Troubleshooting

19 Optmizing Dell Server Deployment – System Build & Update Utility(SBUU)
Case 3 – Large-sized Labs
Consider a lab having 60 Servers across multiple generations and the lab admin needs
to:
1. Deploy 30 servers with RHEL 5.7x32 (including hardware configuration and
firmware update)
2. Deploy 60 Servers with SLES 11 SP2 (including hardware configuration and
firmware update)
Procedure
The Lab admin / End user can follow the optimized procedure shown below using a
SBUU DVD to complete the setup.
Repeat Steps 1 to 10 as outlined in case 1.
Action item
Given the situation that the admin has 2 custom SBUU ISO files on a NFS/SAMBA share
that has to be used respectively on 60 Servers, the PXE boot support should be
implemented for speedy and efficient deployment.
Firstly, the lab admin needs to place RHEL 5.7x32 Custom ISO file in the PXE server
and follow the procedure shown below on all servers that need to be deployed.
1. Go to system setup [F2] on the system.
2. Under “Integrated Devices” enable all the NICS needed as “Enabled with PXE”.
3. Boot up the system with PXE boot.
Repeat the above process for all the servers needing RHEL 5.7x32 OS installation.
Then replace the PXE server with the SBUU custom ISO file made for installation of
SLES 11 SP2 and repeat step 1 to step 3 for the intended servers.
Tip:
The key is that to complete one operating system installation using PXE support for
entire n number of servers and then carry on the next operating system to avoid
confusion in OS installation on the respective servers.
DELL’s Deployment Tool kit (DTK) is another alternate tool that can also be utilized
for such repetitive deployments.