###################################################################### DELL OPENMANAGE(TM) DEPLOYMENT TOOLKIT README FOR EMBEDDED LINUX ###################################################################### Version 2.1 Release Date: June 2006 This file contains updated information for your "Dell OpenManage Deployment Toolkit User's Guide" and any other technical documentation included with the Deployment Toolkit (DTK). The DTK documentation includes the "Command Line Interface Reference Guide" and the "User's Guide." See the Dell Support website at "support.dell.com" for the most current information. ###################################################################### CONTENTS ###################################################################### * Criticality * Compatibility/Minimum Requirements * Release Highlights - Features * Release Highlights - Fixes * Installation * Upgrading * User Notes * Known Issues ###################################################################### CRITICALITY ###################################################################### 3 - Optional Dell recommends that you review the specifics about the update to determine if it applies to your system. The update contains changes that may impact only certain configurations, or provides new features that may/may not apply to your environment. ###################################################################### COMPATIBILITY/MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS ###################################################################### The following Dell PowerEdge systems are supported by Deployment Toolkit version 2.1: 650, 1600SC, 1650, 1655MC, 2600, 2650, 4600, 6600, 6650, 700, 750, 1750, 800, 830, 850, 1800, 1850, 1855, 2800, 2850, 6800, 6850, 2900, 2950, 1950 and 1955 systems. NOTE: x8xx series systems with dual-core processors are supported. NOTE: Other systems may be supported with this release. Check "support.dell.com" to verify the supported systems and to download the latest version of the toolkit. NOTE: DTK 2.1 supports Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) and Redundant Array of Independent Drives (RAID) controllers. The sample scripts included with DTK have been tested with the deployment of the following operating systems: - Red Hat (R) Enterprise Linux version 3 (32- and 64-bit) - Red Hat Enterprise Linux version 4 (32- and 64-bit) ====================================================================== Installation Prerequisites ====================================================================== Before installing the DTK components for embedded Linux, ensure that you have: * The DTK ISO image, which contains the utilities, sample scripts, sample configuration files, and documentation you need to deploy your Dell system * A Linux workstation that has at least 200 MB of free hard-drive space ====================================================================== Deployment Prerequisites ====================================================================== Before installing DTK components, ensure that you have: * Advanced knowledge of Linux and Linux scripting (BASH), Linux networking, installing and working with Red Hat Package Managers (RPMs), and creating and modifying loop file systems. * Any third party deployment system or tool. * A workstation that has -At least 500 MB of free hard-drive space -A writable CD drive and CD-writing software (optional) -Network Access * A minimum BIOS version is recommended on some of the platforms for all the DTK options to work correctly. In general, it is good practice to use the latest ("n") version of BIOS firmware or the "n-1" version that is available on "support.dell.com." The table below describes the platforms and the associated minimum BIOS firmware versions. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Platform Name BIOS Version -------------------------------------------------------------------- 1855 A05 1650 A11 -------------------------------------------------------------------- ###################################################################### RELEASE HIGHLIGHTS - FEATURES ###################################################################### The new features for DTK version 2.1 include: * Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) support. * Support for the third generation of Dell remote access controllers (DRAC III, DRAC III/XT, ERA, ERA/O, and ERA/MC). * Support for Dell(TM) PowerEdge(TM) x6xx, x7xx, x8xx and x9xx systems. NOTE: Other systems may be supported with this release. Check "support.dell.com" to verify the supported systems and to download the latest version of the toolkit. ###################################################################### RELEASE HIGHLIGHTS - FIXES ###################################################################### N/A ###################################################################### INSTALLATION ###################################################################### For complete installation instructions, see the "Dell OpenManage Deployment Toolkit User's Guide." ###################################################################### UPGRADING ###################################################################### Upgrading from a previous release of the DTK is not possible. ###################################################################### USER NOTES ###################################################################### This section provides information that can help enhance your experience with the DTK. * The sample scripts are provided as examples for customers that want to develop their own deployment process. Some customers may find that the scripts work well in their environment, while some customers may need to develop their own scripts entirely from scratch. Customers deploying multiple systems need to provide unique information for each server when appropriate. For example, system host names, IP addresses, and BIOS asset tags need to be unique for each system. The batch scripts and configuration files need to be modified to reflect the unique information for each system being deployed. Many options are available to optimize this process. * A system profile generated on a specific Dell PowerEdge system can be used to deploy only similar system models. For example, a system BIOS configuration profile generated for an optimally configured PowerEdge 1850 system can be used to deploy only similarly configured PowerEdge 1850 systems. * The "sshd" port is left open on the server after the DTK CD is booted. You can log in as "root" without a password. This is done so that scripts can be debugged easily. It could be a security issue to leave the CD booted on a system. ====================================================================== TOOL NOTES ====================================================================== * SYSCFG: - Some options may not be present on all systems, which may be due to the BIOS version or hardware feature set. The usage information generated by running SYSCFG without arguments shows only those options that are valid for your system. - The "--devseq" option is present only if you have an available, bootable hard-disk partition. If this option is present in the configuration file, but not present on your system, you receive a usage error. - If you perform operations that change the "--redmem" option, reboot the system immediately. This is applicable to the command line usage as well as "--infile" usage. NOTE: Additionally, the "--redmem" option should not be issued with any other command and should be immediately followed by a system reboot. This is important when you develop scripts that can alter the "--redmem" setting. - For options that use text strings such as username, password, hostname, and community string, using characters such as , "<," ">," "|," "=" on the command line can be misinterpreted by the command line parser and may cause errors. To avoid such errors, use only alphanumeric characters. * RAIDCFG: - When creating virtual disks, the chunk (stripe) size is always in KB. Do not specify any units for the chunk size. - When providing multiple physical disks for the "create virtual disk" command, do not separate the disks with spaces. For example, "-ad=1:4, 1:5" causes an error. The correct way to input multiple physical disks is "-ad=1:4,1:5,1:6" or "-ad=1:4:0,1:5:0,1:6:0". - If you change the controller mode from SCSI to RAID mode, expect data loss to occur. Back up any data you want to save before changing the modes. ###################################################################### KNOWN ISSUES ###################################################################### RAIDCFG Issues: * You cannot delete virtual disk on CERC SATA 2S when RAID 1 is created with "--clear" option. The virtual disk can be cleared from the controller BIOS. SYSCFG Issues: * Demand based power management (DBS) option does not work on PowerEdge 1855 with BIOS firmware versions earlier than A05. * The suboption for powerctl, softshutdown, does a hard reboot. If using a customized kernel with ACPI support, this option will work as designed. * Using the "solcfgparams" option may produce an error message saying "Hardware subsystem error" when an invalid value is used. This does not indicate a problem with the hardware. Check the option value and try again. * On PowerEdge 700 systems, the console redirection option in the BIOS has the arguments" off," "serial port 1," and "RAC;" the equivalent arguments in DTK are "off," "serial port 1," and "serial port 2." * The "--solbitrate" option in "solcfgparams" and the "--msgcommbitrate" option in "serialcfgparams" accept a baud rate of 57600, but tools such as "ipmish" and "solproxy" do not function at the baudrate for PowerEdge x8xx systems. RACADM Issues: * The "racadm gettracelog" option may cause the system to hang. You may need to restart the system. Operating system installation issues: * Installation of legacy Red Hat Enterprise Linux operating systems may fail due to lack of support for new hardware. You should modify the '%post' section of ks.cfg to update to a newer version of the kernel or install the drivers from this section. * The default root password for Linux installation is "root123." This could be changed to be encrypted in the template ks.cfg provided. * The Red Hat Enterprise Linux operating system installation may fail on systems equipped with multiple RAID and/or SCSI controllers, whether installed on the system board or in PCI slots. This failure may occur when using Server Setup or performing a manual installation. When two or more RAID or SCSI controllers are present, install Red Hat Enterprise Linux with only one configured RAID or SCSI controller. Configure the other controllers after you install the Red Hat Enterprise Linux operating system. Instrumentation issues: * The "/opt/dell/srvadmin" directory in the DTK ISO should be writable. This enables the instrumentation services to work properly. * The file "omreg.cfg" should be present in the "/etc/" directory for the tools to function properly. This is applicable if DTK is being customized to fit in an embedded Linux environment other than the Dell-provided embedded Linux. ###################################################################### Information in this document is subject to change without notice. (C) 2006 Dell Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell is strictly forbidden. Trademarks used in this text: "Dell," "PowerEdge," and "Dell OpenManage" are trademarks of Dell Inc.; "Red Hat" is a registered trademark of Red Hat, Inc. Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products. Dell Inc. disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own. The sample scripts provided with the Dell OpenManage Deployment Toolkit are provided "as is." Dell disclaims any and all warranties, express, implied or statutory, with respect to the sample scripts, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, title and any warranty of non-infringement. Use the sample scripts at your own risk. Dell shall not be liable for any direct or indirect damages incurred in using the sample scripts. In no event shall Dell or its suppliers be responsible for any direct or indirect damages whatsoever (including, without limitation, damages for loss of profits, loss of use, loss of data, business interruption, or other pecuniary loss, nor for punitive, incidental, consequential, or special damages of any kind, under any part of this agreement, even if advised or aware of the possibility of such damage. June 2006