Dell Lifecycle Controller provides advanced embedded
systems management to perform systems management tasks such as deploy,
configure, update, maintain, and diagnose. It is delivered as part
of integrated Dell Remote Access Controller (iDRAC) out-of-band solution
and embedded Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) applications
in the latest Dell servers. iDRAC works with the UEFI firmware to
access and manage every aspect of the hardware, including component
and subsystem management that is beyond the traditional Baseboard
Management Controller (BMC) capabilities.
Dell Lifecycle Controller Remote Services further
enables remote systems management in a one-to-many method. Remote
services is accessible over the network using the secure web services
interface and can be programmatically utilized by applications and
scripts. Remote services enable management consoles to perform one-to-many
bare-metal server provisioning. The combination of the Provisioning
Server feature to identify and authenticate the attached Dell system
to the network and integration with one‑to-many management consoles
reduces the manual steps required for server setup and management.
The Server Configuration Profiles provide a single view of all the
system settings that can be imported and exported from the server
to perform one-to-many cloning operations. The interface is aimed
at simplifying many tasks, some of which include remotely deploying
an operating system, remote update and inventory, and remotely automating
the setup and configuration of new and already-deployed Dell systems.
Lifecycle Controller reduces the time and number of
steps taken to accomplish tasks, reduces potential for error, enhances
server and application uptime and security, and results in more efficient
IT management. Developed on the industry standard Unified Extensible
Firmware Interface (UEFI) platform and Web Services for Management
(WSMAN) interfaces, Lifecycle Controller provides an open environment
for console integration that also allows custom scripting for Lifecycle
Controller. Leading systems management consoles such as, Microsoft
System Center Configuration Manager, BMC Software BladeLogic Operations
Manager, Symantec Deployment Solution, and Dell Management Console
have integrated Dell Lifecycle Controller to utilize its features
and capabilities to an existing infrastructure, where these consoles
are installed.