Users Guide

11
Managing Server Configuration Baseline
The configuration of a server or chassis in a production environment must be properly maintained to
ensure availability of the server. These server configuration settings tends to be drifted over time because
of various reasons. The Device Compliance Portal enables you to verify and ensure the compliance of
multiple servers and chassis to a device configuration template that serves as a baseline. The compliance
status indicates if there is any difference between the current configuration settings and its
corresponding baseline configuration template. The Device Compliance Portal also allows you to create
baseline template, and assign the desired template to multiple production servers for establishing the
baselines.
NOTE: A device is considered to be compliant if it matches with all the settings defined in the
associated template. A device with additional hardware (for example, an additional NIC card), is also
considered to be compliant. A device may become non-compliant if there is a change in either the
device inventory or the associated template. If the associated template is changed, the template
must be redeployed to the associated devices.
Using the Device Compliance Portal, you can:
• Create a configuration template from a server or chassis configuration file
• Create a configuration template from a server or chassis
• Edit a configuration template
• Associate a configuration template to a server or chassis
• Configure the credentials and schedule the device configuration inventory for target devices
• View the tasks that have been created and their status
• Configure the deployment file share
NOTE: The device configuration deployment and configuration compliance features are licensed
(fee-based) for supported servers (Dell’s 12th generation or later PowerEdge servers with iDRAC).
However, using these features on supported Dell chassis is free and does not require a license.
Creating a device configuration template from either a server or chassis does not require a license
as well. For more information on licensing, see OpenManage Essentials — Server Configuration
Management License.
Related Tasks
Configuring the Deployment File Share
Creating a Device Configuration Template
Configuring the Credentials and Device Configuration Inventory Schedule
Associating Target Devices to a Configuration Template
Viewing the Device Compliance Status
Viewing the Compliance Tasks
Additional Information
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