Enterprise Management Solutions - Dell [PDF]

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SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT

Managing Dell Client Systems with

Enterprise Management Solutions By using enterprise management solutions, administrators can readily deploy additional desktop systems—changing the BIOS, setting security options, and installing and deploying security software. This article provides examples and step-by-step procedures to help administrators create packages with the Dell™ Client Configuration Utility and to distribute packages using the Dell OpenManage™ Client Administrator. BY JIM LATHAN

M

anaging a large number of client systems is a challenge

determining how to upgrade a system that may not be in

for IT staff within any organization. It is common for

the same location as the IT staff.

organizations to have hundreds or thousands of desktop

Administrators also need the ability to manage and

and mobile PCs, often spread across multiple locations.

configure the settings on their PCs, and the DCCU can

Managing these systems requires an effective systems man-

provide this capability through a user-friendly, interactive

agement strategy as well as a suitable open-standard, multi-

graphical user interface (GUI) with nearly 50 manageable

vendor set of systems management tools. An important

parameters in the System Management BIOS (SMBIOS),

component of Dell’s client systems management strategy

CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor),

is provided in the Dell Client Configuration Utility (DCCU).

and OS. Each parameter is listed with all of its allowable

This powerful yet simple tool allows configuration manage-

values, where applicable. Descriptions of the parameters

ment of multiple systems, asset and inventory reporting,

are included and can be accessed by simply moving

and hardware security settings. In addition, DCCU enables

the cursor over the name of each parameter in the GUI

interoperability with existing local area network (LAN)/

application. Enabling Wake-on-LAN (WOL) and Preboot

wide area network (WAN) infrastructures and systems

Execution Environment (PXE) on every client PC is an

management solutions such as Dell OpenManage Client

example of how the DCCU allows system administrators

Administrator (OMCA), Altiris Client Management Suite,

to accomplish several tasks with little effort.

and Microsoft® Systems Management Server (SMS).

During a PC’s three- to four-year life cycle, administrators sometimes must apply an update to the firmware

Using the DCCU and OMCA to upgrade client systems

588

or BIOS of the PC. Even for a highly stable PC platform

The DCCU can display inventory and system parameters

like the Dell OptiPlex desktop, at least one BIOS update

of managed Dell PCs such as Dell Precision™, OptiPlex™,

is recommended. With the DCCU, Dell offers IT manag-

and Latitude™ systems—including the identification of

ers a simple yet powerful tool for managing PCs both

operating system (OS) version, processor speed, and total

locally and remotely. The DCCU enables administrators

available memory. This information can be critical when

to update the BIOS of remote systems by creating a small

POWER SOLUTIONS

Reprinted from Dell Power Solutions, February 2005. Copyright © 2005 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.

February 2005

SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT

executable package on the local administrator machine. The process

all public-access computers or change the automatic boot order

is simple:

on all PCs in their organization.

1. Use the – nopause command option when executing the

Creating update packages with the DCCU

BIOS file for a system BIOS that supports silent installations;

The DCCU requires the Microsoft .NET Framework to be installed on

for older systems or a BIOS that does not support silent

the system that will be used to create the DCCU packages (usually

installations, download the updated BIOS from the Dell sup-

the administrator’s system), but it does not require the Microsoft

port Web site (support.dell.com).

.NET Framework to be installed on the end-user systems on which

2. Convert the unpackaged system BIOS file to a BIOS .hdr file

the DCCU will perform tasks. Visit www.dell.com/openmanage and

using the writehdrfile command option. For example:

click the Client Systems tab to download the DCCU.

Sx270A04.exe –writehdrfile

allows administrators to select which BIOS fields to audit or change.

Creating a package with the DCCU is very simple; the GUI Consider an example scenario in which an administrator creates a

3. Select the flash function from within the DCCU and browse to the downloaded BIOS file.

package to enable WOL. First, the administrator launches the DCCU from the Start>Programs>Dell Applications menu. Figure 1 illus-

4. Create the executable package and distribute it to the target PCs for execution. After delivery, the PCs will automatically

trates the default startup of the DCCU. The default display of the DCCU allows the administrator to create

reboot and perform the update—preserving the integrity

a GET VALUES package, which is used to retrieve the current BIOS and

of the BIOS settings—and then automatically remove the

OS settings on the end-user systems. To change the boot order, a GET

update package from each PC, leaving behind only a tiny

package must be created with the BootDevice and BootHDD options

XML results file.

selected. The GET package creates a results file that is retrieved and imported into the DCCU console, providing the administrator with the

Dell OMCA has an extensive reporting feature that is designed

current Hard Drive and Boot Order settings and options for the specific

to provide details of all instrumented PCs and servers in an orga-

system. A GET package should be performed on the specific system

nization. This powerful reporting feature allows administrators to

for which the boot order must be modified. This will ensure that the

compile reports describing the make and model of each instru-

SET package works correctly when deployed by OMCA.

mented PC and even the BIOS revision. In OMCA, these custom

A SET VALUES package is created by selecting the SET VALUES

reports are known as collections. Using the OMCA Deployment

tab at the top of the DCCU GUI. The WOL feature is set by scrolling

Server Console, administrators can create a package that contains

down until the WakeupOnLAN option appears.

the newly created DCCU executable and simply drag and drop that

The administrator selects the WakeupOnLAN check box, which

package to a system or a group of systems for scheduled deploy-

enables the value selection drop-down menu. System administrators

ment. For example, administrators can disable the floppy drive in

can select the option that best fits their needs, but “enabled for all NICs” typically is the optimal choice to enable WOL. The administrator finishes the package creation by clicking the Create Package button at the top right of the DCCU interface. The DCCU will prompt for a location and file name to assign the new package. The default location where the DCCU saves the created packages is C:\Program Files\Dell\Dell Client Configuration Utility\ Client\packages, and PackageName.exe is the default file-naming convention for DCCU. In this example scenario, the DCCU package to be created is called WOL.exe and is located in the default DCCU directory location. Next, DCCU will compile the WOL package and confirm its success by displaying a message on the console. The WOL package is now ready for delivery to the client systems.

Distributing update packages with OMCA System administrators can deliver update packages, such as the WOL package described in the preceding scenario, to Dell client Figure 1. Dell Client Configuration Utility: Get Values screen www.dell.com/powersolutions

systems with various enterprise systems management application Reprinted from Dell Power Solutions, February 2005. Copyright © 2005 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.

POWER SOLUTIONS

59

SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT

is not a valid RapidInstall or PC Transplant package and asks the administrator whether to continue with the selection. The administrator selects “Yes” and the wizard updates the New Job Wizard window. More than one package can be added in this window. The administrator clicks the Next button to display the Select Computers screen; here, the administrator can either assign the job to a specific computer or group of computers or not apply the job to any computer at this time. Not assigning the job allows the administrator to drag and drop the job to computers in the Systems list on the main console. The administrator closes the New Job Wizard by clicking the Next button and then the Finish button. Completing the New Job Wizard places the newly defined job in the Jobs menu on the main OMCA Deployment Server Console. After selecting the WOL job and dragging the job to a computer for deployment, the administrator is prompted to schedule the job or Figure 2. OMCA Deployment Server Console: Using the New Job Wizard to deploy software packages

execute it immediately. The default setting, when using the dragand-drop method, is to execute the package immediately. In the

suites, such as Microsoft SMS or Altiris Deployment Solution—or

example scenario, the WOL package will then be deployed by the

even distribute the packages as part of an NT logon script. Dell has

OMCA console; after OMCA verifies that the WOL package is intact,

partnered with Altiris to create OMCA, an affordable yet powerful

OMCA will execute WOL.exe, leaving only the results file document-

suite of applications that are designed to help maximize total cost

ing either the success or failure of setting the BIOS feature.

of ownership (TCO) and minimize the amount of resources needed to manage enterprise-wide systems. The OMCA suite is upgradeable

Managing Dell client systems effectively

to the full suite of Altiris products for specific license fees.

The example scenario described in this article helps illustrate how

The DCCU uses the OMCA Deployment Server Console to dis-

easily and effectively system administrators can manage just one or

play all systems that have been discovered and are managed by

thousands of Dell client systems—whether Dell Precision worksta-

OMCA. By using the Deployment Server Console, an administrator

tions, OptiPlex desktop PCs, Latitude notebooks, or a combination

in the example scenario can distribute the WOL package to the

thereof—without having to physically interact with the end-user

desired systems. Several methods can be used to create the DCCU

computer. By using the Dell Client Configuration Utility with Dell

job, but the example scenario uses the New Job Wizard method.

OpenManage Client Administrator, Altiris Client Management Suite,

With the console open, the administrator right-clicks on the Jobs

or Microsoft SMS, administrators can deploy additional systems,

section of the console and selects “New Job Wizard” to start the

change BIOS settings, configure security options, install and deploy

job creation process. From the wizard, the administrator selects

software, and apply updates or patches in a fraction of the time

“Deploy Software Packages” and enters a name for the job so that

that would be required without using these tools. This reduction

it is easily identified (see Figure 2).

in systems management time can lead to an overall reduction in

The inventory report feature in OMCA is easy to access. By clicking the Next button, administrators can use the New Job Wizard to

TCO, enabling organizations to reallocate valuable IT staff resources to other tasks.

access the OMCA inventory and use the inventory items as conditions for executing jobs. Here, the administrator can specify which systems receive the WOL package. To create a package that uses no conditions for execution, the administrator can select “Not using condition for the job” and click the Next button.

Jim Lathan is a Dell client technologist based in Elgin, South Carolina. Specializing in desktop, notebook, and workstation pre-sales deployment, Jim has Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE), Dell Certified Systems Expert (DCSE), and Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certifications as well as 20 years of experience in IT management and support.

The New Job Wizard needs to know where the WOL package resides, so the administrator clicks the Add button on the next page of the wizard—the RapidInstall and PC Transplant Packages screen—to open the navigation window and provide the location of the WOL package. The administrator selects the WOL.exe file and clicks the Open

F OR M ORE INF ORM ATION

Dell OpenManage: www.dell.com/openmanage

button; a warning message appears stating that the package selected

60

POWER SOLUTIONS

Reprinted from Dell Power Solutions, February 2005. Copyright © 2005 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.

February 2005

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