Idea Transcript
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
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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
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POWER SOLUTIONS
Reprinted from Dell Power Solutions, February 2005. Copyright © 2005 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.
February 2005