User's Manual

• Synchronized mouse cursor while using Lifecycle Controller through iDRAC Virtual Console. Must have BIOS version
1.3.x or later.
• Removed task validation post reboot after a firmware update operation. This has reduced the time taken to complete
the firmware update.
NOTE: While performing firmware update, if CSIOR is disabled, after completing the update on all the
components, Lifecycle Controller performs a single validation task.
• 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 Unit (PSU)
firmware.
NOTE: For more information, see Supported Components table.
• Improved user interface navigation.
• Import iDRAC server license using Lifecycle Controller GUI.
• Improved keyboard navigation, including support for the <F1> key to open online help.
• iDRAC License information displayed on the About page.
• Install operating system in unattended mode. Currently, only Windows-based operating systems are supported.
• Display the firmware ID and other details after importing a profile.
• Enable VLAN settings when configuring the network settings.
• Automatically restore the system configuration after a motherboard replacement. Provision to manually enter the
Service Tag details of a system.
• Increase in the size of the exported log file.
Key Features
The key features of Lifecycle Controller are:
• Provisioning — Entire pre-operating system configuration from a unified interface.
• Deploying — Simplified operating system installation with embedded drivers on the Lifecycle Controller. Installing an
OS using the unattended installation mode for Windows-based OS.
• Download drivers for operating system installation from one of the following sources:
– Dell FTP website at ftp.dell.com
– Dell Lifecycle Controller OS Driver Packs DVD for Windows and Linux
• 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. Support for VLAN in network configuration.
• 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, and deletes all the user-settings and configurations.
• Security — Supports local key encryption.
• Restoring Platform — Backup the server profile (including RAID configuration) and restore the server to a
previously-known state. Importing a server license, updating firmware, and restoring system configuration in case of
motherboard replacement.
• Lifecycle logs for troubleshooting
• Hardware inventory — Provides information about both the current and factory system configuration.
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