the user to provide the unencrypted BIOS password securely. | dcu-cli.exe /configure -secureBiosPassword | <password|""> |
| -biosPassword | Allows the user to provide the unencrypted BIOS password. The password is cleared if a password is not provided or "" is supplied.
NOTE:The value must be enclosed in double quotes.
|
dcu-cli.exe /configure -biosPassword="Test1234" | <password|""> |
| -catalogLocation | Allows the user to set the repository/catalog file location. If used with /applyUpdates, only one path may be specified. | dcu-cli.exe /configure -catalogLocation=C:\catalog.xml | One or more catalog file paths. |
| -customProxy | Allows the user to enable or disable the use of custom proxy.
NOTE:Setting this option to enable will cause validation of all custom proxy settings.
|
dcu-cli.exe /configure -customProxy=enable | <enable|disable> |
| -defaultSourceLocation | Allows the user to enable or disable the fallback to the default source location.
NOTE:
Setting this option to enable, the Dell Command | Update application installs the updates from the Default Source Location if the other source locations selected fails to update . NOTE:
Setting this option to disable the Dell Command | Update application will not install the updates from the Default Source Location. NOTE:To disable this option at least one source location should be provided.
|
dcu-cli.exe /configure -defaultSourceLocation=disable | <enable|disable> |
| -downloadLocation | Allows the user to specify the location to override the default application download path. | dcu-cli.exe /configure -downloadLocation=C:\Temp\AppDownload | A folder path |
| -driverLibraryLocation | Allows the user to set the system driver catalog location. If this option is not specified, the driver library shall be downloaded from
www.dell.com
NOTE:This command requires functional networking components.
|
dcu-cli.exe /configure -driverLibraryLocation=C:\Temp\DriverLibrary.exe
or dcu-cli.exe /configure -driverLibraryLocation=C:\Temp\DriverLibrary.cab |
A file path with .exe or .cab extension. |
| -secureEncryptionKey | Allows the user to specify the encryption key that is used to encrypt the password securely.
NOTE:The key that is provided must be at least six characters and includes an uppercase letter, a lowercase letter, and a digit.
|
dcu-cli /applyUpdates -secureEncryptedPassword -secureEncryptionKey
dcu-cli /generateEncryptedPassword -secureEncryptionKey -securePassword -outputPath=C:\Temp |
<encryption key> |
| -encryptionKey | Allows the user to specify the encryption key that is used to encrypt the password.
NOTE:The key that is provided must be at least six characters and includes an uppercase letter, a lowercase letter, and a digit. Also, this value must be enclosed in double quotes.
|
dcu-cli /applyUpdates -encryptedPassword="myEncryptedPassword" -encryptionKey="myEncryptionKey"
dcu-cli /generateEncryptedPassword -encryptionKey="myEncryptionKey" -password="myPassword" -outputPath=C:\Temp |
<encryption key> |
| -secureEncryptedPassword | Allows the user to pass the encrypted password securely along with the encryption key that was used to generate it.
NOTE:-encryptionKey is required to be specified along with this option.
|
dcu-cli /applyUpdates -secureEncryptedPassword -secureEncryptionKey | <encrypted password> |
| -encryptedPassword | Allows the user to pass the encrypted password inline along with the encryption key that was used to generate it.
NOTE:-encryptionKey is required to be specified along with this option. Also, this value must be enclosed in double quotes.
|
dcu-cli /applyUpdates -encryptedPassword="myEncryptedPassword" -encryptionKey="myEncryptionKey" | <encrypted password> |
| -encryptedPasswordFile | Allows the user to pass the encrypted password by file.
NOTE:-encryptionKey is required to be specified along with this option.
|
dcu-cli /applyUpdates -encryptedPasswordFile=C:\Temp\EncryptedPassword.txt -encryptionKey="myEncryptionKey" | A file path with .txt extension. |
| -exportSettings | Allows the user to export application settings to the specified folder path.
NOTE:This option cannot be used with any other options except -outputLog and -silent.
|
dcu-cli.exe /configure -exportSettings=C:\Temp | A folder path |
| -forceupdate | Allows the user to override the pause functionality of Dell Command | Update during conference calls and force Windows updates. | dcu-cli /applyupdates -forceupdate=enable/disable | <enable|disable> |
| -heading -body -timestamp |
Allows the user to set the heading for the notification.
NOTE:The maximum character length for the heading is 80 characters.
Allows the user to set the content or body of the notification.
NOTE:The maximum character length for the body is 750 characters.
Allows the user to set the timestamp for the notification. |
dcu-cli.exe /customnotification -heading="I am heading" -body="I am body" -timestamp=9/19/2022,00:46 |
Text for the heading of the notification. Text for the content of the notification. Future date and time to schedule the notification. |
| -importSettings | Allows the user to import application settings file.
NOTE:This option cannot be used with any other options except
-outputLog and
-silent.
|
dcu-cli.exe /configure -importSettings=C:\Temp\Settings.xml | An .xml file path |
| -installationDeferral -deferralInstallInterval -deferralInstallCount | Allows the user to enable or disable deferral install options.
NOTE:-deferralInstallInterval and -deferralInstallCount are required to be specified along with Enable option.
Allows the user to set the deferral install interval. Allows the user to set the deferral install count. |
dcu-cli.exe /configure -installationDeferral=enable -deferralInstallInterval=1 -deferralInstallCount=2 |
<enable|disable> <1-99> <1-9> |
| -lockSettings | Allows the user to lock all the settings in the UI.
NOTE:This option cannot be used with any other options except
-outputLog and
-silent.
|
dcu-cli.exe /configure -lockSettings=enable | <enable|disable> |
| -maxretry | Set the maximum retry attempts to install failed updates upon reboot. | dcu-cli /configure -maxretry=2 | <1|2|3> |
| -outputLog | Allows the user to log the status and progress information of a command execution in a given log path. | dcu-cli.exe /scan -outputLog=C:\Temp\\scanOutput.log | A file path, with .log extension |
| -outputPath | Allows the user to specify the folder path to which encrypted password file is saved. | dcu-cli.exe /generateEncryptedPassword -encryptionKey="myEncryptionKey" -password="myPassword" -outputPath=C:\Temp | A folder path |
| -securePassword | Allows the user to specify the password to be encrypted securely.
NOTE:secureEncryptionKey is required to be specified along with this option.
|
dcu-cli /generateEncryptedPassword -secureEncryptionKey -securePassword -outputPath=C:\Temp | password |
| -password | Allows the user to specify the password to be encrypted.
NOTE:encryptionKey is required to be specified along with this option. Also, this value must be enclosed in double quotes.
|
dcu-cli.exe /generateEncryptedPassword -encryptionKey="myEncryptionKey" -password="myPassword" | password |
| -proxyAuthentication | Allows the user to enable or disable the authentication.
NOTE:The proxy server, proxy port, username, and password fields are validated if you select the custom proxy setting option.
|
dcu-cli.exe /configure - proxyAuthentication=enable | <enable|disable> |
| -proxyHost | Allows the user to specify the proxy host. Providing an empty string as the value to this option clears the proxy host.
NOTE:The proxy server, proxy port, username, and password fields are validated if you select the custom proxy setting option.
|
dcu-cli.exe /configure -proxyHost=proxy.com | <FQDN|IP address|"">
Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) |
| -secureProxyPassword | Allows the user to specify the proxy password securely.
NOTE:The proxy server, proxy port, username, and password fields are validated if you select the custom proxy setting option.
|
dcu-cli.exe /configure -secureProxyPassword | <password|""> |
| -proxyPassword | Allows the user to specify the proxy password. Providing an empty string as the value to this option clears the proxy password.
NOTE:The proxy server, proxy port, username, and password fields are validated if you select the custom proxy setting option. The value must be enclosed in double quotes.
|
dcu-cli.exe /configure -proxyPassword="my password" | <password|""> |
| -proxyPort | Allows the user to specify the proxy port. Providing an empty string as the value to this option clears the proxy port.
NOTE:The proxy server, proxy port, username, and password fields are validated if you select the custom proxy setting option.
|
dcu-cli.exe /configure -proxyPort=8080 | <port number|""> |
| -proxyUserName | Allows the user to specify the proxy username. Providing an empty string as the value to this option clears the proxy username.
NOTE:The proxy server, proxy port, username, and password fields are validated if you select the custom proxy setting option.
|
dcu-cli.exe /configure -proxyUserName="john doe" | <user name|""> |
| -reboot | Reboot the system automatically. | dcu-cli.exe /applyUpdates -reboot=enable | <enable|disable> |
| -report | Allows the user to create an XML report of the applicable updates. | dcu-cli.exe /scan -report=C:\Temp\UpdatesReport.xml | An .xml file path |
| -restoreDefaults | Allows the user to restore default settings. | dcu-cli.exe /configure - restoreDefaults | None |
| -scheduleAction | Allows the user to specify the action to perform when updates are found. | dcu-cli.exe /configure - scheduleAction=NotifyAvailableUpdates | <NotifyAvailableUpdates | DownloadAndNotify | DownloadInstallAndNotify> |
| -scheduleAuto | Allows the user to enable the default automatic update schedule.
NOTE:Automatic updates runs every three days. Also, this option cannot be used with.
-scheduleManual -scheduleWeekly -scheduleMonthly -scheduleDaily |
dcu-cli.exe /configure - scheduleAuto | None |
| -scheduleManual | Allows the user to disable the automatic schedule and enable only manual updates.
NOTE: This option cannot be used with:
-scheduleAuto -scheduleWeekly -scheduleMonthly -scheduleDaily |
dcu-cli.exe /configure - scheduleManual | None |
| -scheduleDaily |
Allows the user to specify the time to schedule an update. NOTE:This option cannot be used with -scheduleManual, -scheduleAuto, -scheduleMonthly, -scheduleWeekly.
|
dcu-cli /configure -scheduleDaily=23:45 | Time[00:00(24 hour format, 15 minutes increment)] |
| -scheduleMonthly | Allows the user to specify the day of the month and time to schedule an update. If the scheduled day is greater than the last day of the month, the update is performed on the last day of that month. The user is allowed to specify schedule values in two formats to schedule a monthly update:
NOTE: This option cannot be used with
-scheduleManual -scheduleAuto -scheduleWeekly -scheduleDaily |
dcu-cli /configure -scheduleMonthly=28,00:45
dcu-cli /configure -scheduleMonthly=second,Fri,00:45 |
For first format: <Date of month [1 - 31],Time[00:00(24 hr format, 15 minutes increment)]> For second format: <Week [< first | second | third | fourth | last >],Day [< Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat >],Time[00:00(24 hr format, 15 minutes increment)]> |
| -scheduleWeekly | Allows the user to specify the day of the week and time to schedule an update.
NOTE: This option cannot be used with:
-scheduleManual -scheduleAuto -scheduleMonthly -scheduleDaily |
dcu-cli.exe /configure - scheduleWeekly=Mon,23:45 | day[< Sun | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat >],time[00:00(24 hr format, 15 minutes increment)] |
| -systemRestartDeferral-deferralRestartInterval -deferralRestartCount | Allows the user to Enable or Disable system restart deferral options.
NOTE:-deferralRestartInterval and -deferralRestartCount are required to be specified along with Enable option.
Allows the user to set the deferral restart interval. Allows the user to set the deferral restart count. |
dcu-cli /configure -systemRestartDeferral=enable -deferralRestartInterval=1 -deferralRestartCount=2 |
<enable|disable> <1-99> <1-9> |
| -silent | Allows the user to hide status and progress information about the console. | dcu-cli.exe /scan -silent | None |
| -updateDeviceCategory | Allows the user to filter updates based on device type.
NOTE:Filters are not applicable for
Dell Docking Solution updates.
|
dcu-cli.exe /configure -updateDeviceCategory=network,storage | [audio, video, network, storage, input, chipset, and others] |
| -updateSeverity | Allows the user to filter updates based on severity.
NOTE:Filters are not applicable for
Dell Docking Solution updates.
|
dcu-cli.exe /configure -updateSeverity=recommended,optional | [security, critical, recommended, and optional] |
| -updateType | Allows the user to filter updates based on update type.
NOTE:Filters are not applicable for
Dell Docking Solution updates.
|
dcu-cli.exe /configure -updateType=bios | [bios, firmware, driver, application, and others] |
| -userConsent | Allows the user to opt in or out to send information to Dell regarding the update experience. | dcu-cli.exe /configure -userConsent=disable | <enable|disable> |
| -updatesNotification | Allows the user to enable or disable toast notifications. | dcu-cli /configure -updatesNotification=enable | <enable|disable> |
If BitLocker is enabled, the following applies:
-
When -autoSuspendBitLocker is set to enable, and a BIOS update is available, the BIOS update is installed while the BitLocker is suspended during the installation process. After the BIOS and other updates are installed, the system will automatically reboot to complete the BIOS update, and the BitLocker is reenabled. The following warning message is displayed before applying the updates:
Warning: If the BIOS update is selected, and the BitLocker is enabled on this system, the BitLocker is suspended temporarily during the installation time to effectively apply the BIOS update. After the BIOS and other updates are applied, the system automatically reboots to complete the BIOS update, and the BitLocker is reenabled. -
When -autoSuspendBitLocker is set to disable, the CLI removes the BIOS updates from the applicable updates and installs the rest of the updates. The following warning message is displayed:
Warning: One or more available updates will be skipped, as installing these updates may cause the system to become locked by BitLocker. To avoid this situation, enable BitLocker suspension and run again to install these updates.
NOTE:The folders that are listed below are reserved for system use and are restricted for user level access:
- C:\WINDOWS
- C:\Program Files
- C:\Program Files (x86)
- C:\Users\Public
NOTE:The subfolders
Microsoft and
Windows under the following system folders are restricted for user level access.
- C:\Users\<UserName>\AppData\Roaming
- C:\Users\<UserName>\AppData\Local
- C:\Users\<UserName>
NOTE:Application logs—files with extension
.log can be stored under
C:\ProgramData\Dell.
NOTE:Extended length UNC path is not allowed if the UNC path is used as a part of driver library or catalog location.
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