Tag: Dell

Dell Firmware Update

There are a few different methods for updating your Dell server’s firmware, but we’ll walk you through the simplest and most reliable method that uses the server’s “Lifecycle Controller” which is also known as the “Unified Server Configurator”.

This method can be used with any operating system (i.e. Linux, Windows, VMware, etc.), because it operates outside of the OS, similar to the BIOS menus. It requires a working network connection with Internet access and rebooting the server for as long as it takes for the updates to be downloaded and installed, which is typically 15 minutes to an hour, depending on the speed of your Internet connection and how many updates need to be installed.

Here is a step-by-step guide:

  • Before rebooting the server, make note of the server’s LAN IP address, network mask, and default gateway, because you’ll need to enter these settings into the Lifecycle Controller the first time you use it.
  • Reboot the server.
  • When the BIOS menu and Dell logo appears, press the <F10> key within 10 seconds
  • Wait for the Lifecycle Controller GUI to appear
  • If this is your first time using the Lifecycle Controller to access the Internet and install updates, you’ll need to configure the network interface:
    • Click Settings in the left pane
    • Select Network Settings
    • Select Static IP address
    • Specify the IP Address, Subnet Mask, Gateway and DNS server you previously noted
    • Click Finish
  • Click Platform Update in the left pane
  • Click Launch Platform Update in the right pane
  • Select FTP Server
  • Verify that the server name is ftp.dell.com
  • Click Next
  • The Platform Update tool will now download a list of available packages for your server. This may take a while, depending on the speed of your network connection.
  • When prompted, review and select the appropriate updates to be installed
  • Click Apply
  • The system will reboot after the update process is complete. When applying more than one update, the system may need to reboot between updates. In this case, the system boots directly into USC and continues the update process. No action on your part is required when the system reboots to complete the update process.
  • When the updates are complete, the system will boot back into your operating system.

For more information, please see Updating the Platform on Dell’s website.

How do I access Dell OpenManage?

The Dell OpenManage Server Administrator allows system administrators to manage individual servers from an integrated, Web browser-based graphical user interface (GUI). OMSA is designed for system administrators to manage systems locally and remotely on a network.

You may access the Dell OpenManage web interface from any computer (replace 192.168.1.100 with your server’s LAN IP address):

  • Launch the OpenManage web interface (https://192.168.1.100:1311/)
  • Log in using your root username and password

What type of tasks can be performed using OMSA?

  • View the server’s hardware configuration
  • Check for hardware errors
  • Check for firmware updates
  • Replace or reconfigure storage

Resources:

Can Dell monitor my servers for hardware errors?

Yes. If you have an active Dell ProSupport contract, you may sign up for Dell Proactive Support.

Getting started with Dell™ Proactive Systems Management is a snap. And it’s available — free of charge — for qualified Dell systems covered by a current ProSupport contract.

What You’ll Need First

Before you proceed, please make sure you have the following:

  1. Your Dell MyAccount or Premier username and password; go to My Account Login to verify that you have a Dell My Account established
  2. The service tag number of a Dell server covered under an active Dell ProSupport™ contract
  3. A Windows® virtual machine or server on which to run the Proactive Systems Management proxy
  4. Administrative credentials (i.e., usernames and passwords) for the systems you plan to monitor
  5. Dell OpenManage™ Server Administrator (OMSA) installed on the systems you plan to monitor; go to www.support.dell.com for more information or to download OMSA

Quick and Simple Setup

  1. Confirm that you are a ProSupport customer.
  2. Set up a customer account.
  3. Configure the Proactive Systems Management Web portal.
  4. Download the Proactive Systems Management proxy.
  5. Identify the systems to be monitored.

Questions?

If you have technical questions about Proactive Systems Management, please refer to the Deployment Guide or the Frequently Asked Questions document.

For additional assistance, please call Dell Technical Support in your country and request support for Proactive Systems Management.

How do I access the Linux GUI via the DRAC?

The Dell Remote Access Card (DRAC) contains full-featured remote console access that offers full remote KVM and media access to the server, regardless of its power state.

  • Open a web browser and navigate to the DRAC’s IP address, which is different from the Linux server’s LAN IP address
  • The default log in username is root, with a password of calvin
  • Select Console and Launch Viewer