Reference Guide
Systems Management Product Overview
Dell Hardware Management Tools
Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller With Lifecycle
Controller
The integrated Dell Remote Access Controller 9 (iDRAC9) with Lifecycle Controller delivers advanced, agent-free, local and remote server
administration. Embedded in every PowerEdge server, iDRAC9 provides a secure means to automate a multitude of common management
tasks. Because iDRAC is embedded in every PowerEdge server, there is no additional software to install; just plug in power and network
cables, and iDRAC with Lifecycle Controller is ready to go. Even before installing an operating system (OS) or hypervisor, IT administrators
have a complete set of server management features at their fingertips.
With iDRAC9 in place across the Dell EMC PowerEdge portfolio, the same IT administration techniques and tools can be applied
throughout. This consistent management platform allows easy scaling of PowerEdge servers as an organization's infrastructure needs to
grow. Customers will be able to use the iDRAC RESTful API for the latest in scalable administration methods of PowerEdge servers. With
this API, iDRAC enables support for the Redfish standard and enhances it with Dell EMC extensions to optimize at-scale management of
PowerEdge servers. By having iDRAC at the core, the entire OpenManage portfolio of Systems Management tools allows every customer
to tailor an effective, affordable solution for any size environment.
iDRAC shares Lifecycle Controller features such as firmware update, backup and restore, lifecycle log, and hardware inventory export. For
more information, see the iDRAC with Lifecycle Controller documents at www.dell.com/idracmanuals.
Chassis Management Controller
The Chassis Management Controller is an embedded systems management hardware and software solution for managing multiple servers,
I/O modules, and shared power or cooling using either a web interface or a command line interface.
The CMC uses the iDRAC with Lifecycle Controller technology to update BIOS or component firmware and configure BIOS settings in a
one-to-many operation.
CMC is available for the following chassis:
• PowerEdge M1000e—This chassis is Dell’s first blade server solution. It provides the infrastructure (industry-leading power and
cooling, networking, and blade manageability) for companies who choose to deploy blade-based server solutions. A single Chassis
Management Controller interface with multichassis management capability can manage and see up to nine chassis, 288 servers, 54
power supplies, and 81 fans with no additional cabling. The chassis has slots for two, redundant CMC modules, so that administrators
can connect to the chassis even if one Chassis Management Controller module is not working.
• PowerEdge VRTX—The chassis is a revolutionary, easy-to-manage, remote, and office-optimized platform that converges servers,
storage, and networking into a compact package. One of the key features is that it provides shared storage across multiple server
nodes and the on-board RAID controller. It can hold up to four server nodes, up to 48 TB of integrated, shared storage, and network
switching. The PowerEdge VRTX offers the ability to use the PCIe slots that no other blade server solution provides. By combining the
density of blade servers with the flexibility of rack server I/O options with PowerEdge VRTX, Dell EMC gives you the flexibility to use
less expensive PCIe cards while still being managed through shared chassis management.
• PowerEdge FX2/FX2s—The FX2 enclosure allows servers and storage to share power, cooling, management, and networking. It
includes redundant Power Supply Units (1100 W, 1600 W, 2000W, and 2400 W) and eight cooling fans. With a compact highly flexible
design, the FX2 chassis lets you simply and efficiently add resources to your infrastructure when and where you need them, so you
can let demand and budget determine your level of investment. The FX2 enclosure also offers I/O modules to several IO aggregators
that can simplify cabling, improve East/West traffic within the server, and enable LAN/ SAN convergence—reducing cost and
complexity.
For more information about CMC, see www.dell.com/support/article/sln311283.
2
8 Systems Management Product Overview