3.7 Using Dell Configuration Bundles

When a server boots, the ZENworks Dell Configuration bundle is executed on the server before the operating system boots. The Dell Configuration bundle is used in server provisioning to do the following:

  • Use scripts and files to configure the BIOS, BMC, RAID, and DRAC

  • Install a Dell utility partition

  • Overwrite an existing Dell utility partition

  • Update the files in an existing Dell utility partition

  • Execute another Preboot bundle to install an operating system after updating the Dell device

For more information on the Dell OpenManage Deployment Toolkit (DTK), see the guides (dtk20cli.pdf and dtk20ug.pdf) contained in the DTK download.

In using Dell Configuration bundles, you should first create the Dell Configuration scripts and files, if they are needed, then create the Dell Configuration bundle:

IMPORTANT:If a newer version of the DTK is available from Dell, and you want to use it for your Dell Configuration bundle work, see Section G.0, Dell DTK for instructions on updating the DTK.

3.7.1 Creating Dell Configuration Scripts and Files

When you create a Dell Configuration bundle you might need specialized scripts or files to already exist, depending on which settings you employ in the bundle. Novell recommends that you follow the instructions in the Dell DTK documentation to create the necessary configuration files and scripts.

To help do this, ZENworks provides the Dell DTK (Maintenance Mode) option when booting a Preboot Services Imaging CD, which provides a complete DTK environment where configuration scripts and files can be created and tested. This environment is identical to the environment provided by booting the Dell DTK CD, but includes additional configuration information needed for placing files and scripts on the ZENworks servers.

After you create them, you need to copy all of the scripts and files to be used in the Dell Configuration bundle to the ZENworks TFTP server. You will need to do this before you reboot the device that you used to create the scripts and files, because the scripts and files are created in a RAM drive, which is replaced in rebooting.

The DTK environment provides a TFTP client utility that allows you to upload your configuration files directly to your ZENworks servers, because the Dell DTK (Maintenance Mode) also provides an environment variable ($TFTPIP) that always resolves to the IP address of the TFTP service on the ZENworks server.

To create the scripts and files that you might need when creating a Dell Configuration bundle:

IMPORTANT:In the aforementioned sections you are instructed to upload files to your ZENworks TFTP server. Because this is not enabled by default, you must first configure TFTP before attempting to upload those files.

Creating a BIOS or BMC Configuration File

  1. Make sure the novell-proxydhcp daemon is running on a server in your network.

    This service must be available so that the device PXE can access files from the ZENworks server, such as the Preboot Services Menu and Dell DTK (Maintenance Mode).

  2. Boot a Dell device that is PXE-enabled and press the Ctrl-Alt keys during booting.

    Press these keys when a string starting with Novell ... is displayed during the boot process.

    IMPORTANT:Choose the correct device to boot for creating the BIOS or BMC file. The devices to receive the update must be the same as the device you are using to configure the file. For example, if the boot device is a Dell 2950, then the configured file can only be used to update other Dell 2950 devices.

  3. When the bash (#) prompt is displayed, auto-generate the file using the following command:

    syscfg -o BIOS-BMC_filename

    where BIOS-BMC_filename is the name of the BIOS or BMC file to be used.

    WARNING:Do not reboot the device at this time, because the file you created is in a RAM drive. (You can safely reboot after you upload the file to the TFTP server.)

  4. Upload the configuration file to a location relative to the TFTP directory on the ZENworks Imaging server by using the following command:

    tftp -l local_BIOS_BMC_filename_and_path -r remote_BIOS_BMC_filename -p $TFTPIP

    In this command, local_BIOS_BMC_filename_and_path is the complete path and filename of the BIOS or BMC configuration file that you provided when running syscfg, remote_BIOS_BMC_filename is name with which the configuration file must be uploaded to your ZENworks Imaging server, and $TFTPIP is the IP address of the ZENworks Imaging Server.

    The remote file is uploaded to a path that is relative to the TFTP directory of the Imaging server because the DellDTK Configuration bundle is designed to look for files relative to the TFTP directory.

  5. Continue with the appropriate section:

Creating a DRAC 5 Configuration File

  1. Make sure the novell-proxydhcp daemon is running on a server in your network.

    This service must be available so that the device PXE can access files from the ZENworks server, such as the Preboot Services Menu and Dell DTK (Maintenance Mode).

  2. Boot a Dell device that is PXE-enabled and press the Ctrl-Alt keys during booting.

    Press these keys when a string starting with Novell ... is displayed during the boot process.

    IMPORTANT:Choose the correct device to boot for creating the DRAC 5 file. The devices to receive the update must be the same as the device you are using to configure the file. For example, if the boot device is a Dell 2950, then the configured file can only be used to update other Dell 2950 devices. In Dell 9G devices, DRAC 5 is included in the BIOS, rather than a separate file.

  3. Run the raccap.sh script located at /opt/dell/toolkit/template/scripts/.

  4. Specify a name for the configuration file.

  5. Upload the configuration file to a location relative to the TFTP directory on the ZENworks Imaging server by using the following command:

    tftp -l local_DRAC_configuration_filename_and_path -r remote_DRAC_filename -p $TFTPIP

    In this command, local_DRAC_filename_and_path is the complete path and filename of the DRAC 5 configuration file that you provided when running the raccap.sh script, remote_DRAC_filename is name with which the configuration file must be uploaded to your ZENworks Imaging server, and $TFTPIP is the IP address of the ZENworks Imaging Server.

    The remote file is uploaded to a path that is relative to the TFTP directory of the Imaging server because the DellDTK Configuration bundle is designed to look for files relative to the TFTP directory.

  6. Continue with the appropriate section:

Creating a RAID Configuration Script

This bundle option only configures RAID; it cannot be used to update it.

  1. Make sure the novell-proxydhcp daemon is running on a server in your network.

    This service must be available so that the device PXE can access files from the ZENworks server, such as the Preboot Services Menu and Dell DTK (Maintenance Mode).

  2. Boot a Dell device that is PXE-enabled and press the Ctrl-Alt keys during booting.

    Press these keys when a string starting with Novell ... is displayed during the boot process.

    IMPORTANT:Choose the correct device to boot for creating the RAID script. The devices to receive the update must be the same as the device you are using to configure the script. For example, if the boot device is a Dell 2950, then the configured script can only be used to update other Dell 2950 devices.

  3. When the bash (#) prompt is displayed, to edit the following sample script file, first make a copy of it where you have editing rights:

    cp -a /opt/dell/toolkit/template/scripts /tmp

    then to edit the copy:

    vi /temp/scripts/raidcfg.sh

    Modify the file as needed, then save the changes. You can save the file using any filename; however, the filename you save it as must be provided in the Dell Configuration bundle. Therefore, if you save to a different name, make a note of it.

    WARNING:Do not reboot the device at this time, because the script you created is in a RAM drive. (You can safely reboot after you upload the script to the TFTP server.)

  4. Upload the configuration file to a location relative to the TFTP directory on the ZENworks Imaging server by using the following command:

    tftp -l local_RAID_filename_and_path -r remote_RAID_filename -p $TFTPIP

    In this command, local_RAID_filename_and_path is the complete path and name of the edited raidcfg.sh file, remote_RAID_filename is name with which the configuration file must be uploaded to your ZENworks Imaging server, and $TFTPIP is the IP address of the ZENworks Imaging Server.

    The remote file is uploaded to a path that is relative to the TFTP directory of the Imaging server because the DellDTK Configuration bundle is designed to look for files relative to the TFTP directory.

  5. Continue with Configuring the DellDTK Configuration Bundle.

3.7.2 Configuring the DellDTK Configuration Bundle

The DellDTK Configuration bundle contains the location of files and scripts for configuring Dell servers. This bundle allows you to use Preboot Services to configure the BIOS, BMC, RAID, and DRAC for settings and to create a new Dell Utility partition. You can also identify another Preboot bundle to be run immediately after these configurations have completed.

To configure a DellDTK Configuration bundle and assign devices to the bundle:

  1. In ZENworks Control Center, click Bundles in the left pane to display the Bundles panel.

  2. Click New > Bundle to start the Create New Bundle Wizard.

  3. Select Preboot Bundle, then click Next.

  4. On the Select Bundle Category page, select DellDTK Configuration, then click Next to display the Define Details page.

  5. Fill in the fields:

    Bundle Name: (Required) Although bundles can be identified in ZENworks Control Center by their type of icon, as well as the folder they are listed under, you should develop a naming scheme that differentiates the DellDTK Configuration bundles that are listed together in a folder.

    For more information, see Naming Conventions in ZENworks Control Center in the ZENworks Control Center Reference.

    Folder: Browse for the location where you want the DellDTK Configuration bundle displayed in ZENworks Control Center. The folder must exist. You cannot specify a non-existent folder, because ZENworks does not create them from this wizard.

    Icon: Browse for and select an icon if you plan to use one on your desktop for this bundle.

    Description: Provide a description to help you later recognize the exact purpose of this DellDTK Configuration bundle.

  6. Click Next to display the Dell Config Bundle Options page.

  7. Configure the following settings to create a Dell Configuration bundle:

    1. Configure the Configuration Scripts:

      • BIOS/BMC/DRAC 5 Configuration File: Specify the path and filename of the BIOS, BMC (Base Management Controller), or DRAC 5 (Dell Remote Access Controller 5) configuration file. The path must be relative to the TFTP server's home directory. Do not specify the tftp directory or any of the path that precedes it.

        NOTE:This bundle option configures the BIOS, BMC, or DRAC 5 only; it cannot be used to update them. This option is applicable only for the Dell devices that support the DRAC 5 card.

      • RAID Configuration Script: Specify the path and filename of the RAID configuration script relative to the TFTP server's home directory. Do not specify the TFTP directory or any of the path that precedes it.

      • DRAC Configuration Script: Specify the DRAC path and filename of the configuration file relative to the TFTP server's home directory. Do not specify the tftp directory or any of the path that precedes it. This option is applicable for the Dell devices that support DRAC card versions prior to version 5.

      For information on how to create these files, see Section 3.7.1, Creating Dell Configuration Scripts and Files.

    2. (Conditional) To create a new Dell utility partition, select the Create Dell Utility Partition check box, then fill in the fields.

      WARNING:If you use this option, all the existing partitions on the target disk are replaced by the Dell utility partition. However, you can select the Overwrite Existing Dell Utility Partition check box to only update an existing Dell utility partition. In that case, all existing partitions are retained and the Dell server diagnostics utility files are written to the existing Dell utility partition using the entry that you provide in the File option.

      You cannot use a ZENworks partition for the same purpose as the Dell utility partition. However, both a Dell utility partition and a ZENworks partition can exist on the same server, with each partition being used for its own purposes.

      • Partition Size: This partition requires 32 MB for the Dell server diagnostics utilities. This option is only used when creating a new Dell utility partition.

      • Target Disk: This is the disk's identifier, such as /dev/hda. This ID is used to determine the disk for creating the new partition, or for updating an existing partition.

      • File: Specify the path to the Dell utility partition file. The path must be relative to the TFTP server's home directory.

        The file is written to the partition in the process of creating a new partition or when updating an existing partition.

        Dell utility partition files are available on the Dell Installation and Server management CD. For example, for a PowerEdge 1850 system, the file is at d:\server_assistant\pe1850\upimg.bin. Copy the necessary files from the CD to a path relative to the TFTP server's home directory for use in this option.

      • Overwrite Existing Dell Utility Partition: If a Dell utility partition already exists on the selected target disk, select this check box to update the partition with the latest utility files instead of replacing the partition.

  8. Click Next to display the Summary page.

  9. Do the following:

    • If you want to perform other configuration tasks after the bundle has been created, select the Define Additional Properties check box.

      For example, you can make assignments to the bundle in the Relationships tab, add actions in the Actions tab, and so on.

    • If you want to deploy the bundle as a sandbox version, select the Create As Sandbox check box. A sandbox version of a bundle enables you to test it on your device before actually deploying it.

  10. Review the configuration, then click one of the following:

    Back: Allows you to make changes after reviewing the summary.

    Finish: Creates the Dell DTK Configuration bundle as configured per the settings listed on this Summary page.