User's Manual

• Reduced number of reboots, if multiple components are selected:
– During firmware update, the system reboots depending on the components selected.
– During firmware rollback, the system reboots only while rolling back iDRAC and Power Supply firmware.
NOTE: For more information, see Supported Components table.
• Improved user interface navigation.
• Improved keyboard navigation, including support for the <F1> key to open online help.
• Added progress bar animation that is displayed while an operation is in progress.
• iDRAC License information displayed on the About page.
Key Features
The key features of Lifecycle Controller are:
• Provisioning — Entire preoperating system configuration from a unified interface.
• Deploying — Simplified operating system installation with embedded drivers on the Lifecycle Controller.
• Download drivers for operating system installation from one of the following sources:
– Dell FTP website at ftp.dell.com
– USB mass storage device
– Dell Lifecycle Controller OS Driver Packs DVD for Windows
– Network share
• Patching or Updating — Operating system agnostic, and reduced maintenance downtime with direct access to
updates from ftp.dell.com. It simplifies firmware updates by maintaining a working version for rollback.
• Servicing — Continuous availability of diagnostics without depending on a hard disk drive. Ability to flash
firmware automatically, while replacing field-replaceable components such as a Dell PowerEdge storage
controller, NIC, and power supply unit.
• Reset the system to factory default — Deletes the current iDRAC settings and resets iDRAC to factory default
settings. It also deletes lifecycle logs, factory-shipped inventory, driver packs, and diagnostics information on
the managed node.
• Security — Supports local key encryption.
• Restoring Platform — Backup the server profile (including RAID configuration) and restore the server to a
previously-known state.
• Lifecycle logs for troubleshooting
• Hardware inventory — Provides information about both the current and factory system configuration.
Licensable Features in Lifecycle Controller
Lifecycle Controller features are available based on the type of license (Basic Management, iDRAC7 Express, iDRAC7
Express for Blades, or iDRAC7 Enterprise) that you purchase. Only licensed features are available in the Lifecycle
Controller Web interface. For more information on managing the licenses, see iDRAC7 User’s Guide . The following table
lists the Lifecycle Controller features available based on the license purchased.
Feature
Base Management
with IPMI
iDRAC7 Express iDRAC7 Express for
Blades
iDRAC7 Enterprise
Firmware Update
Yes Yes Yes Yes
Operating System
Deployment
Yes Yes Yes Yes
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