Dell Server Concepts: Difference between revisions
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''Firmware'' is software deployed on a specific piece of hardware such as hard drive, BIOS or video card. it is programmed to give permanent instructions to communicate with other devices and perform functions like basic input/output tasks. Firmware is typically stored in flash ROM, but it can be erased and rewritten. | ''Firmware'' is software deployed on a specific piece of hardware such as hard drive, BIOS or video card. it is programmed to give permanent instructions to communicate with other devices and perform functions like basic input/output tasks. Firmware is typically stored in flash ROM, but it can be erased and rewritten. | ||
Dell PowerEdge servers allow remote firmware updates, after their iDRAC system was initially set up to allow remote access. | Dell PowerEdge servers allow remote firmware updates, after their [[Dell_Server_Concepts#iDRAC|iDRAC system]] was initially set up to allow remote access. | ||
=iDRAC= | =iDRAC= | ||
Revision as of 18:53, 24 June 2017
Internal
Device Drivers
A device driver is an operating system-specific piece of software, designed to enable the interaction of that version of the operating system with a specific hardware device. The device driver acts as a translator between the hardware device and the program or the operating system that uses it. The device driver is operating system-specific and hardware-dependent.
Firmware
Firmware is software deployed on a specific piece of hardware such as hard drive, BIOS or video card. it is programmed to give permanent instructions to communicate with other devices and perform functions like basic input/output tasks. Firmware is typically stored in flash ROM, but it can be erased and rewritten.
Dell PowerEdge servers allow remote firmware updates, after their iDRAC system was initially set up to allow remote access.
iDRAC
Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller (iDRAC) is an implementation of IPMI. It alerts administrations to server issues, helps them perform remote server management and reduces the need for physically access to the server. iDRAC includes LifeCycle Controller as part of the integrated management solution.
LifeCycle Controller
Dell LifeCycle Controller is an embedded systems management technology that enables remote server management over Dell Remote Access Controller (iDRAC). The LifeCycle controller is part of the Dell Remote Access Controller (iDRAC) solution, LifeCycle can be configured as part of the iDRAC configuration. LifeCycle Controller can be used to update the firmware using a local or Dell-based firmware repository, perform operating system installations, configuration, update, maintenance and diagnosis. The LifeCycle controller can be accessed at boot pressing F10. Upon the first startup, the LifeCycle controller must be set up, according to the following procedure.
Lights Out Management (LOM) Port
Dell Update Repository
The update repository is a collection of firmware updates and drivers that are applied during a firmware update. The location is required during the Dell server firmware update procedure. It can be provided as a FTP address, or as a local bundle via DVD or USB.
Dell Linux Repository
The purpose of Dell Linux Repository is to distributed official Dell software for Dell servers running Linux. That includes OpenManage Server Administrator, BIOS and firmware updates, diagnostic applications, etc.
Dell System Update (DSU)
Dell System Update (DSU) is an application used to distribute Dell updates for Linux and Microsoft Windows. The DSU distributes the OpenManage Server Administrator and BIOS and firmware updates for different servers.
Location
Dell Update Package (DUP)
Dell Update Package.
Latest DSU DUP/RMP:
All DSUs:
Lifecycle Controller OS Driver Pack DVD
Distributed as a DVD ISO image, contains Dell Update Packages (DUPs). Also referred to as "Operating System Driver Packs DVD".
Dell OpenManage Server Administrator
Dell OpenManage Server Administrator (OMSA) is a software agent that provides systems management capabilities via a Web browser-based graphical user interface (GUI) and from a command line interface (CLI) through the operating system. OMSA is designed so that system administrators can manage server systems both locally and remotely on a network. It also interfaces with OpenManage Essentials (OME) console, which allows for monitoring of the systems in the data center from a single interface.
The best way to install OMSA is to install the srvadmin-all metapackage, which installs all OMSA components:
yum install srvadmin-all
srvadmin-services.sh start|stop
IMPI over LAN
The Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) is a set of computer interface specifications for an autonomous computer subsystem that provides management and monitoring capabilities independently of the host system's CPU, firmware and operating system. IPMI provides a way to manage a computer that may be powered off or otherwise unresponsive by using a network connection to the hardware rather than to an operating system or login shell.