Reference Guide

1 Glossary
This section describes terms used in this document.
Term Definition
Component A part or module of an appliance or system (hardware or software).
Host A physical server or node within the appliance.
2 Overview
The Dell Storage PowerTools Cluster Service Manager (CSM) plugs into the EVO:RAIL user interface to
provide notification whenever a host component’s firmware/software is determined to be out of date with
the current CSM Update Bundle. Using the CSM’s user interface, you can update the system across the
cluster automatically. The CSM manages the migration of the virtual machines, performs all of the
updates, and brings the host back online one at a time (also known as rolling updates).
When CSM is initially launched, an agent is installed on the hosts to perform component inventory.
The agent is used for the following:
• Reporting – Uses the Compatability Manager (CM) to inventory the hosts.
CM is a utility that performs an inventory of the system BIOS, firmware, drivers and software versions.
It compares the versions to a predetermined profile of expected versions and informs user of potential
conflicts. The CM consists of the comparison engine, which references the appliance stack profile
within the CSM Update Bundle to inventory the components and print the version status of the
component. The CM does not provide functionality to update any component. It is purely a status
reporting utility.
• Updates – Uses Update Manager (UM) to run the update.
UM is a tool designed to simplify the delivery and execution of update packages to an appliance. The
UM application consumes the Appliance Stack profile, and executes the updates. It prints out the
results of the following in the stdout screen and updateLog file. It has the following three main
functions and prints the output of each:
1. Pre- update check
2. Update
3. Post- update report
The UM updates the components listed in the Appliance stack profile, such as BIOS, iDRAC, device
drivers, and physical drives.
• CSM Update Bundle – A set of rules and binaries that direct CM and UM how to inventory and update
the appliance.
The
Update Bundle is a simple approach to help inventory and update the software and hardware
4 Dell Storage PowerTools Cluster Services Manager User’s Guide