Users Guide
Windows, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server operating systems by guiding you through an easy-to-follow, step-by-step process.
In addition, Server Assistant provides the necessary tools for setting up and configuring PowerEdge systems and software. The tools permit discovery and
configuration of Dell-provided RAID controllers and network adapters.
Management Station Software (Dell Systems Management Consoles CD)
IT Assistant
IT Assistant is a Web-based graphical user interface (GUI) that provides a central point of access to monitor and manage systems on a local area network
(LAN) or a wide area network (WAN). By providing a comprehensive view across the enterprise, IT Assistant can increase system uptime, reduce repetitive
tasks, and prevent interruption during critical business operations.
Using IT Assistant, you can:
l Identify the groups of systems that you want to manage remotely
l Consolidateyourviewofallsystems,providingacentrallaunchpointforsystemsmanagement
l Createalertfiltersandactionsthatwillautomaticallynotifyyouwhensystemuptimeisaffected
l Create custom enterprise-wide reports that show the status of each system, including switches, storage devices, BIOS, firmware, and driver versions
l Create customized tasks that allow you to coordinate configuration management across the entire enterprise, including performing software updates,
shutdown and wakeup, and command line execution
l View a graphical presentation of the devices in your network, from which you can launch applications, refresh inventory and status, and perform
troubleshooting
l LaunchthefollowingDellsystemsmanagementapplications:ServerAdministrator,RemoteAccessConsole,DellPowerConnect™,andDigitalKVM
(keyboard/video/mouse)
l Load Dell Update Packages and System Update Sets into the IT Assistant repository, then run a compliance check of all the systems in your enterprise
against the Update Packages. A System Update Set is a logical set of Dell-certified packages that work together without problems. Dell Update
Packages are available from the Dell Support website at support.dell.com or from the Dell PowerEdge Server Update Utility CD. This CD is available
through the Dell OpenManage Subscription Service or as an ISO image downloadable from the support.dell.com. You can download the Dell
OpenManage Subscription Service from www.dell.com.
Dell Remote Access Controller Management Station
The Dell Remote Access Controller (DRAC) console is management station software designed to provide remote management capabilities for PowerEdge
systems. You can remotely connect to RAC hardware using the DRAC Tools software. The following RAC features are implemented in the hardware and are
availableeitherbyusingabrowserorbywayoftheracadmCLI:
l Hardware sensor monitors, such as temperature, voltage, and fans
l Access to hardware and alert logs
l Ability to generate alerts, even when the system is down
l Remote system power up and power down
l Remote floppy boot operations
See the Dell Remote Access Controller 4 User's Guide or Dell Remote Access Controller 5 User's Guide for more information about how to use the racadm CLI to
connect to a managed system to execute racadm commands from a remote console, or to connect to a management station using the IP address of the
managed station.
Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) Management Utility
The BMC Management Utility provides a command line based remote management station to manage all supported BMC functions. Use the BMC Management
Utility to manage a BMC from a remote management station, and as a managed system's emergency management console. The utility gives you the option of
using either a command line interface (Intelligent Platform Management Interface [IPMI shell] or a Serial-Over-LAN proxy [SOL Proxy]) to access and manage
the BMC.
The BMC monitors the system for critical events by communicating with various sensors on the system board and sending alerts and logs events when certain
parametersexceedtheirpresetthresholds.TheBMCsupportstheindustry-standard IPMI specification, enabling you to configure, monitor, and recover
systems remotely.
The BMC provides the following features:
l Management access through the system's serial port and integrated NIC
l Fault logging and SNMP alerting
l Access to the system event log (SEL) and sensor status
l System function controls, including power on and off
l Support that is independent of the system's power or operating state
l Text console redirection for system setup, text-based utilities, and operating system consoles
l AccesstoRedHatEnterpriseLinuxandSUSELinuxEnterpriseServerserialconsoleinterfacesusingSOL