White Paper
5 Automatic Backup Server Profile | Revision 1.0.
1 About Automatic Backup Server Profile
Lifecycle Controller allows you to create a copy of the server's profile on the vFlash SD card attached to a
server, or on a CIFS or NFS share on the network. The server profile includes server component
configuration and firmware installed on various components on the server. For more information about
the supported components, see Supported Components available <where?>. Whenever a firmware is
corrupted, configuration changes are incorrect, or the motherboard is replaced, you can use the backup
image to restore the server to its previously-stored profile. It is recommended that an Automatic Backup
Server Profile be scheduled at periodic intervals to allow for regular backups. A backup image file contains:
Readable
o System identification information such as model number and service tag. For example,
R720 and 1P3H8BS.
o Date and time the backup was completed
o Currently installed hardware inventory information
o Firmware for each component
Encrypted
o Component configuration information
o User name and password for RAID controller and BIOS
o Component certificates
o Licenses
o Signature to validate backup file has not been tampered with and was generated by
Lifecycle Controller
A backup image does not contain:
Operating system or any data stored on hard disk drives (HDDs) or virtual drives (VDs)
vFlash SD card partition information
Lifecycle log
Dell diagnostics
Dell OS Driver Pack
Local Key Management (LKM) passphrase if the LKM–based storage encryption is enabled.
However, you must provide the LKM passphrase after performing the restore operation.
1.1 Prerequisites
Make sure that the following prerequisites are met before performing a backing up a server profile:
A software license for 12th generation Dell PowerEdge servers. For more information about
managing licenses using iDRAC Web interface, click Overview Server Licenses, and then click
Help in the upper-right corner.
A server must have a valid service tag (7 characters).
vFlash SD card must be installed and initialized for backing up to vFlash.
A network share (CIFS or NFS) with sufficient storage space must be configured for backing up to
the network share.