Dell OpenManage™ Software Quick Installation Guide 

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Maximizing the Value of Your Dell PowerEdge System

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Installing Systems Management Software on a Managed System

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Verifying the Systems Management Software Kit Contents

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Installing Systems Management Software on a Management Station

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Systems Management Software Overview

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Updating Drivers and Utilities

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Installing Your Operating System

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Obtaining Technical Assistance


Maximizing the Value of Your Dell™ PowerEdge™ System

Use the supplied CDs to quickly get your system up and running. You will get consistent, reliable results and ensure trouble-free operation. The CDs provide: 

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Verifying the Systems Management Software Kit Contents

The systems management software kit includes, but is not limited to, the following components:

Compare the contents of your system accessories box with the packing slip or invoice enclosed with your system. If any components are missing or damaged, call Dell within 30 days of the invoice date for a free replacement. For more information, see "Obtaining Technical Assistance."

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Systems Management Software Overview

Dell OpenManage systems management software is a suite of application programs for PowerEdge systems. This software allows you to manage your system with proactive monitoring, diagnosis, notification, and remote access. 

Each system that you plan to manage with Dell OpenManage software products is called a managed system. Managed system applications include Server Administrator, Array Manager, and remote access controller (RAC) software. A management station can be used to remotely manage one or more managed systems from a central location. By installing IT Assistant on a management station, you can effectively manage from one to thousands of remote managed systems.

Figure 1 illustrates the relationship between a management station and its managed systems. Figure 1 also shows the operating systems and the Dell OpenManage software products that may be installed on the managed systems.

Figure 1. Example of a Management Station and Managed Systems

Table 1 describes the Dell OpenManage products. 

Table 1. Dell OpenManage Systems Management Software Applications

Function

Software Product

Description

Local system management

Server Administrator

A management solution for PowerEdge systems that provides a consolidated and consistent way to monitor, configure, update, and manage individual Dell systems. Server Administrator provides the following features:

  • Security management 

  • A command line interface

  • Extensive logging 

  • Ability to review and report the configuration and status of a host-based RAID subsystem

  • Update capability for BIOS and firmware for Dell systems

  • Diagnostic tools to isolate hardware problems while the system is still operational

  • Rapid access to detailed fault and performance information that is reported in the user interface 

  • Remote administration of monitored systems, including BIOS setup, shutdown, start up, and remote access controller (RAC) security 
Configure and manage RAID Array Manager A comprehensive storage management solution in an integrated graphical view. Array Manager enables you to configure and manage local and remote storage attached to a server while the server is online and continuing to process requests.

Array Manager performs the following functions: 

  • Obtains information about storage devices attached to the server, including controllers and array disks, enclosures, channels, and other physical components 

  • Obtains information on the storage system's logical components, such as virtual disks and volumes, and displays the connections among the logical and physical storage components
Status and reporting   IT Assistant

A systems management console program, usually installed on one management station to collect information and provide a view of all managed systems. IT Assistant performs the following functions:

  • Fault monitoring with notification through e-mail, paging, or console alerting to keep administrators informed of events reported from disk, memory, voltage, fan, and thermal conditions 

  • Inventory and asset reporting including service tag number, cost of ownership information, and specifics of the BIOS, microprocessor(s), and memory

  • In-context launch of device specific-tools such as Array Manager, Server Administrator, Remote Access service, and the PowerConnect™ Switch Manager
Remote management   Remote access controller  (DRAC II, DRAC III, DRAC III/XT, ERA, ERA/O, and ERA/MC)

These hardware and software solutions perform the following functions: 

  • Help system administrators by providing alert messages for system problems, enabling remote system management,  and by reducing the need for the system administrator to go to a system

  • Help system administrators improve the overall availability of Dell systems

  • Remote access to an inoperable system, allowing you to obtain complete control of the local console
Server setup and operating system installation Server Assistant A bootable CD that provides: 
  • Step-by-step system configuration including RAID controllers and network interfaces

  • Installation support for Windows, Red Hat Linux, and NetWare operating systems

  • Dell-optimized device drivers for PowerEdge systems

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Installing Your Operating System

Perform the following steps to determine if an operating system has been installed on your system:

  1. Ensure that the keyboard, mouse, and monitor are connected to your system and turn on your system.

  2. Read and accept the software license agreement to continue.

    Your system reboots. If a message appears and states that bootable drives do not exist, or that an operating system was not found, then an operating system has not been installed on your system. Have your operating system CD available and continue with step 3.

If an operating system has been preinstalled on your system, it is not necessary to continue with this process. Locate the operating system’s Installation Instructions document that was provided with your system and follow those instructions to complete the installation process. 

  1. Insert the Server Assistant CD and restart your system.

  2. Select Server Setup on the Server Assistant main page.

  3. Follow the step-by-step instructions to configure your hardware and to install your operating system.

For additional information about installing RAID, see Getting Started With RAID on the documentation CD. 

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Installing Systems Management Software on a Managed System 

NOTE: Server Administrator installation is not supported on PowerEdge 300, 2300, 4300, 4350, 6300, or 6350 systems, or on systems containing a version of systems management software prior to version 3.0. If a previous version of systems management software is detected, you are offered the option to uninstall it using the CD interface. You can also use the OMClean utility found in the \support\windows\OMClean directory on the Systems Management CD. Double-click omclean.exe to launch this utility. After the uninstallation is complete, you must reboot the system before you can install the latest version of the systems management software.

NOTE: To gain maximum functionality when using IT Assistant, install the SNMP agent on your managed system using your operating system media before installing the managed system software.

NOTE: The setup program provides both an Express Setup option and a Custom Setup option. The Express Setup option (recommended) automatically installs all of the detected software components that are necessary to manage your system. The Custom Setup option allows you to select which software components you want to install. This procedure is based on the Express Setup option. See the Dell OpenManage Server Administrator User's Guide for information about Custom Setup

Installing Managed System Software for the Microsoft Windows 2000 Server or Windows Server 2003 Operating System

Installing Managed System Software for the Red Hat Linux Operating System 

Installing Managed System Software for the Novell NetWare Operating System

Installing Managed System Software for the Microsoft Windows 2000 Server or Windows Server 2003 Operating System

  1. Log on with administrator privileges to the system running the Windows 2000 Server or Windows Server 2003 (collectively referred to as Windows hereafter) operating system where you want to install the managed system components.

  2. Verify that your system has Internet Explorer 5.5 or 6.0 installed (available for download at www.microsoft.com). You can also use Netscape Navigator 7.02 or 7.1 on systems running Windows operating systems. 

  3. If you have a RAID controller installed on your system and you plan to install the storage management function, ensure that the device drivers for each RAID controller are also installed. 

You can find device drivers on the Server Assistant CD. You can verify the device driver under Windows by right-clicking My Computer, selecting Manage, and then clicking Device Manager.



 

NOTE: If you have the OpenManage Installation icon on your desktop, the managed system software has been preloaded on your system and you do not need to use the Systems Management CD. To complete the software installation, double-click the OpenManage Installation icon to launch setup, and then go to step 6.

  1. Insert the Systems Management CD into the CD drive.

    The setup program should start automatically. If it does not, click the Start button, click Run, and then type x:setup.exe (where x is the drive letter of your CD drive).
  1. Click Install Managed System.

  2. Click Express Setup.

  3. Click Next to proceed through the installation process. 


    The setup program automatically installs all of the managed system software for your hardware configuration.

  4. When the installation is complete, click Finish and restart your system before using the software.

NOTE: To log in to Server Administrator, you must use your operating system user name and password. See "Setup and Administration" in the Server Administrator User's Guide for more information.

Installing Managed System Software for the Red Hat Linux Operating System

  1. Log on with administrator privileges to the system running the Red Hat Linux operating system where you want to install the managed system components.


  2. For systems running Red Hat Linux 9, Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS (version 2.1), or Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3.0, verify that you have one of the following browsers

NOTE: To use Dell-supported versions of Red Hat Linux kernels, you must have dynamic kernel support. See the Server Administrator User's Guide for more information. 

  1. Start the X Windows graphical user interface (GUI) using the startx command.

  2. Insert the Systems Management CD into the CD drive. 

    NOTE: If your operating system was preinstalled, the managed system software has been preloaded on your system and you do not need to use the Systems Management CD. To complete the software installation, run the installation script start.sh, located in the /dell/omsw directory.

     
  3. Mount the CD using the mount /mnt/cdrom command. 

  4. Click start.sh located in the root directory of the CD to start the setup program.

  5. Click Express Setup.

  6. Click Next to proceed through the installation process.

    The setup program automatically installs all of the managed system software for your hardware configuration.

  7. When the installation is complete, click Finish.

Installing Managed System Software for the Novell NetWare Operating System

  1. Insert the Systems Management CD into the CD drive of the system running Netware 5.1 or Netware 6.5. 

  2. Type load cdrom and press <Enter>. 

  3. If the volume name does not display, type volumes at the console prompt and press <Enter>. 

  4. All available volumes display. 

  5. Record the volume name for the CD drive.

  6. Type load nwconfig and press <Enter>. 

  7. In the NetWare Configuration screen under Configuration Options, select Product Options and press <Enter>. 

  8. On the Other Installation Actions menu, select Install a product not listed and press <Enter>. 

  9. note.gif NOTE:  A dialog box listing previously selected paths might appear after you press <Enter>. Press <Esc> to close this dialog box. 

    A default message appears, stating that the product is to be installed from drive A. 

  10. Press <F3> to specify a different installation path.

  11. Delete a: and type the volume name and path name: 
  12. volume_name:netware

    where volume_name is the name of the volume assigned to the CD drive.

    note.gif NOTE: You cannot enter spaces in the path name. 
  1. After you type the path name, press <Enter> to continue.

  2. The following message appears: 

    Indicate which file groups you want installed.

    Server Administrator is not listed as a selection because it is installed by default. 

  3. Select the components you want to install.

  4. note.gif NOTE: Items selected for installation have an X next to them. Pressing <Enter> next to an item selects that item. Pressing the spacebar next to an item switches the selection between selected and not selected.
     
  5. To accept the components you have selected and to continue with the installation, press <F10>. 

  6. The installation of Server Administrator and the components you selected begins. Status messages appear. 

    The Systems Management Security Utility appears and asks various configuration questions. Follow the instructions on the screen.

    note.gif NOTE:  The default root password is calvin

    Upon completion of the Systems Management Utility, the installation of Server Administrator and the components you selected continues. Status messages appear. 

  7. When a dialog box appears, press <Enter> to continue. 

  8. When the Server Administrator installation is complete, press <Esc> twice and <Enter> once to return to the console prompt and exit the nwconfig program.

  9. Restart your system before using the software.

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Installing Systems Management Software on a Management Station

NOTE: IT Assistant installation is not supported on systems containing a version of IT Assistant prior to version 6.2 that was installed with a Systems Management CD prior to version 3.0. If a previous version of IT Assistant is detected, you are offered the option to uninstall it using the CD interface. You can also use the OMClean utility found in the \support\windows\OMClean directory on the Systems Management CD. Run the command OMClean/f OMClean_ita.ini from a DOS command line. After the uninstallation is complete, you must reboot the system before you can install the latest version of the IT Assistant software.

NOTE: You can install both managed system and management station software on your PowerEdge system running a Windows operating system.

NOTE: Management station applications run only on systems running Windows XP Professional, Windows 2000 Server, and Windows Server 2003, but can manage the managed systems running Windows, NetWare, and Red Hat Linux.

To install applications onto the management station, perform the following steps:

  1. Log on with administrator privileges to the system where you want to install the management station applications.

  2. Insert the Systems Management CD into the CD drive.

    The setup program should start automatically. If it does not, click the Start button, click Run, and then type x:setup.exe (where x is the drive letter of your CD drive).

  3. Click Install Management Station.

  4. Click Express Setup.

  5. Click Next to proceed through the installation process.

    The setup program automatically installs all of the management station software for your hardware configuration.

  6. When the installation is complete, click Finish and restart your system before using the software.

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Updating Drivers and Utilities

The Server Assistant CD contains device drivers and utilities that you can use to update your system. You must copy the drivers and utilities to either a diskette or to your hard drive to use them. 

For the latest product updates, such as BIOS, firmware, drivers, and Dell OpenManage applications, go to the Dell Support website at support.dell.com.

NOTE: You can run the Server Assistant CD only on systems running Windows. To extract drivers for systems that are running Red Hat Linux or NetWare, you must use the Server Assistant CD on a system running Windows and then copy or share the selected files to the final destination system.

  1. Insert the Server Assistant CD into the CD drive on a system running Windows.

    The setup program should start automatically. If it does not, click the Start button, click Run, and then type x:setup.exe (where x is the drive letter of your CD drive).

  2. Select the system and from the Select Drivers/Utilities Set, select the file set that you want to update, and then click Continue.

  3. From the Drivers and Utilities Page, select the utility or driver file that you want to update by clicking the link for the device name. 

    The system prompts you for a location in which to save the file.  Files are delivered in compressed format. BIOS and firmware files normally require diskettes for the extraction.

  4. Decompress the file. 

See the Dell OpenManage Server Administrator Compatibility Guide for additional information about BIOS, firmware, drivers, and Dell OpenManage application versions. 

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Obtaining Technical Assistance

Before contacting Dell for technical assistance, see the Dell Support website at support.dell.com. If you need additional technical support, see "Getting Help" in your system's Installation and Troubleshooting Guide for country/region-specific information about contacting Dell by using telephone, fax, and Internet services.

Readme files for all supported software are available on the Systems Management CD.

For Dell Enterprise Training and Certification programs, see www.dell.com/training. This service may not be offered in all locations.

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Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
© 2001–2003 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.

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

Trademarks used in this text: Dell, the DELL logo, Dell OpenManage, PowerConnect, and PowerEdge are trademarks of Dell Inc.; Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation; Novell and NetWare are registered trademarks of Novell, Inc.; Red Hat is a registered trademark of Red Hat, Inc. 

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.

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Initial release: 13 Nov 2001
Last revised: 3 Dec 2003