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Dell PowerEdge Change Management Tools Frequently asked questions. Updates July 2011. Initial Deployment. Continuing Maintenance -- Windows. Continuing Maintenance - RedHat / SuSE Linux. Continuing Maintenance – Other Operating System. Productivity Tool: Repository Manager.
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Dell PowerEdgeChange Management ToolsFrequently asked questions Updates July 2011
Productivity Tool: Repository Manager • Dell OpenManage Repository Manager (RM) is a productivity tool that assists in creating, managing and deploying update packages. • RM allows you to create a custom repository of the specific updates that you want to deploy. • Greatly reducing the size of the files downloaded and providing the means to select only the files to update. • With RM v1.4 RM will be able to discover systems on your network and build a repository for your customers. • RM allows you to create deployment tools using your custom repository. • Customers often have systems that have different levels of maintenance requirements. • For instance customers who are utilizing the vCenter Plug-in will be able to create a repository of updates that can be used by the plug in. However not all servers will be virtualized so they can take the same repository and create a custom SUU for use with the systems not using Vmware. Thus, keeping all systems current with the same update packages. • RM facilitates the deployment of customer scripted updates • For Customers who have built their own deployment tools, RM provides the capability to attach a script to the custom repository that they have created. (Dell provides a basic script, that can be modified) • RM can compare between two repositories and show you the differences at both the bundle and component level. • As new updates are made available by Dell, customers will be able to quickly see what is new and build the deployment tools that are right for them to keep their systems maintained.
Frequently asked questions • What is a DUP? • DUP stands for Dell Update Package. It is a Dell developed update standard that can install an update on a Dell system. The DUP has the file to be downloaded, an inventory evaluator that looks for prerequisites and an install component. • What is an SUU? • SUU stands for Server Update Utility. It is a collection of DUPs organized by PowerEdge System type. • What is the difference between DUP and SUU? • A DUP is a single update and is available for download at support.dell.com. SUU is a bundle of DUPs so if you need to update more then one DUP at a time it provides the means of doing so. • What is PEDMP? • PEDMP stands for PowerEdge Driver Maintenance Pack. PEDMP is a collection of updates organized by Operating System type rather then by System type like in the SUU. • What is the difference between PEDMP & SUU? • PEDMP has updates organized by Windows Server operating system. SUU is is updates organized by system type. The one you choose is based upon your preference for managing updates. • What security features does Dell provide • All Dell provided updates are signed for your security.
Frequently asked questions • When should I use SUU versus PE Driver Maintenance Packs • Both provide the same content • SUU is organized by Server Type. So if you are updating a number of servers of a specific type that have different OS versions on them then SUU is a good choice. • PE Driver Maintenance packs are organized by Operating System. Thus if you have all your servers on a specific version of Windows Server OS then PEDMP is a good choice. • How can I get SUU? • SUU is available for Download from support.dell.com and is also available via a subscription service that will ship you a DVD once a quarter. SUU is over 7GB of data, so if you want to download a smaller package you can use Repository Manager to create a custom SUU of just the systems and updates you want. • What is YUM? • YUM stands for YellowDog Update Modified. It is an OpenSource Linux based tool for deploying updates. YUM gets its updates from a YUM Repository, which is available from linux.dell.com/repo/hardware. • What is a YUM Repository? • A YUM Repository is a catalog of updates in RPM format. RPM is the format that is commonly used by RedHat and SuSE Linux Operating Systems. • When should I use YUM versus SUU for Linux? • YUM is tailored towards the Linux power user, and has both 32bit and 64bit Linux updates available in RPM format. • If you are used to using SUU to maintain your Windows server systems then SUU provides a similar experience for maintain your Linux server systems. SUU has 32bit Linux DUPs, however if you load the 32bit Linux libraries on your system that is running a 64bit Linux OS, then you can still use the 32bit Linux DUPs available as part of SUU. • Is there a performance difference between 32bit and 64bit DUPs? • No. The only thing that a DUP does is update the BIOS/Firmware/Device Driver of a system. Once the update is installed on the system it functions as efficiently. • If there is no difference why have 64bit updates? • It is for convenience. With Native 64bit updates you do not need to install the 32bit libraries.
Frequently Asked Questions • What is CPLD? • Complex Programmable Logic Device • CPLD is essentially the low level glue logic on the planar. • One of the primary functions it provides is to properly sequence the voltage (i.e. bring the right voltage rail up at the correct time). • The CPLD also provides a convenient HW to SW collection point for various other low level HW bits (i.e. what planar type BIOS/iDrac is running on or how a particular GPIO is set, etc.). • Why would I update CPLD? • CPLD would be updated if a more efficient means of managing the devices controlled by the CPLD is develop. • Will I need to take my system off line to update CPLD? • It depends on what the CPLD is managing. • Will I have to take my system down to do a Power Supply firmware update? • For the Power Supply DUP to function, it will require that there be redundant power supplies. Additionally the power from a single power supply will be sufficient to keep the system running. • How will the Power Supply DUP work? • Once the DUP has determined that it is safe to run the system on one power supply, it will pause one power supply and implement the update, bring that power supply back on line and then pause the second power supply and apply the update and bring it back on line. • Where can I get more information on Repository Manager? • http://salesedge.dell.com/doc?id=0901bc82803f3fe2&ll=sr • http://salesedge/doc?id=0901bc8280466e7d&ll=sr • http://www.delltechcenter.com/page/Repository+Manager