intellectual property laws. Dell™ and the Dell logo are trademarks of Dell Inc. in the United States and/or other
jurisdictions. All other marks and names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective companies.
XML schemas...................................................................................................................................... 30
Authorization and licensing requirements for API access................................................................. 31
White papers........................................................................................................................................32
Lifecycle Controller and iDRAC white papers..............................................................................32
4 Integrating the Lifecycle Controller API........................................................ 33
API clients............................................................................................................................................ 33
Best practices workflow references................................................................................................... 33
Sample scripts and tools.....................................................................................................................33
Applications using Lifecycle Controller-Remote Services................................................................ 34
WinRM and OpenWSMAN installation and configuration................................................................. 34
5 Social media reference...................................................................................... 35
Systems Management forum section.................................................................................................35
6 Terms and definitions........................................................................................ 36
4
1
Introduction
Dell Lifecycle Controller provides advanced embedded systems management to perform systems
management tasks such as deploy, configure, update, maintain, and diagnose. It is delivered as part of
integrated Dell Remote Access Controller (iDRAC) out-of-band solution and embedded Unified
Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) applications in the latest Dell servers. iDRAC works with the UEFI
firmware to access and manage every aspect of the hardware, including component and subsystem
management that is beyond the traditional Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) capabilities.
Dell Lifecycle Controller Remote Services further enables remote systems management in a one-tomany method. Remote services is accessible over the network using the secure web services interface
and can be programmatically utilized by applications and scripts. Remote services enable management
consoles to perform one-to-many bare-metal server provisioning. The combination of the Autodiscovery feature to identify and authenticate the attached Dell system to the network and integration
with one‑to-many management consoles reduces the manual steps required for server setup and
management. The Server Configuration Profiles provide a single view of all the system settings that can
be imported and exported from the server to perform one-to-many cloning operations. The interface is
aimed at simplifying many tasks, some of which include remotely deploying an operating system, remote
update and inventory, and remotely automating the setup and configuration of new and alreadydeployed Dell systems.
Lifecycle Controller reduces the time and number of steps taken to accomplish tasks, reduces potential
for error, enhances server and application uptime and security, and results in more efficient IT
management. Developed on the industry standard Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) platform
and Web Services for Management (WSMAN) interfaces, Lifecycle Controller provides an open
environment for console integration that also allows custom scripting for Lifecycle Controller. Leading
systems management consoles such as, Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager, BMC Software
BladeLogic Operations Manager, Symantec Deployment Solution, and Dell Management Console have
integrated Dell Lifecycle Controller to utilize its features and capabilities to an existing infrastructure,
where these consoles are installed.
Benefits of using iDRAC with Lifecycle Controller
The iDRAC with Lifecycle Controller technology in the server’s embedded management allows you to
perform useful tasks such as configuring BIOS and hardware settings, deploying operating systems,
changing RAID settings, and saving hardware profiles. Together, iDRAC and Lifecycle Controller provide a
robust set of management functions that can be used throughout the entire server lifecycle.
Dell Lifecycle Controller simplifies server lifecycle management — from provisioning, deployment,
patching and updating to servicing and user customization — both locally and remotely. Lifecycle
Controller includes managed and persistent storage that embeds systems management features and
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Operating System device drivers directly on the server. This eliminates the media-based system
management tools and utilities traditionally needed for systems management.
The benefits include:
•Increased Uptime — Early notification of potential or actual failures that help prevent a server failure
or reduce recovery time after a failure.
•Improved Productivity and Lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) — Extending the reach of
administrators to larger numbers of distant servers can make IT staff more productive while driving
down operational costs such as travel.
•Enhanced Security— By providing secure access to remote servers, administrators can perform critical
management functions while maintaining server and network security.
•Increased Efficiency— With Lifecycle Controller Remote Services, you can automate the server
configuration management using Dell OpenManage Essentials and Dell partner consoles, which
enables efficient administration as server deployments scale.
For more information about iDRAC, see the Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller User’s Guide
available at dell.com/esmmanuals.
Key features
You can perform the following systems management tasks using Lifecycle Controller-Remote Services:
•Install operating systems and drivers
•Manage licensing
•Perform BIOS firmware updates
•Part Replacement and automatic restore of server configuration
•Perform component firmware updates
•Get hardware inventory information
•Get and set NIC/CNA, Fibre Channel host bus adapters (FC-HBA), and RAID configuration
•Get and set BIOS configuration and BIOS passwords
•Full export of Lifecycle log and add work notes
•Export current- and factory-shipped hardware inventory log
•Manage, attach, and boot to vFlash SD card partitions
•Lock the controllers using the local key
•Export and import the server profile
•Import server license
•View firmware details during server update
•Export and import Server Configuration Profiles
•Schedule and track the status of the update and configuration
•Import and export Server Configuration Profiles file that contains information about a component
configuration
•Backplane and enclosure firmware update
•Support for FC-HBA cards
•Out-of-band server performance monitoring
•Enhance security using hash password
•View logs, monitoring, and server information, and configure the network parameters of a server
using a mobile device
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•Delete server-related information
•View the managed system using Physical Computer System View
•Manage the web server certificate
•Configure the USB management port
•View embedded tech support report to resolve business-critical issues
•Configure storage devices in real time
•Replace motherboard using Import Server Profile feature
•Support for PCIeSSD devices
What’s new in this release?
The new features for this release include:
•Support for the following Dell PowerEdge systems:
– PowerEdge FC430
– PowerEdge M830
– PowerEdge FC830
– PowerEdge FD332
•Support for common iDRAC with Lifecycle Controller firmware across Dell’s 12th and 13th generation
PowerEdge servers.
•Support for version 2.10.10.10 on a 13th generation PowerEdge server with iDRAC8 and a 12th
generation PowerEdge server with iDRAC7.
– Support for direct upgrade to version 2.10.10.10 from 2.xx.xx.xx or 1.xx.xx.
NOTE: You cannot downgrade to version 1.xx.xx on a Dell 13th generation PowerEdge
server. On a Dell 12th generation PowerEdge server, you can downgrade to 1.xx.xx version.
However, you must ensure that you downgrade iDRAC before downgrading Lifecycle
Controller.
NOTE: For more information on features supported on Dell 12th and 13th generation
PowerEdge servers, see “Feature Matrix” available in the Dell Lifecycle Controller User’s Guide
or the related white paper available at the Dell TechCenter.
Why use Lifecycle Controller Remote Services?
When Dell examined the most common management tasks and the inefficiencies associated with them, it
discovered that the additional time taken for performing management tasks was not because of the tools,
but it was because of how the functions were split between several tools. For example, the most
common tasks such as provisioning, deploying, and updating required not only multiple tools and
multiple media format, but also searching the Web for tools such as drivers and firmware. This traditional
delivery model resulted in inefficient use of time, potential errors, and possible security risks. Lifecycle
Controller-Remote Services addresses all these system management issues.
Licensable features in Lifecycle Controller
The Web Services-Management (WS-MAN) License and Privilege Specification encompasses all the
license and privilege information required to utilize the WSMAN API provided by the integrated Dell
Remote Access Controller (iDRAC) with Lifecycle Controller.
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It was delivered as part of the iDRAC (Express and Enterprise licenses, and vFlash SD card feature) starting
with the 11th generation of Dell PowerEdge servers. On 12th and 13th generation of PowerEdge servers,
the vFlash feature is included with the iDRAC Enterprise license, so you need not separately license vFlash
with Lifecycle Controller 2.0 and later. The 12th and 13th generation of PowerEdge servers of Dell use
only Express or Enterprise licensing.
The Lifecycle Controller management capabilities are partitioned into distinct areas and represented by
the Dell Common Information Model (DCIM) profile specifications that provide comprehensive details
about each manageability feature or capability. These features may be free, partially licensed, or fully
licensed. Also, the accessibility of a feature is defined by the credentials provided with the WS-MAN
request and maps to the user-assigned privilege credentials, such as administrator- or read-only access.
What is the Web Service API?
Web Services-Management (WS-MAN) is a Distributed Management Task Force (DMTF) open standard,
defining a Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) — based protocol for managing servers, devices,
applications, and various web services. WS-MAN provides a common way for systems to access and
exchange management information across the IT infrastructure.
DMTF is an industry organization that develops, maintains, and promotes standards for systems
management in enterprise IT environments. The DMTF data model is complex and typically requires
multiple transactions to accomplish simple operations such as specifying a user name and password, or
giving administrator privileges to a user account. To reduce the number of transactions, Lifecycle
Controller also offers a Dell data model for management that is based on an attribute model.
Where can the Lifecycle Controller API be used from?
Lifecycle Controller-Remote Services is a standards-based interface that enables consoles to integrate,
for example, bare-metal provisioning and one-to-many operating system deployments for remotely
located servers. Dell’s Lifecycle Controller takes advantage of the capabilities of both Lifecycle Controller
GUI and Lifecycle Controller-Remote Services to deliver significant improvement and simplification of
server deployment.
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Lifecycle controller also supports local one-to-one system management tasks through a graphical user
interface (GUI) using the server’s KVM or the Virtual Console in iDRAC for operating system installation,
updates, configuration, and for running diagnostics on single and local servers. This eliminates the need
for multiple option ROMs for hardware configuration. For more information, see Lifecycle Controller
User’s Guide, available at delltechcenter.com/lc.
Who can use the API?
Lifecycle Controller-Remote Services features are available based on the type of license (that is, Basic
Management, iDRAC Express, iDRAC Express for Blades, or iDRAC Enterprise) you purchase. Only
licensed features are available in the iDRAC web interface and Lifecycle Controller-Remote Services. For
more information about managing licenses, see iDRAC User’s Guide. For more information about
Lifecycle Controller-Remote Services licensing, see Licensing.
How is one-to-many management achieved?
A management station sends WS-MAN commands over a network and the WS-MAN commands pass
securely through the network from outside the firewall and maintain security.
Other documents you may need
Along with this Quick Start Guide, you can access the following guides.
•The Lifecycle Controller Online Help provides information about using the Lifecycle Controller
through the graphical user interface (GUI). To access the Online Help, click Help in the upper-right
corner of Lifecycle Controller GUI or press <F1>.
•The Dell Lifecycle Controller GUI User's Guide provides information about using the Lifecycle
Controller features using the GUI.
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•The WS-MAN profile documents available at Dell TechCenter (delltechcenter.com/lc) provides
detailed information about the WS-Man commands used to perform Lifecycle Controller related tasks.
•The Lifecycle Controller Release Notes provides last-minute updates to the system or documentation
or advanced technical reference material intended for experienced users or technicians.
•The iDRAC User’s Guide available at Dell TechCenter (delltechcenter.com/iDRAC) provides
information about using iDRAC web interface and RACADM.
Accessing documents from Dell Support Site
You can access the required documents in one of the following ways:
•Using the following links:
– For all Enterprise Systems Management documents — dell.com/softwaresecuritymanuals
– For OpenManage documents — dell.com/openmanagemanuals
– For Remote Enterprise Systems Management documents — dell.com/esmmanuals
– For OpenManage Connections Enterprise Systems Management documents — dell.com/
OMConnectionsEnterpriseSystemsManagement
– For Serviceability Tools documents — dell.com/serviceabilitytools
– For Client Systems Management documents — dell.com/clientsystemsmanagement
– For OpenManage Connections Client Systems Management documents — dell.com/
dellclientcommandsuitemanuals
•From the Dell Support site:
a.Go to dell.com/support/home.
b.Under Select a product section, click Software & Security.
c.In the Software & Security group box, click the required link from the following:
– Enterprise Systems Management
– Remote Enterprise Systems Management
– Serviceability Tools
– Client Systems Management
– Connections Client Systems Management
d.To view a document, click the required product version.
•Using search engines:
– Type the name and version of the document in the search box.
Contacting Dell
NOTE: If you do not have an active Internet connection, you can find contact information on your
purchase invoice, packing slip, bill, or Dell product catalog.
Dell provides several online and telephone-based support and service options. Availability varies by
country and product, and some services may not be available in your area. To contact Dell for sales,
technical support, or customer service issues:
1.Go to dell.com/support.
2.Select your support category.
3.Verify your country or region in the Choose a Country/Region drop-down list at the bottom of the
page.
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4.Select the appropriate service or support link based on your need.
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