Optimizing Dell server
deployments with system build
and update utility
Efficient techniques for deploying multiple Dell servers in
parallel with RAID configuration, BIOS settings, Firmware
updates & operating system installation
Vivek S
Revan Biradar
1 Optmizing Dell Server Deployment – System Build & Update Utility(SBUU)
This document is for informational purposes only and may contain typographical
errors and technical inaccuracies. The content is provided as is, without express
or implied warranties of any kind.
© 2012 Dell Inc. All rights reserved. Dell and its affiliates cannot be responsible for
errors or omissions in typography or photography. Dell, the Dell logo, and PowerEdge
are trademarks of Dell Inc. Intel and Xeon are registered trademarks of Intel
Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. Microsoft, Windows, and Windows Server
are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the
United States and/or 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 disclaims proprietary interest in the marks and names of others.
March 2012| Rev 1.0
2 Optmizing Dell Server Deployment – System Build & Update Utility(SBUU)
Contents
Executive Summary ................................................................................ 4
Introduction ........................................................................................ 5
SBUU in a nutshell ................................................................................. 5
Case 1 – Small-siz ed Labs .................................................................... 6
Procedure .................................................................................. 7
Optimization using Export Configuration ............................................. 16
Case 2 – Mid-sized Labs ..................................................................... 16
Procedure ................................................................................. 16
Case 3 – Large-sized Labs ................................................................... 19
Procedure ................................................................................. 19
Time Saving quotient .................................................................... 21
Case Study: Deploying 5 Servers - SBUU Real Time Deployment vs.
Manual Deployment Time ............................................................... 24
Summary ........................................................................................... 25
Tables
Table 1. 1:1 - Time Stamp Manual Vs. SBUU Deployment ................................ 22
Table 2. 1:N - Time Stamp Manual Vs. SBUU Deployment ............................... 23
Table 3. 1:N – Case Study - Time Stamp Manual vs. SBUU Deployment ............... 24
Figures
End to End flow of SBUU utilization –[1:N] ........................................ 6 Figure 1.
Small Sized Lab – Optimization representation for 1:N ....................... 15 Figure 2.
Mid- Sized Lab – Optimization representation for 1:N ......................... 18 Figure 3.
Large-Sized Lab - Optimized 1:N .................................................. 20 Figure 4.
1:1 - SBUU Deployment Time Vs. Manual Deployment Time: ................ 21 Figure 5.
1:N - SBUU Deployment Time Vs. Manual Deployment Time ................. 22 Figure 6.
1:N – Case Study - Manual deployment Vs. SBUU Deployment ............... 24 Figure 7.
3 Optmizing Dell Server Deployment – System Build & Update Utility(SBUU)
Executive Summary
It is a monotonous and time consuming task to set up hundreds of servers across
multiple generations with the latest Firmware, respective RAIDs [Configured Virtual
Disks] and required Operating System (OS).
Dell’s System Build & Update Utility (SBUU), decreases the human effort involved in
the deployment process considerably. This document shows how an end user can
utilize SBUU for deployment per their specific needs and how well the same can be
scaled to multiple servers in parallel.
Deployment methodologies that are relevant to three specific groups of customers
are discussed.
1. Small siz ed la b s [Mi ni mum 1-15 Dell Servers in the lab]
2. Mid-sized labs [Minimum 25-50 Dell Servers in the lab]
3. Large-Sized Labs [50+ Dell Servers in the lab]:
4 Optmizing Dell Server Deployment – System Build & Update Utility(SBUU)
Introduction
It is preferred in the IT world that all servers run the latest hardware to achieve the
best performance. It is also preferred that these servers operate with the latest
firmware to keep up with the high performance requirements.
Though this may sound simple, it is not easy to achieve. With multiple operational
servers on hand, it takes a lot of effort to complete the firmware updates, create
separate virtual disks, and then deploy an operating system on top of it. Although
there are different approaches to handle this task, DELL SBUU provides an optimized
and easy way to accomplish this goal.
SBUU in a nutshell
SBUU aids in deploying a Dell server by updating firmware, performing hardw ar e
configuration, and installing the operating system all in one single continuous
process. It can also facilitate the creation of a customized bootable ISO file with the
same functionality that can be deployed on any number of servers based on the
customer needs.
Prerequisites:
• SBUU Open Manage (OM) DVD shipped along with the Dell Servers
• An internet connection to the Dell Server [Recommended]
• Access to the NFS/SAMBA Share having the latest System Update Utility [SUU]
• Access to the NFS/SAMBA Share having the ISO files of all the needed OSs
• Access to any NFS/SAMBA share with write permission having [Minimum 25GB of
space just in case if you plan to create SBUU custom ISO files]
• iDRAC7 GUI should be up for every server [Recommended] and every server
should have an iDRAC IP. 12G Servers are with iDRAC7 support while 11G and
below legacy servers are with iDRAC6/DRAC support.
• Similar Server setup is recommended for optimization (controllers, number of
hard disks and so on).
Terminologies
1: 1 Deployment
Boot a system with SBUU DVD and configure the same system for deployment.
1: N Deployment
Boot a system with SBUU DVD and create a customized bootable ISO file that can be
used to deploy all target servers successfully without human intervention.
5 Optmizing Dell Server Deployment – System Build & Update Utility(SBUU)
SAMBA
Copy ISO to USB
Custom DVD
Server
DVD
Export Configuration
End to End flow of SBUU utilization –[1:N] Figure 1.
Input Section Output Section
Use Operating
system ISO file &
SUU from NFS /
SAMBA Common
NFS
OM
Dell
Bootable
Bootable USB
drives
Case 1 – Small-sized Labs
Consider a lab consisting 15 servers across generations and the lab admin needs:
6 Optmizing Dell Server Deployment – System Build & Update Utility(SBUU)
1. To Deploy 5 servers with RHEL 5.7x32 [including hardware configuration and
firmware update]
2. To Deploy 10 Servers with SLES 11 Sp2 [including hardware configuration and
firmware update]
3.
Procedure
1. Boot a DELL server by inserting the SBUU OpenManage DVD.
7 Optmizing Dell Server Deployment – System Build & Update Utility(SBUU)
2. Under System(s) Selection, click Change and then select the list of Dell server
that you want to set up. Save the settings and navigate back to the home page.
8 Optmizing Dell Server Deployment – System Build & Update Utility(SBUU)
3. Make sure that the needed RAID configurations are set.
4. Make sure that the needed BMC/iDRAC/DRAC configurations are set.
9 Optmizing Dell Server Deployment – System Build & Update Utility(SBUU)
5. Make sure that the needed BIOS configurations are set.
6. Update firmware by pointing the SUU package available in the network share.
10 Optmizing Dell Server Deployment – System Build & Update Utility(SBUU)
7. Proceed to the Server OS Installation [SOI] and select RHEL 5.7x32. At the end
of the wizard, click Go back to Home page
11 Optmizing Dell Server Deployment – System Build & Update Utility(SBUU)
8. Click Apply Export Options and then select Use Operating System ISO from
and chose to pick it up from NFS/SAMBA share
12 Optmizing Dell Server Deployment – System Build & Update Utility(SBUU)
9. Select Create Auto-deployment bootable image and specify the NFS/SAMBA
location to retrieve the ISO file created there.
13 Optmizing Dell Server Deployment – System Build & Update Utility(SBUU)
10. Do not select the option Apply changes to current system and click
Apply/Export.
14 Optmizing Dell Server Deployment – System Build & Update Utility(SBUU)
Dell Server
Export Configuration to USB / NFS
Small Sized Lab – Optimization representation for 1:N Figure 2.
Use Operating
system ISO file & SUU
from NFS / SAMBA
Common Share
OM
DVD
Bootable
Custom DVD
Bootable USB
drives
15 Optmizing Dell Server Deployment – System Build & Update Utility(SBUU)
A customized ISO file with all the hardware settings, required firmware packages to
install and the OS [RHEL5.7x32] to deploy the system is generated. This activity can
be repeated on the same server with other needed servers by selecting them in t he
list for the Change button option. During this process, you can also select a differe nt
OS. In this case, we use SLES 11 Sp2.
You can copy the created ISO images to USB drive or burnt into a custom DVD and
used for deploying the rest of the servers per required specification in paralle l.
Optimization using Export Configuration
Export Configuration is a valuable feature when there is a space crunch that might
hinder big custom SBUU ISO files from being created. It uses reusing the settings
created initially so that the end user does not have to remember the settings that
they selected previously.
Export configuration saves all the one time performed settings into a respective ini in
the NFS/SAMBA share, so that in future the user can simply import the settings and
apply the same on the target server. This export-import mechanism works on
homogenous transitions (that is, between only TOWER->TOWER, RACK->RACK and
BLADE -> BLADE and is not heterog en eous [TOWER->RACK or RACK->BLADE]).
Case 2 – Mid-sized Labs
Consider a lab having 30 Servers across multiple generations and the lab admin needs
to:
1. Deploy 20 servers with RHEL 5.7x32 [including hardware configuration and
firmware update]
2. Deploy 10 Servers with SLES 11 SP2 [including hardware configuration and
Firmware update]
Procedure
The Lab admin / End user can follow the optimized procedure shown below using a
SBUU DVD to get the setup done.
Repeat Steps 1 to 10 as shown in case 1.
A customized ISO file with all the hardware settings, needed firmware packages and
the OS [RHEL5.7x32] to deploy is generated. The same one-time activity can be
repeated on the same server by selecting other needed servers for SLES 11 SP2 OS
(involves changes in Step 2 and 7).
16 Optmizing Dell Server Deployment – System Build & Update Utility(SBUU)
Action item
Given the situation that the admin has two custom SBUU ISO files on a NFS/SAMBA
share that has to be used respectively on 30 Servers; a simple windows file copy
coupled with multiple DVD copies can be used to deploy the servers successfully in
minimal time. The key is the availability of space (~10-25GB) on the same or a
different NFS/SAMBA share.
The admin must log into every individual server’s DRAC IP and make the
corresponding boot using the Virtual CD option mounted with each one of the
replicated ISO files. It is recommended at any point of time, the best approach is to
make a single ISO mounted for a single server; otherwise, it might cause network
latency.
17 Optmizing Dell Server Deployment – System Build & Update Utility(SBUU)
respective Dell Servers
Share
Mid- Sized Lab – Optimization representation for 1:N Figure 3.
IDRAC view of
Replicated
custom SBUU
ISO files in NFS
Bootable custom ISO
DVD present in DVD
drive of every server
18 Optmizing Dell Server Deployment – System Build & Update Utility(SBUU)
Case 3 – Large-sized Labs
Consider a lab having 60 Servers across multiple generations and the lab admin needs
to:
1. Deploy 30 servers with RHEL 5.7x32 (including hardware configuration and
firmware update)
2. Deploy 60 Servers with SLES 11 SP2 (including hardware configuration and
firmware update)
Procedure
The Lab admin / End user can follow the optimized procedure shown below using a
SBUU DVD to complete the setup.
Repeat Steps 1 to 10 as outlined in case 1.
Action item
Given the situation that the admin has 2 custom SBUU ISO files on a NFS/SAMBA share
that has to be used respectively on 60 Servers, the PXE boot support should be
implemented for speedy and efficient deployment.
Firstly, the lab admin needs to place RHEL 5.7x32 Custom ISO file in the PXE server
and follow the procedure shown below on all servers that need to be deployed.
1. Go to system setup [F2] on the system.
2. Under “Integrated Devices” enable all the NICS needed as “Enabled with PXE”.
3. Boot up the system with PXE boot.
Repeat the above process for all the servers needing RHEL 5.7x32 OS installation.
Then replace the PXE server with the SBUU custom ISO file made for installation of
SLES 11 SP2 and repeat step 1 to step 3 for the intended servers.
Tip:
The key is that to complete one operating system installation using PXE support for
entire n number of servers and then carry on the next operating system to avoid
confusion in OS installation on the respective servers.
DELL’s Deployment Tool kit (DTK) is another alternate tool that can also be utilized
for such repetitive deployments.
19 Optmizing Dell Server Deployment – System Build & Update Utility(SBUU)
NFS
image file
PXE
Large-Sized Lab - Optimized 1:N Figure 4.
OM
Use Operating
system ISO file &
SUU from NFS /
SAMBA Common
Share
Dell
Target deployment
servers boot up using
PXE boot setup and
successful deployment
on N’ Servers
DVD
Server
Export Configs to
PXE Server enabled
with the custom
SBUU bootable
20 Optmizing Dell Server Deployment – System Build & Update Utility(SBUU)
Time Saving quotien t
Manual deployment time
This includes the time involved in popping the OS DVD in each and every intended
server and going through the entire deployment exercise step by step.
SBUU deployment time
This includes popping the SBUU DVD once in any DELL server, generating a custom
DVD and utilizing the same for the unattended installation on all the target servers.
1:1 - SBUU Deployment Time Vs. Manual Deployment Time: Figure 5.
1:1
Using SBUU
deployment for
a single server
1.77 Hrs with
15% of human
intervention
Manual
Deployment
for a single
server 2.68 Hrs
with 67% of
human
intervention
21 Optmizing Dell Server Deployment – System Build & Update Utility(SBUU)
Manual Server Setup
Using SBUU Server Setup [1:1]
Area
Attended
Minutes)
Unattended
Minutes)
Attended
Minutes)
Unattended
Minutes)
SBUU boot
N/A
N/A 0 5
Raid Configuration
3 1 1
2
Firmware update*
60
20 2 20
BIOS Configs
10 1 5
5
iDRAC Configs 5 1 3 3
Server OS
Installation
30
30 5 55
Create Bootable ISO
support
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Sub Total Time (in
Minutes)
108
53
16
90
Total Time (in
Minutes)
161
106
Total Time (in Hrs.)
2.68 Hrs.
1.77 Hrs.
Table 1. 1:1 - Time Stamp Manual Vs. SBUU Deployment
Time (in
Image for 1:N
Note : *Firmware Update without SBUU support is under the assumption that the user
uses http://support.us.dell.com
them -> Install them on the target server.
for the DUPS / EXE/ BIN files -> Manually download
Time (in
Time (in
Time (in
1:N - SBUU Deployment Time Vs. Manual Deployment Time Figure 6.
1:N
Using SBUU
deployment
for a single
server 1.85Hrs
with 19% of
human
intervention
22 Optmizing Dell Server Deployment – System Build & Update Utility(SBUU)
Using SBUU
deployment
for a single
server 2.68
Hrs with 67%
of human
intervention
Manual Server Setup
Using SBUU Server Setup
Area
Attended
Minutes)
Unattended
Minutes)
Attended
Minutes)
Unattended
Minutes)
SBUU boot
N/A
N/A 0 5
Selecting the server
list for 1:N
N/A
N/A 5 0
Raid Configuration
3 1 1
2
Firmware update*
60
20 2 20
BIOS Configs
10 1 5
5
iDRAC Configs 5 1 3 3
Server OS Installation
30
30 5 55
Export Configuration /
Creation**
N/A
N/A 0 10
Sub Total Time (in
Minutes)
108
53
21
90
Total Time (in
Minutes)
161
111
Total Time (in Hrs.)
2.68 Hrs.
1.85 Hrs.
Table 2. 1:N - Time Stamp Manual Vs. SBUU Deployment
Time (In
Bootable ISO
Note:**Bootable ISO image creation time implies a one time 25 minutes explicit usage
in order to create a bootable ISO file in any USB/NFS/SAMBA Share while Export
configuration is saving the current settings on a share and importing the same on target
servers based on need.
Time (in
Time (in
Time (in
23 Optmizing Dell Server Deployment – System Build & Update Utility(SBUU)
Case with 5
Servers
Manual Server Setup (in Minutes)
Minutes)
Server 1
161
111
Server 2*
161
80
Server 3*
161
80
Server 4*
161
80
Server 5*
161
80
Total Setup Time
minutes)
805
431
Total Time (in
Hrs.)
13.42 Hrs. with 67% human
intervention on the whole
7.18 Hrs. with 19% human
intervention on the whole
Case Study: Deploying 5 Servers - SBUU Real Time Deployment vs. Manual Deployment Time
1:N – Case Study - Manual deployment Vs. SBUU Deployment Figure 7.
1:N
Using SBUU
1:N
deployment,
Time taken
to deploy 5
servers = 7.18
Hrs
Using SBUU
1:N
deployment,
Time taken
to deploy 5
servers =
13.42 Hrs
Table 3. 1:N – Case Study - Time Stamp Manual vs. SBUU Deployment
deployable
for 5 Servers
deployment (in
Note: For Servers 2 to 5 the custom ISO can be use d; it saves time (almost to half
man hours).
Using SBUU Server Setup (in
24 Optmizing Dell Server Deployment – System Build & Update Utility(SBUU)
Summary
1. Dell server deployment using SBUU for both 1:1 and 1: N saves half the time or
man hours that are actually needed. It also includes only 19% of human
intervention.
2. SBUU along with the support from SUU is a one-stop shop for firmware update,
hardware configurations along with OS installation.
Learn more
Visit http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/software/smsbu/1_2/en/index.htm
more information on System Build and update utility (SBUU).
for
25 Optmizing Dell Server Deployment – System Build & Update Utility(SBUU)
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