Dell-EMCOpenManage Essentials

“OME” Easy Update/Patch Method

For PowerEdge ServersFirmware & Drivers

Step-By-Step &

Tips

Feb 2017 Kick Start Guide Version 1 .9Mark Maclean #iworkfordell

Summary & TermsSummaryThe aim of this deck is to provide a simple guide using screen shots of how to use OME to update Dell-EMC firmware & Dell-EMC related drivers on PowerEdge Servers. Based on OME version 2.1 (Sept 2015 release).OME offers simple no cost methods to update PowerEdge servers. OME can orchestrate updating many PowerEdge servers at once.

OME – “OpenManage Essential” a windows based Dell-EMC management solution/console

DRAC – Dell Remote Access Controller offering “out of band” management of Dell-EMC servers

(used in discovery / audit & out-of-band updates)

OMSA – OpenManage Server Administrator “server agent” installed in host OS “in-band”

(used in discovery / audit & in-band updates via host OS)

OMSA for ESXi is delivered as a VIB

DUP – self-contained executable with single Dell-EMC element update

(eg perc firmware or a bios or a nic driver etc)

Use Case An IT administrator can use Dell-EMC “OpenManage Essentials” (OME) to optimize managing Dell-EMC PowerEdge server updates. OME offers an easy to use method to achieve this.Summary Of Steps • Obtaining the latest versions of server catalogue of drivers & firmware from Dell.com • Determining the servers that should be updated and their respective packages (DUPs) • Updating the servers using the “Guided System Update Wizard” with optional scheduling • Deploying system updates either agentless via iDRAC or using the OMSA agent

Note : Granular version control is supported by use of Dell Repository Manager with or without OME, search “repository manager”.

OME checks latest

updated Catalogu

e download

ed

OME run audit on

discovered system & reports

non-compliant

OME complies list of

updates required

OME creates, schedule & run update tasks

OME Easy Method

This is the simple method to pull latest updates from Dell.com & apply to PowerEdge server fleet. To obtain the latest version of drivers, firmware, and BIOS, you must import the latest catalog.cab file. This “catalogue” is then used to compare against servers discovered/audited by OME and an list of “non-compliant” servers to be updated is built.

Port 1278 is required to be open between the OME server & iDRAC. This allows the iDRAC to “pull” down the updates from the OME server

Note : Repository Manager that allows creation of custom repository offering deeper flexibility around server models, operating systems, components & delivery methods is covered in other documents.Also Dell offers one-to-one embedded update from iDRAC/Lifecycle controller via a on-line method or reading from SUU iso.

Get OME Firmware Catalogue

OME System Update “Home” Page

1. Catalogue Compliance Data on OME “discovered” PowerEdge Servers2. “PowerEdge Servers” system compliance information tabs (good/bad)3. Task reporting

On The “Manage” tab / “System Update” sub-tab

OME System Update Get Online “Catalogue” From Dell.com

Is therea newerCatalogue(auto check)

Downloadupdate if required

OME System UpdateGet “Catalogue” From Dell.com

Downloadcataloguejob statusreport

Note : This is a very small flat file & should download in around 1 minute .This the catalogue location & idrac life cycle update uses the same catalogue ftp://downloads.dell.com/catalog/catalog.cab

Easy Server Patch Method

NonCompliantPowerEdge Servers Eg servers that have “out-of date “versions of firmware &/ordrivers v thedownloadedcatalogue

OME System Update – Non CompliantWhich Server(s) Need To Be Updated

Tick to select target server(s) to update

OME System Update – Non CompliantWhich Update(s)

Tick to select “all” updates or chose updates

How to updatewill be deliveredfor the servers In or out of bandOr both !

What updates Listed per server Can be customized Via tick box(s) for (de-)selection

OME System Update – Non CompliantWhich Updates & How In/Out Of Band

The simple system update mode “in-band” is recommended as OS drivers can also be updated (not for ESX) . Note only when anupdate can be applied via either method in or out is the preferred Update status used (see later slide)

OME System Update – Non CompliantWhich Updates & How In/Out Of Band

The simple system update mode “in-band” is required for Dell OS drivers such as nic & storage . Dell supported os’s for driver updates includes windows , Redhat & Suse linux .

Dell-EMC OS drivers update – windows/Redhat/Sues

For VMWare ESX-based servers, all components are updated using iDRAC (irrespective of preferred system update mode selected)

OME System UpdateESX Servers Only Supports Out Of Band

For ESX servers Dell updates aredelivered out of bandONLY !

Note :Out of band only

OME System UpdateReady To Apply Selected Updates

Click“Apply”

Some updates such asperipherals updates are required to run “in-band”, Dell Repository Manager can create bootable ISOs to do this(covered in other docs)

OME System UpdateWarnings / Information Dialog

If using “out-of-Band”Best to shut down server os before running update

2. If using “Out Of Band ” supply DRACaccount or OS credentialsFor “in-band”

OME System UpdateTask Reporting

1. Set updateScheduleOr “NOW !”

3. Tick “allow restart” 4. Tick “clear jobs” 5. Click “Finish”

Task output

OME System UpdateTask reporting

Review system update task status/errors/completion

Fordetailexecutioninformation“click” ontask

OME System UpdateTask reporting

OME System UpdateServer Compliant Detail List

Note : Once ALL update are applied server(s) need their inventory refreshed, only then will they appear in the compliant list under the “Compliant Systems” tab

Compliantsystems

Task output

OME System UpdateServer Compliant Summary

Success ! All servers compliant after inventory refresh

Tips / Troubleshooting

TipsFor VMWare ESX-based servers, all components are updated using iDRAC “out of band” , irrespective of preferred system update mode selected.

If necessary updates can be applied manually via the DRAC – these can be upload to DRAC in win x64 format

Dell Repository Manager can create updates on bootable ISO images for use with DRAC virtual media Port 1278 is required to be open between the OME server & idrac to copy down the updates to each server

iDRAC/Lifecycle embedded tool offers one-to-one server as does the downloadable Dell-EMC SUU (system update)

TipsCheck firewalls ! On the OME host server OME needs port tcp 1278 in-bound open

OME Preferred Update methodconfiguration

AdvancedSettings“Button”

PreferredUpdate Method

Preferred system update mode “in-band” is recommended so Os drivers also get updated where/if possible Update method is configured on the screen above

OME Supports SSD Firmware Updates

SSD Firmware Update

Next Steps

White Papers : covering this topic deeperUpdating Dell Server Hardware with Dell OpenManage Essentials

Video showing basic steps (using a slightly older OME version) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=362fmSjtDy4

Dell System Management technical forum Dell tech center – a customer forum to post questions on for all things OpenManage