White Papers

8 Implementation of the DMTF Redfish API on Dell EMC PowerEdge Servers
2.1 Next-generation server management
The DMTF white paper on Redfish, DSP2044, describes the need to move away from managing servers as
individual “pets”. Rather, administrators should begin to treat their servers more as “cattle” and manage them
as “herds”. While in the past, IT staff could spend time to adapt their management methods to match a
smaller number of servers, they now have many more servers and much less time. Managing a large and
growing infrastructure requires the capability to issue commands at scale with the expectation that the “herd”
will follow regardless of make or model of the individual servers.
2.2 Rack, multi-node, and nested chassis
Another limitation of legacy management standards is an implied understanding that one management
endpoint such as a Baseboard Management Controller or BMC means one server. Modern converged server
infrastructure such as the PowerEdge M1000e and FX2 are becoming more prevalent, invalidating this
assumption. Redfish explicitly addresses converged infrastructure and rack-level management with modeling
that can scale for the management of multiple nodes, nested chassis, and server blades within a larger,
actively managed enclosure.
2.3 Keeping up with changes in IT philosophy
Redfish has taken into account the recent changes in the IT field. These changes include not only new types
of hardware but also important changes in IT philosophy that are impacting how administrators expect to
manage their infrastructure.
Organizations are now looking for open management solutions that can be controlled in the same way they
control other resources, irrespective of whether the resources are located in a cloud or in a data center. By
adopting data structures and access methods as used for cloud- and web-based infrastructure, Redfish will
enable management methods aligned with modern IT infrastructure. Utilizing a modern data model and
RESTful API, Redfish can be readily integrated with the IT automation tools and processes employed by
DevOps practices, a key requirement in many IT organizations.
System administrators can use Redfish to manage heterogeneous server fleets more efficiently throughout
the server lifecycle— from bare metal deployments to maintenance and repurposing. Using a simple and
powerful interface that supports modern automation technologies, Redfish can speed time-to-solution for IT
developers.
2.4 Redfish key technologies
Redfish is a RESTful interface over HTTPS in JSON format based on ODATA v4 usable by clients, scripts,
and browser-based GUIs. It utilizes a range of IT technologies that have been selected because of their
widespread use. By adopting these accepted technologies, administrators will find it easier to use Redfish.
Taken together, these technologies create a new foundation from which servers can be managed by using
common programming and scripting languages, such as Python, Java, and C.