Dell Systems Build and Update Utility Version 1.1 User Manual

Dell™ Systems Build and Update Utility 1.1

User’s Guide

www.dell.com | support.dell.com

Notes and Cautions

NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of

your computer.

CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates potential damage to hardware or loss of data if

instructions are not followed.

___________________

Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
© 2008 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.

Reproduction of these materials in any manner without the written permission of Dell Inc. is strictly
forbidden.

Trademarks used in this text: Dell, the DELL logo, PowerEdge, and OpenManage are trademarks of
Dell Inc.; Microsoft, Windows, and Windows Server, are either trademarks or registered trademarks
of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries; VMware is a registered trademark
and ESX Server is a registered trademark of VMware, Inc. in the United States and/or other
jurisdictions; SUSE is a registered trademark of Novell, Inc. in the United States and other countries;
Red Hat and Red Hat Enterprise Linux are registered trademarks of Red Hat, Inc. in the U.S. and other
countries.

Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming
the marks and names or their products. Dell Inc. disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and
trade names other than its own.

December 2008

Contents

1 About This Document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Who Should Read This Document? . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

How Will This Document Help Me?

How Do I Use This Document?

. . . . . . . . . . . 7

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

2 Dell Systems Build and

Update Utility Overview

What Is The Systems Build and
Update Utility?

What Are The Key Features?

Overview of Functionalities

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

. . . . . . . . . . . 11

. . . . . . . . . . . . 12

3 Before You Begin Using The Dell

Systems Build and Update Utility . . . . . . 15

Prerequisites And Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Supported Operating Systems

Supported Systems

Are There Other Dell Documents
I Might Need?

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

How Do I Get Technical Assistance?

. . . . . . . . . . 19

Contents 3

4 Launching the Systems Build

and Update Utility

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

5 Using The Systems Build and

Update Utility

Flexibility That Systems Build and
Update Utility Offers

Using The Systems Build and Update
Utility In Different Scenarios

Updating Your System Firmware

Configuring Your System Hardware

Installing Operating System

Deploying Your Current
("Bare-Metal") Dell System

Deploying More Than One System
With the Same Configuration

Deploying More Than One System
With Slightly Different Configuration

Deploying Multiple Systems of
Different Models

Deploying Multiple Systems With
The Same Configuration For Different
Operating Systems

Reusing Configuration Files

Using Systems Build and Update
Utility After Operating System Installation

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

. . . . . . . . . . . . 30

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

. . . . . . . . . . . . 34

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

. . . . . . . . . . . . 39

. . . . . . . . . . 27

. . . . . . . . 28

. . . . . . . . 36

. . . . . 41

6 Important Information and

Frequently Asked Questions

4 Contents

. . . . . . . . . . 45

Firmware Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Important Information

Frequently Asked Questions

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

. . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Hardware Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

Server Operating System Installation

Important Information

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Frequently Asked Questions

Update Utility Creation

Important Information

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

Frequently Asked Questions

Content Manager

Important Information

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Frequently Asked Questions

. . . . . . . . . . 48

. . . . . . . . . . . . 49

. . . . . . . . . . . . 50

. . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Contents 5

6 Contents

About This Document

It is strongly recommended that you read this section, "Dell Systems Build
and Update Utility Overview," and "Before You Begin Using The Dell Systems
Build and Update Utility" before proceeding further.

Who Should Read This Document?

This document is for system administrators who are responsible for deploying
and updating Dell™ PowerEdge™ systems in their organizations.

How Will This Document Help Me?

This document introduces you to the Dell Systems Build and Update Utility,
and includes best practices on how to make the product effective in helping
you streamline your deployment and update procedures for Dell systems.

• If you are a first-time user of this product, this document will help you set
up your systems prior to, during, and after using the Dell Systems Build
and Update Utility.

• If you are an existing user of the Systems Build and Update Utility, this
document will help you understand how to leverage the utility modules in
an interlinked manner to create a customized deployment media.

This document focuses only on setting up your Dell systems to use the Dell
Systems Build and Update Utility effectively and efficiently, and the possible
scenarios in which to use this utility.

How Do I Use This Document?

This document provides an overview of the various modules of the Dell
Systems Build and Update Utility and the possible scenarios in which you
might use them. However, it does not cover all scenarios and possibilities.
For specific information on Dell products whose functionalities are now
provided by the Dell Systems Build and Update Utility, see "Are There Other
Dell Documents I Might Need?."

About This Document 7

Depending on the Dell systems you want to deploy, redeploy or update, it is
recommended that you use the document as follows.

Table 1-1. Organization of Information in This Guide

Topics For Dell systems For Dell PowerEdge SC

systems

Information on this
document, its intended
audience, purpose, and
organization

Overview of the Dell
Systems Build and Update
Utility and what
functionalities it offers

What you need before
proceeding to use the Dell
Systems Build and Update
Utility and where to get
other information that you
may need while using this
utility

Important information
about launching the
Systems Build and Update
Utility and pointers to user
scenarios

Possible scenarios in which
you can use the Systems
Build and Update Utility

"About This Document" "About This Document"

"Dell Systems Build and
Update Utility Overview"

"Before You Begin Using
The Dell Systems Build
and Update Utility"

"Launching the Systems
Build and Update Utility"

"Using The Systems Build
and Update Utility"

"Dell Systems Build and
Update Utility Overview"

"Before You Begin Using
The Dell Systems Build
and Update Utility"

"Launching the Systems
Build and Update Utility"

"Using The Systems Build
and Update Utility" (as
applicable)

Important information and
frequently asked questions
(FAQs) about the
Firmware Update module

Important information and
FAQs about the Hardware
Configuration module

"Firmware Update" Not applicable

"Hardware Configuration" Not applicable

8 About This Document

Table 1-1. Organization of Information in This Guide (continued)

Topics For Dell systems For Dell PowerEdge SC

systems

Important information and
FAQs about the Server
Operating System
Installation module

Important information and
FAQs about the Update
Utility Creation module

Important information and
FAQs about the Content
Manager tool

"Server Operating System
Installation"

"Update Utility Creation" Not applicable

"Content Manager" "Content Manager"

"Important Information
and Frequently Asked
Questions"

Now that you have an idea of what this document is about and how to use it
to easily access the information you want, see "Dell Systems Build and
Update Utility Overview" to get an overview of Dell Systems Build and
Update Utility and the functionalities it offers.

About This Document 9

10 About This Document

Dell Systems Build and Update Utility Overview

This section provides an overview of the Dell™ Systems Build and
Update Utility. This section helps you to understand the functionalities that
the Dell Systems Build and Update Utility provides to update and deploy
your Dell systems.

What Is The Systems Build and Update Utility?

The Dell Systems Build Update and Utility is an integrated tool for
deployment and update of your Dell systems. It has modules such as Server

OS Installation, Firmware Update, Update Utility Creation, and Hardware
Configuration. These modules enable you to update BIOS and Firmware in

the pre-operating system environment, apply these settings on the current
system or on multiple systems, and install the operating system.

For example, if you have bought a new Dell system, you can use Systems
Build Update and Utility to update the system firmware (if required),
configure your system hardware, and install a supported operating system.
If you have an existing Dell system, you can use Systems Build Update and
Utility to update to the latest firmware, modify the hardware configuration,
and install a new operating system. You can perform these operations on your
existing system (one-to-one) or create a bootable media for a set of multiple
systems (different platforms) of your choice.

What Are The Key Features?

The key features of the Systems Build and Update Utility are:

• The three modules mentioned above (

Update

that you can configure all the three modules in one go and apply the
configuration as required.

• You can apply
the same session.

,

and Hardware Configuration

Hardware Configuration

Dell Systems Build and Update Utility Overview 11

Server OS Installation, Firmware

) are interlinked in such a manner

settings to your current system in

• You can create customized bootable media to deploy multiple systems
(different platforms) of your choice.

• You can easily deploy your newly purchased Dell systems for which you
had already created a bootable media. This is possible because of the
multisystem configuration file (

.csv

file) that you must create and save in

a centralized network location.

• You can use the import and export configuration feature (

Configuration

) in Systems Build and Update Utility to export your system

Apply/Export

configuration for future use. You can use this configuration file (after
minor modifications) to deploy similar systems by using the import
feature. Importing such a configuration file will also pre-populate all the
graphical user interface (GUI) fields with values that you saved and
exported for future use.

Overview of Functionalities

Table 2-1 lists the functionalities of the Dell Systems Build and Update
Utility to deploy and update your Dell systems.

Table 2-1. Dell Systems Build and Update Utility Functionalities

You Want To Go To For

Update your system firmware
(Baseboard Management
Controller [BMC], Dell Remote
Access Controller [DRAC],
Redundant Array of
Independent Disks [RAID]) and
BIOS in a pre-operating system
environment.

Configure your system
hardware.

Install an operating system on
your system

"Updating Your System
Firmware"

"Configuring Your
System Hardware"

"Installing Operating
System"

Dell systems (excluding
PowerEdge SC systems)

Dell systems (excluding
PowerEdge SC systems)

Dell systems (including
PowerEdge SC systems)

12 Dell Systems Build and Update Utility Overview

Table 2-1. Dell Systems Build and Update Utility Functionalities (continued)

You Want To Go To For

Customize the Server Update
Utility and use it to update your
Dell system one-to-one
(requires an operating system on
your system).

Download the latest Server
Update Utility ISO image from
Dell online at ftp.dell.com.

Create your customized
repository using the Dell Server
Updates DVD or from Dell
online at ftp.dell.com in the
post-operating system
environment.

Create your customized
repository using the Dell Server
Updates DVD in the pre­operating system environment.

Check for the latest updates by
comparing your local or
customized repository with the
Dell online repository at
ftp.dell.com.

"Using Systems Build
and Update Utility After
Operating System
Installation"

"Using Systems Build
and Update Utility After
Operating System
Installation"

"Using Systems Build
and Update Utility After
Operating System
Installation"

"Update Utility
Creation"

"Using Systems Build
and Update Utility After
Operating System
Installation"

Dell systems (excluding
PowerEdge SC systems)

Dell systems (including
PowerEdge SC systems)

NOTE: Content Manager

runs on supported
Microsoft Windows and
Linux operating systems.

Dell systems (including
PowerEdge SC systems)

NOTE: Content Manager

runs on supported
Microsoft Windows and
Linux operating systems.

Dell systems (including
PowerEdge SC systems)

Dell systems (including
PowerEdge SC systems)

NOTE: Content Manager

runs on supported
Microsoft Windows and
Linux operating systems.

Now that you have an overview of Dell Systems Build and Update Utility and
what functionalities it offers, read "Before You Begin Using The Dell Systems
Build and Update Utility" to see what you should have before you begin using
Dell Systems Build and Update Utility in your environment.

Dell Systems Build and Update Utility Overview 13

14 Dell Systems Build and Update Utility Overview

Before You Begin Using The Dell Systems Build and Update Utility

This section lists the prerequisites you require before proceeding to use Dell™
Systems Build and Update Utility and where to get other information that
you may need while using this utility.

Prerequisites And Requirements

You should have a Dell system with:

• Minimum memory of 512 MB

• CD drive or DVD drive

Table 3-1 lists the prerequisites and requirements for Dell Systems Build and
Update Utility.

Before You Begin Using The Dell Systems Build and Update Utility 15

Table 3-1. Prerequisites And Requirements

Module Prerequisites And Requirements

Generic Prerequisites And
Requirements

• To make effective use of Systems Build and Update
Utility, you will need at least two multiple network
shares (either Network File System [NFS] or Samba.
If you do not have network connectivity for the
system you are deploying, ensure that you have
multiple USB keys.

• If you are planning to deploy multiple systems using
Systems Build and Update Utility, Dell recommends
that you create a multisystem configuration file

.csv

file) that contains information about all your

(
systems on your network. (Information includes the
service tag, host name, IP addresses, subnet mask,
operating system(s) ISO file name(s), product keys,
DRAC IP address, and Domain Name System (DNS)
IP addresses.) Save this file on a common network
share or a USB key.
Systems Build and Update Utility will not validate the
file but use it during actual deployment. When you
want to apply your customized bootable media on a
group of similar systems, you will be prompted by
Systems Build and Update Utility to browse and
locate the multisystem configuration file.

• A common network share or a USB key to export your
configuration for later use.
Similarly, if you want to import your previously saved
configuration, the files exported in the earlier session
must be available on a network share or on a USB key.

• A common network share or a USB key to save your
customized bootable image.

• A common network share to save logs for each system
on your network share. These logs can be a useful
reference if you want to troubleshoot any problem
your systems might have encountered during
deployment.

16 Before You Begin Using The Dell Systems Build and Update Utility

Table 3-1. Prerequisites And Requirements (continued)

Module Prerequisites And Requirements

Server Operating System
Installation

Firmware Update

Update Utility Creation

Hardware Configuration

• Operating system media; or, a network share or a USB
key on which to save the operating system ISO image.

Dell Systems Management Tools and Documentation

•
DVD (if you want to install Dell OpenManage
System Administrator). This is not applicable for Dell

™

PowerEdge

• Basic knowledge of Redundant Array of Independent
Disks (RAID)

• DVD drive

•

Dell Server Updates

or

• A network share with the Server Update Utility content

• Knowledge of setting up the Network File System (NFS)
or Microsoft

• DVD drive

Dell Server Updates

•

or

• A network share with the Server Update Utility content

• Knowledge of setting up Network File System (NFS)
or Microsoft Windows share

• Network share or USB key to store the customized
repository

• Basic knowledge of BIOS,

Management Controller (BMC), and Dell Remote
Access Controller (DRAC)

SC systems.

DVD

®

Windows ® share

DVD

RAID, Baseboard

™

Supported Operating Systems

For the list of operating systems that the Dell Systems Build and Update
Utility supports, see the readme.txt in the root folder or the

Software Support Matrix

on the Dell Support website at support.dell.com or

the Dell Systems Management Tools and Documentation DVD.

Before You Begin Using The Dell Systems Build and Update Utility 17

Dell Systems