Users Guide
Creating Inventory files from the Inventory Collector for the Generic Inventory
Dell Repository Manager provides an easy method for creating and maintaining repositories based on the
inventory obtained from Dell Server(s).
Inventory file is generally a part of an Inventory Collector in the form of an Extensible Markup Language
(XML). The Generic inventory file can be obtained by executing invCol (Windows/Linux) which is available
either from Dell Server Update Utility (SUU) or Dell OpenManage Essentials (OME) or Dell OpenManage
System Administrator (OMSA) or from ftp.dell.com by getting the folder path from Catalog.xml which is
obtained by extracting Catalog.cab file. The advantages of the Generic inventory are:
• A quick and easy way to build a custom repository from the inventory file obtained from Dell Server(s).
There is no need to remember the system models and configuration of each individual system where
the catalog information is coming from ftp.dell.com.
• Dell Repository Manager supports by creating a fully customized repository that only includes the
update packages for a user-defined system configuration. All redundant updates are filtered out. This
significantly reduces the size of a custom repository, saves the resources and efforts on managing the
repository.
• You can build a repository that only contains the updates for only out-of-date devices; or build a
baseline repository that contains updates for all the devices, including updates for out-of-date devices
as well as any other updates for newer files.
To build a generic inventory file:
1. Locate the inventory file for the desired Dell Server(s) from support.dell.com.
2. Download the SUU image from support.dell.com. Mount the iso virtually on the server which needs
to be updated. For example:
K:\bin\Windows.
3. Install the latest Inventory Collector executable file, for example: invCol.exe.
4. From the command prompt, for example, type the following to execute the Dell Inventory Collector:
invCol.exe -outc=H:\Dell_Generic_Inv.xml.
5. A Dell_Generic_Inv.xml is generated and the file can be used by the Dell Repository Manager to
create generic Inventory.
NOTE: Similar procedure needs to be followed for Linux, except that the invCol is located
inside the Linux folder.
Creating An Empty Repository
To create an empty repository:
1. In the Dell Repository Manager window, click My Repositories → New → Empty (no inventory).
2. In the Create Empty repository window, edit the Name: or Description: information.
3. Click OK to create the empty repository or click Close to exit without making any changes.
4. The new empty repository is created and added under the My Repositories tab.
By default the name of the empty repository appears in the following format:
Repository <number of the repository>
You can add bundle(s) and component(s) to the empty repository.
Working With My Repositories
The My Repositories screen displays the list of available repositories. You can control and perform various
tasks using the New, Open, Delete, and Refresh options available on the screen. You can also compare
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