Dell EMC Server Deployment Pack Version 4.1 for Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager User's Guide July 2020 Rev.
Notes, cautions, and warnings NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your product. CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of data and tells you how to avoid the problem. WARNING: A WARNING indicates a potential for property damage, personal injury, or death. © 2020 Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. All rights reserved. Dell, EMC, and other trademarks are trademarks of Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries.
Contents Chapter 1: Introduction................................................................................................................... 4 What's new in this release.................................................................................................................................................... 4 Dell EMC Server Deployment Pack features overview....................................................................................................
1 Introduction This document describes the activities that you can perform with the Dell EMC Server Deployment Pack (DSDP) Version 4.1 for Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (Configuration Manager). NOTE: This document contains information about requirements and the supported software necessary for working with DSDP. If you are installing this version of DSDP after a long time after its release date, check to see if there is an updated version of this document on the support site.
• • • • • NOTE: The Dell EMC Server Deployment Pack(DSDP) does not support deployment on Dell PowerEdge Boot Optimized Storage Solution(BOSS) controllers. Create a Dell-specific boot image that is used in the operating system deployment. Import and apply driver installation packages for specific Dell servers. Consolidate start hovers over various wizards to perform a typical server deployment on-site server installation.
Table 1. Compatible operating systems supported by Dell EMC Server Deployment Pack for WinPE (continued) Configuration Manager Version WinPE Version Operating system Deployment System Center Configuration Manager 2012 R2 5.0 • • • Windows Server 2012 R2 Windows Server 2012 Windows Server 2008 R2* System Center Configuration Manager 2012 SP1 4.0 • • Windows Server 2012 Windows Server 2008 R2* System Center Configuration Manager 2012 3.
2 Before using Configuration Manager Before you begin using the Configuration manager, ensure the following: • • Import the DTK packages if you are upgrading DSDP using the option Remove Dell Deployment ToolKit (DTK) utilities and Windows PE drivers or installing DSDP for the first time.
3 Using the Dell EMC Server Deployment Pack on systems running System Center Configuration Manager This section provides information about how to use Dell EMC Server Deployment Pack on systems running Update 2002 for Configuration Manager, Update 1910 for Configuration Manager, or Update 1906 for Configuration Manager, or Update 1810 for Configuration Manager, or System Center Configuration Manager 2016, or System Center Configuration Manager 2012.
Use Boot Image from WAIK/ADK tools This option is used to create both x64 and x86 Dell boot images. The source for the boot image creation is obtained from Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK) or Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK), depending on the configuration, and all the Windows PE custom install packages are added to the boot image. Use existing Boot Image from Configuration Manager This option allows you to select an existing boot image in Configuration Manager.
NOTE: Make sure that you import a 64-bit version of DTK before selecting x64 boot images in any of the following options: Use Boot Image from WAIK/ADK tools This option is used to create both x64 and x86 Dell boot images. The source for the boot image creation is obtained from Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK) or Windows Assessment and Deployment Kit (ADK), depending on the configuration, and all the Windows PE custom install packages are added to the boot image.
WARNING: Ensure that you do not select Reload boot images check box while updating the distribution point for boot image created by DSDP. NOTE: The Boot Image created is customized with Dell Deployment Toolkit drivers and tools. If you select Reload boot image check box in the update distribution point wizard, the boot image gets rebuild using the specified WinPE and Client version that will result in loss of Dell Toolkit drivers and tools.
Deploying a task sequence Methods for deploying a task sequence Now that the task sequence is ready, use any of the following methods to deploy the task sequence you have created: • • • Deploy through a CD Deploy through a USB Deploy through PXE For more information, see Online Documentation for System Center Configuration Manager.
7. In Boot Image Properties, follow steps 3 to 8 in the Creating a Boot Image for Deploying PowerEdge Servers section for creating a boot image. Customizing boot image, configuring hardware and deploying OS through DTK After importing DTK package, perform the following tasks: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.
7. Click Apply and, then OK. Configuring the hardware components of your server Configure the various components of the hardware on your server. Creating a task sequence You can create a task sequence in two ways to configure your server: • • Create a Dell-specific task sequence using PowerEdge Server Deployment template. Create a custom task sequence. The task sequence proceeds to the next task sequence step irrespective of the success or failure of the command.
The Task Sequence Editor window is displayed. 4. Click Add > Dell Deployment > Apply Drivers from Dell Lifecycle Controller. The custom action for your Dell EMC Server Deployment Pack is loaded. You can now make changes to the task sequence. NOTE: • When editing a task sequence for the first time, the error message, Setup Windows, and Configuration Manager is displayed. To resolve the error, create and select the Configurations Manager Client Upgrade package.
7. In the Summary window, review the content and click Next. The wizard imports the computers from the file and displays a confirmation message. Creating the bootable media for OS deployment 1. 2. 3. 4. In the left side of Configuration Manager, right-click Task Sequences and select Create Task Sequence Media. In the Select Media window, select Bootable Media. Select the Allow unattended operating system deployment check box and click Next.
• • • Edit After creating the .ini file using any of above options, click Apply in the Task Sequence Editor window. The task sequence for Set BIOS Config (ini file) is created. CAUTION: When you update or save a new file in the package, it is not automatically updated on all of its distribution points.
• • Dell’s 13th generation systems, see “Sample File Formats” in the Dell OpenManage Deployment Toolkit Command Line Interface Reference Guide Dell’s 14th generation systems and latest iDRAC 9-based PowerEdge servers systems, see “Sample File Formats” in the Dell OpenManage Deployment Toolkit Command Line Interface Reference Guide available at Dell.com/support/manuals. 6.
The Task Sequence Editor window is displayed. 2. Click Add > Dell Deployment > PowerEdge Server Configuration. The custom action for Dell EMC Server Deployment Pack is loaded. 3. From the Configuration action type drop-down list, select Boot Order. 4. From the Action drop-down list, select Set. 5. Under Configuration file/Command line parameters, select --bootseq=virtualcd.slot.1. This sets the boot order to boot from a virtual CD.
An example of default directory: \\\sms_\OSD\lib\Packages\Deployment \Dell\PowerEdge\DTK\Template\Configs\Raidcfg. 6. Click Apply to save the edited file to the task sequence. Alternatively, you can select the option from the drop-down to create an .ini file from the start. 1. Select from the Configuration file/Command line parameters drop-down menu. 2. Click Import. 3.
Configuring Variable Replacement tab options 1. Select one of the following options under the Action to take when a variable is unintialized or the value is null or blank section: Use a null/blank value Uses a variable that has not been initialized or has a blank value. This allows the clients to continue processing the action even if the variable is undefined or blank. Fail the task Fails an action that cannot retrieve a valid variable value.
4 Troubleshooting NOTE: Before you run the sample commands provided in the troubleshooting section, see the DTK documentation and if required recreate the commands based on machine configuration.
• Click Apply and then click OK. 5. Distribute and Update the PowerEdge Custom Reboot Script and PowerEdge Deployment Toolkit Integration packages. NOTE: During upgrade, the boot image is removed, you must create a boot image, link the boot image to the task sequence, and then inject the drivers into the boot image.
5 Command line options DSDP supports the command line options supported in Dell Deployment Toolkit. For more information about the command line options, usage guidelines, and syntax, see Dell OpenManage Deployment Toolkit Command Line Interface Reference Guide.
Table 4. RAIDCFG Command Mandatory Options and Arguments Optional Parameters Valid Parameters Arguments action= setvdname vdname= controllerid= id Description Example: A:>raidcfg -vd vd=2 -ac=svdn vdn=xxx -c=2 RAIDCFG Command successful! When using this command in DSDP, remove raidcfg and run the command.
6 Other Dell documents you might need In addition to this guide and the online help, you must see the following documents to get details on specific Dell OpenManage products. These documents are available at Dell.com/support/manuals. • • • • • • • • • • The Dell EMC Server Deployment Pack Version 4.1 for Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager Installation Guide provides information about installing DSDP 4.1 on your system.
○ For iDRAC documents — https://www.dell.com/idracmanuals ○ For Dell EMC OpenManage Connections Enterprise Systems Management documents — https://www.dell.com/ OMConnectionsEnterpriseSystemsManagement ○ For Dell EMC Serviceability Tools documents — https://www.dell.com/serviceabilitytools • From the Dell EMC Support site: 1. Go to https://www.dell.com/support. 2. Click Browse all products. 3.
