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01-06-09 DCCU 3.0 – Dell Client Configuration Utility 3.0
Dell Client Configuration Utility (DCCU) 3.0 allows client administrators to modify BIOS settings and perform BIOS upgrades on Dell Latitude, OptiPlex, and Precision models.The browser-based tool can be used to create an executable that you can deploy with any basic software distribution system. The compiled executables can set a large variety of BIOS settings on clients such as Wake On LAN, boot devices, wireless devices, and so on. This chat provides a discussion of changes from previous versions, including:
- New User Interface
- New BIOS upgrade options
- Additional BIOS settings now available
- Command-line options for all settings
- Executables now persistent
Technical Community - Background Reading
- Dell Client Configuration Utility 3.0
- Dell Client Management
- Step-By-Step - How to enable Wake on LAN BIOS settings using Software Distribution and DCCU
Chat Transcript
| DELL-ScottH | Hey guys! All these people just hanging out. What has this place come to? :-) |
| bjm | Hey |
| ron | I've got a fever |
| DELL-ScottH | Ha ha. Official chat starts in about 39.24567 minutes |
| DELL-ScottH | Hey Dennis, just us geeks hanging out |
| DennisAbbott | Yes just testing this before we get started :-) |
| DELL-ScottH | Hey Greg :-) |
| ramseyg_Dell | Hey Blue :) |
| ramseyg_Dell | (Testing my clickability) on a link because I always mess this up. I *believe* that you right-click to open a link—otherwise you get ejected from the chat |
| DELL-ScottH | Yup |
| ramseyg_Dell | Scott will set us right in a little while :) |
| ramseyg_Dell | www.delltechcenter.com/page/enable+wake+on+lan+with+dccu |
| DennisAbbott | Oops, there he goes |
| ramseyg_Dell | Ha! but also, if you right-click, you have to click the allow pop-ups, or you get ejected too |
| DELL-ScottH | Can't tell your left from your right? |
| ramseyg_Dell | (testing again) |
| ramseyg_Dell | www.delltechcenter.com/page/enable+wake+on+lan+with+dccu |
| ramseyg_Dell | Yes, that's the trick. If you right-click a link, and you get the IE notice for pop-up being blocked and you hit Allow, it refreshes your page, and you get ejected from the chat. But now that I have "always allow pop-ups from this site," it's working fine |
| ramseyg_Dell | (/test) :) |
| DELL-ScottH | Everybody have a great break and some time off? Oh and hook 'em horns! |
| ramseyg_Dell | My Buckeyes almost made it. I think they surprised a lot of Longhorns. |
| DennisAbbott | What is a Buckeye anyway? |
| DELL-ScottH | Yeah, what kind of mascot is that? |
| ron | It's a flower? |
| ramseyg_Dell | :) A tree. But we also make buckeye candy...very tasty. We'll save that for a chat on the food channel though |
| DennisAbbott | Longhorns eat flowers |
| DELL-ScottH | Hello Mtp, Andrew, Bjm, Dennis, Depping, Francois, and helllooo Ron! |
| bjm | Hi |
| DELL-ScottH | Seven minutes until the official chat starts. Dennis is leading today. Who thinks he needs a Twitter account? |
| DELL-ScottH | Hello Gary |
| garyrm | Howdy |
| ron | Yes he needs a Twitter account |
| DELL-ScottH | Hello Jas |
| DennisAbbott | ...and I don't do Facebook either ::tongue |
| jas | Hello |
| DELL-ScottH | My wife told me I can't post photos to Facebook; will crack my computer screen |
| DELL-ScottH | Hello mharal and mmurray |
| ramseyg_Dell | Feels like Twitter is hitting capacity or something crazy |
| mmurray | Hello |
| DELL-ScottH | Yeah, is picking up steam |
| DELL-ScottH | Hello Angie! |
| angie_dell | Hello Scott :) |
| Donnie-Dell | Heya gang |
| DELL-ScottH | Hey Donnie! |
| angie_dell | There goes the neighborhood |
| DELL-ScottH | Three minutes to the start...get it all out |
| angie_dell | Happy New Year everyone! ::laugh |
| DELL-ScottH | Hello Ed |
| DELL-ScottH | Hello Brian |
| BrianMason | Hello! |
| Ed_A_SMS_MVP | Hey! Looking forwardd to this |
| Donnie-Dell | Do we really need Ed and Brian? Make me an admin so I can kick them |
| DELL-ScottH | Play nice in the sandbox |
| DennisAbbott | Howdy Ed |
| Ed_A_SMS_MVP | OMG! Hey Dennis! |
| DELL-ScottH | Hey Roger |
| DELL-ScottH | Alright, let’s get this thing kicked off |
| Dell-RogerF | Afternoon all |
| DELL-ScottH | Welcome all to the first of the year Dell TechCenter chat session. A few quick things. Right-click on all links, or you will get kicked out and we all laugh at you :-) Every session is recorded, and you can view the transcript at our main site to get all the links you missed. Today's session is on the Dell Client Configuration Utility 3.0 |
| Ed_A_SMS_MVP | Access the transcript from the same URL as we used to join? |
| DELL-ScottH | Led by Dennis with his cohorts in crime, Greg, Angie, and Donnie |
| DELL-ScottH | Yes |
| Ed_A_SMS_MVP | <Closing notepad now!> |
| DELL-ScottH | Dennis, please introduce yourself and the team and get it going |
| DennisAbbott | Hi everyone, I am Dennis Abbott. I work in Dell's internal IT, focusing on client manageability and software distribution. |
| DELL-ScottH | And everyone ask questions and join in at any time; it is not rude to interrupt |
| DennisAbbott | We will shorten that to DCCU |
| DELL-ScottH | Hello Greg. Just started. Use Action, Recent Room History to catch up |
| DennisAbbott | Let me throw out a link to the DCCU |
| DennisAbbott | ftp://ftp.dell.com/sysman/dccu_3.0_a01.exe |
| DELL-ScottH | Hello Rod! |
| DELL-ScottH | Just started. Use Action, Recent Room History to catch up. Hello Thomas and Jeff too |
| DennisAbbott | You can also find the most recent version of the DCCU by going to support.dell.com and performing a search on "DCCU" |
| rodtrent | Hi hao |
| DennisAbbott | The current release is 3.0 A01; older versions are out there, so watch out |
| Donnie-Dell | (Remember to right-click on links in the chat, or else it will boot you—for the late joiners) |
| DennisAbbott | DCCU allows you to configure BIOS settings on Dell client systems including BIOS upgrades. We have two articles linked to the chat that walk through the various aspects as well |
| DELL-ScottH | Hello Tommy. Just started use Action, Recent Room History to catch up |
| ramseyg_Dell | Dennis, what is this DCCU? And how does it make my life easier? |
| DELL-ScottH | Yeah, why am I downloading all this stuff you linked to? |
| DennisAbbott | The DCCU can allow you to modify BIOS settings across thousands of assets when combined with your software distribution tool. For example, setting the Wake On LAN bit in the BIOS so that you can perform wakeups of powered-down systems. Most settings do not even require a reboot, so it is seamless and quiet to the end user. Another big plus is BIOS upgrades |
| rodtrent | BIOS upgrades sounds dangerous. Is there a fallback procedure? |
| DennisAbbott | Yes, the fallback is that the BIOS stays the same. New with DCCU is an option to disallow back revving the BIOS to an older version if a new version is already in place. |
| Ed_A_SMS_MVP | Nice! |
| rodtrent | I'm guessing this works in conjunction/integrates with ConfigMgr? |
| BrianMason | I take it this works only for newer machines? Does it work for all servers too? |
| DennisAbbott | The one caveat with the BIOS upgrade is that it really needs a reboot at the time of deployment. DCCU can be used with any and all software dist tools |
| Donnie-Dell | Rod, it will work with any software distribution tool |
| DennisAbbott | It creates a simple executable that you execute |
| BrianMason | But of course works best with SCCM! :) |
| ramseyg_Dell | With the DCCU, you create an EXE, and then do what you wish |
| rodtrent | Cool. Is there custom inventory, or is ConfigMgr enough? |
| ramseyg_Dell | You can run it manually, psexec, batch, ConfigMgr, etc. |
| DennisAbbott | The DCCU will work on many older systems, but only clients: Latitude, Precision, and OptiPlex |
| thomas_g | With DCCU, will it work on Vostro's or not? |
| ramseyg_Dell | @brianmason: OptiPlex, Precision, and Latitude |
| DennisAbbott | I have used it on old Gx240s |
| ramseyg_Dell | Yeah, what Dennis said :) |
| Donnie-Dell | Brian, when I do the talk on the Dell Deployment Kit for ConfigMgr, we will cover BIOS and servers |
| DennisAbbott | It probably will work on Vostro; you should test first |
| thomas_g | Ok |
| DennisAbbott | Most of the settings are very generic, such as WOL [Wake on LAN]. If the BIOS register does not exist then it does no harm |
| ramseyg_Dell | You can also use DCCU to change boot order, correct? |
| DennisAbbott | You can run this against an HP box and it does nothing |
| DennisAbbott | Yes, in fact the Boot Order screen in this version is much improved |
| DELL-ScottH | Hello, dackerman and Henry, use Action, Recent Room History to catch up on the chat, or the transcript will be posted tomorrow on same page |
| DennisAbbott | Very intuitive compared to early version |
| ramseyg_Dell | Looks like you can also create an EXE to force “Pxe on next boot”; could be helpful in OSD |
| DennisAbbott | Yes, the nice thing about the setting is that it is single use; it will revert back. Another big added feature is that there is a command-line setting now |
| ramseyg_Dell | You can also enable/disable on-board devices, like NIC, sound, microphone |
| DennisAbbott | Therefore, DCCU is now sort of scriptable |
| DennisAbbott | Also disable USB |
| rodtrent | That's neat |
| Donnie-Dell | Lot easier than filling the USB ports with epoxy :) |
| ramseyg_Dell | Yea, so you can pass command-line arguments |
| DennisAbbott | The first time I used it years ago I turned on the internal speaker on all systems |
| rodtrent | What will an upgrade do against a machine it wasn't intended for? That is, wrong model |
| DennisAbbott | I also set the Auto-on for 7:00 am as a poor man’s wake up :-) |
| ramseyg_Dell | I see one that I haven't used yet—"password Bypass"—looks like you can set a "reboot bypass," "resume bypass,"... |
| DennisAbbott | It will release a non-zero exit code and do nothing. Yes, there are probably two dozen new BIOS attributes, and many are focused around new wireless features |
| jas | What is the BIOS inventory package? |
| DennisAbbott | If you are an XML junkie, Dell fully supports digging through the XML to discover all the properties |
| angie_dell | Has anyone released the links to the docs and the tool yet in this chat session? |
| DennisAbbott | This is outlined in the Help file. The install does include the docs: ftp://ftp.dell.com/sysman/dccu_3.0_a01.exe |
| jas | Ah, thanks. Found it |
| DennisAbbott | www.delltechcenter.com/page/dell+client+configuration+utility+3.0 |
| Donnie-Dell | Link to the Techcenter System Center main area: www.delltechcenter.com/page/microsoft+system+center |
| ramseyg_Dell | www.delltechcenter.com/page/enable+wake+on+lan+with+dccu |
| DennisAbbott | And here is the walk-through for creating the WOL executable: www.delltechcenter.com/page/enable+wake+on+lan+with+dccu |
| rodtrent | Thanks guys! Gotta go |
| jas | Thanks |
| DennisAbbott | If you have a password set on the BIOS you can still manage those assets, but it is much easier if it is a single password |
| thomas_g | I haven't yet brought up SCCM (still planning it out) but I am assuming that the DCCU has to be on the SCCM, or can it reside on a separate server? |
| Ed_A_SMS_MVP | Hey, a few tips around deployment of DCCU agent I ran into that caused some aggravation... |
| DennisAbbott | It is completely stand-alone. No infrastructure |
| thomas_g | Thank you |
| DennisAbbott | You’re basically creating self-running scripts that load a driver on the fly |
| Ed_A_SMS_MVP | When deploying a new version (upgraded existing), and tried deploying a change to BIOS, it caused the client some issues |
| angie_dell | Although you can leverage SCCM to deploy the EXEs you create |
| DennisAbbott | The driver is completely removed after running |
| Ed_A_SMS_MVP | Resolution turned out to need to reboot the client after the new agent was installed, but before deploying a BIOS change to that client |
| DennisAbbott | The other alternative is the Open Manage Client Instrumentation, but that stays installed and you have to write WMI scripts to get the work done |
| Ed_A_SMS_MVP | Installing agent *new* to a system, we could deploy a BIOS change without rebooting the post-agent install |
| DennisAbbott | Correct with OMCI; you have to get that driver enabled under WMI |
| ramseyg_Dell | (We'll have a couple of chats on OMCI soon) |
| Ed_A_SMS_MVP | Can you explain briefly the difference between DCCU and OMCI? |
| DennisAbbott | OMCI is more flexible but adds some maintenance to the equation |
| ramseyg_Dell | If you don't want to leave a footprint, use DCCU |
| DennisAbbott | DCCU—on-the-fly, self-contained script |
| DennisAbbott | OMCI—permanently install agent |
| ramseyg_Dell | But, you'll find a lot of interesting stuff with OMCI |
| Donnie-Dell | OMCI is the OpenManage Client Instrumentation. It is a bigger beast, putting settings in WMI, interfacing with SMBIOS, etc. |
| Donnie-Dell | www.delltechcenter.com/page/using+omci+with+configmgr |
| Ed_A_SMS_MVP | Ah, then my earlier comment around deploying "agent" was in fact OMCI and not DCCU...mea culpa...going silent now! :-) |
| ramseyg_Dell | After you’ve installed, you can modify the Sms_def.mof to inventory Dell-specific hardware information, and you can also write VBScripts to make the same kind of changes that you can with DCCU |
| Donnie-Dell | What Greg is talking about is in the link I just sent |
| gabrie | Yeah! I made it :-) Seemed to be wrong java-version installed :-) |
| DELL-ScottH | Hey Gab ! |
| DennisAbbott | If you simply want to change a handful of settings, and you are not concerned with inventory, DCCU is the way to go—plus there is very little effort to get deployed |
| gabrie | Hi Scott |
| DELL-ScottH | Use Action, Recent Room History to catch up, or just ask all the "annoying" questions :-) |
| Ed_A_SMS_MVP | Any chance either of these tools will ever attempt to set WOL settings on the NIC in addition to BIOS? |
| ramseyg_Dell | @Ed - :) That's a dream, but a good dream :) |
| DennisAbbott | Yes, it will even set WOL on wireless |
| gabrie | Ha ha ha okay :D |
| ramseyg_Dell | We are working with the OMCI team to get enhanced functionality |
| DennisAbbott | Or add in NICs, if they are instrumented properly. Good luck with that |
| angie_dell | Any platform limitations with OMCI |
| ramseyg_Dell | OMCI is supported on all business client systems: OptiPlex, Latitude, and Precision Workstation, same as DCCU. (Side note: I'm working on a SCUP install for OMCI; we'll have that chat in a couple of weeks.) |
| DennisAbbott | One of the neat examples in the Help file is setting customer-specific asset tags into the BIOS by scripting DCCU—well worth a look if asset management is your cup of tea |
| Ed_A_SMS_MVP | Now that is cool! |
| ramseyg_Dell | Yeah, and I think the command-line arguments are a great function because then you could use it during OSD process. (OSD = Operating System Deployment) |
| DennisAbbott | Yes, and with the command line you don't even need to make a new EXE; just tag it on the command line to your current deployment |
| Dackerman | A script to “automagically” enable WOL during OSD...I like the sound of that :) |
| Ed_A_SMS_MVP | ...Then boot to PXE |
| DennisAbbott | You don't need separate executables for multiple settings; the sky is the limit. With one EXE you can set WOL, PXE, asset tag, and turn off chassis intrusion notification |
| Ed_A_SMS_MVP | Yeah, don’t forget that chassis intrusion bit! |
| Donnie-Dell | Especially when deployed OMCI, which defaults to alerting the local machine about chassis intrusion |
| DennisAbbott | I also noticed that we added quite a few attributes for our X1 tablet as well |
| DELL-ScottH | Hello Todd |
| DennisAbbott | XT |
| ramseyg_Dell | @donnie, we have a script to take care of that too :) |
| Donnie-Dell | Of course you do Greg, you have a script for everything :P |
| Ed_A_SMS_MVP | Anything for my new HDTV? ::laugh |
| DennisAbbott | You can clear those BIOS logs in OSD as well |
| ramseyg_Dell | Is it a Dell HDTV? :) oops! |
| Donnie-Dell | Hah |
| DennisAbbott | Ed knows what a TV is? |
| searles | I thought he helped invent them |
| Donnie-Dell | He he |
| Ed_A_SMS_MVP | ::laugh ::laugh 1080p all the way here! |
| ramseyg_Dell | Dennis, where do you need to install DCCU? Any workstation? XP, Vista okay, right? |
| DennisAbbott | It specifies XP SP2, but I have it running just fine on Vista with no issue You need .NET installed first: www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=ab99342f-5d1a-413d-8319-81da479ab0d7&displaylang=en. The tool itself is very lightweight and is a very simple browser-based tool. Oh, if you can't find the item on your Start menu it is because it is listed under Altiris not Dell! |
| Ed_A_SMS_MVP | Say what? |
| DennisAbbott | Altiris built and supports the tool. If you have Altiris Notification Server you get a little more with reporting inventory using NSE files—that is about all though |
| BrianMason | Altiris :( |
| Reed | Did I miss anything? |
| Ed_A_SMS_MVP | Okay, I'm lost. What is found under Altiris? |
| ramseyg_Dell | Welcome Reed |
| DennisAbbott | DCCU is built by Altiris |
| ramseyg_Dell | Action, Recent Room History |
| Reed | Thanks |
| Ed_A_SMS_MVP | Well, that was something I never knew! |
| DennisAbbott | It does not require Notification Server or any Altiris infrastructure |
| BrianMason | Can we hack out the name? |
| ramseyg_Dell | (Built by Altiris) and free from Dell |
| BrianMason | I'm serious too |
| ramseyg_Dell | Well, you could probably repackage it :) |
| DennisAbbott | This is our alternative for folks that don't want to deploy the Dell-branded full Notification Server. |
| BrianMason | I'm trying to kill Altiris, and those boys running it would have a good laugh if they saw us using it |
| DennisAbbott | You can rename the menu item :-) |
| Ed_A_SMS_MVP | Okay, are we about done with the Secret Squirrel stuff here? |
| Ed_A_SMS_MVP | Gotta run |
| DennisAbbott | It is a Dell-branded tool |
| DennisAbbott | Okay, see you later, Ed |
| Donnie-Dell | We know where to find ya, Ed. I think we are about done |
| DennisAbbott | Any other questions on DCCU? How it is used? |
| Ed_A_SMS_MVP | Seriously, this is a great session. As you guys know, WOL=on is a big deal for us. Every little bit helps! Thanks again! |
| Donnie-Dell | Cya, Ed |
| BrianMason | I gotta run too. Thanks everyone |
| angie_dell | Happy New Year, Ed! |
| DELL-ScottH | Before we lose everybody, the transcript will be posted tomorrow on the same link that got you here—you can browse the chat and click all the links |
| DennisAbbott | You can message me from links on the bottom of the articles |
| Ed_A_SMS_MVP | U2...all of ya |
| DennisAbbott | What is our next chat? OMCI? Greg? |
| Donnie-Dell | Link to main area of the Dell TechCenter for Microsoft System Center: www.delltechcenter.com/page/microsoft+system+center |
| ramseyg_Dell | OMCI and ConfigMgr |
| ramseyg_Dell | Our OMCI team has done a super job of building our MOF edits for ConfigMgr. So if you have OMCI installed, simply add the Dell MOF edits to the Sms_def.mof file. And then treat it like you always do—your MOF file (with respect)—set True and False values to determine what to inventory. We'll have a separate OMCI chat later to discuss scripting OMCI using VBScript |
| Donnie-Dell | Don't give it all away yet, Greg :) |
| DELL-ScottH | Yes, next chat is OMCI—link to all upcoming chats and previous chats: www.delltechcenter.com/page/chat+topics+and+transcripts |
| Reed | We'll still respect you in the AM, honest |
| DennisAbbott | He can't wait ::biggrin |
| ramseyg_Dell | :) Yes, bring all your OMCI questions! |
| bjm | Thanks everyone. |
| Donnie-Dell | Thanks again everyone for joining. We will hang out for a few more minutes so you can pick Dennis's brain |
| ramseyg_Dell | Thank you, everyone! |
| DELL-ScottH | Thanks to all! Next week, same bat-time, same bat-channel |
| DennisAbbott | What's left of it |
| DELL-ScottH | Lol |
| Reed | Once again the best Java client chat going—bar none! |
| DennisAbbott | Too much holiday cheer |
| DELL-ScottH | You only need 10 percent of that brain anyways, right? |
| DennisAbbott | Nine percent |
| DELL-ScottH | Overachiever |
| Donnie-Dell | No, you are right, Scott. But asking the guy only using 9 percent doesn't seem like a good idea :) |
| DELL-ScottH | :-) |
| Donnie-Dell | Heading out, team—talk to you all later! |
| ramseyg_Dell | Thanks all! Bye! |
| angie_dell | Goodbye everybody, Thanks |
| DELL-ScottH | Thanks, everyone |
| Dell-RogerF | Bye |
|
TDA-Terry |
Latest page update: made by TDA-Terry
, Aug 11 2009, 1:20 PM EDT
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| Started By | Thread Subject | Replies | Last Post | ||
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| mkaptan | New version is available on support.dell.com | 0 | Sep 3 2009, 5:54 AM EDT by mkaptan | ||
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Thread started: Sep 3 2009, 5:54 AM EDT
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Hi, there is a new version of DCCU (Dell Client Configuration Utility) available on support.dell.com.
Version 3.1.1045 adds support for new Bios configuration options. Download is available at: ftp://ftp.us.dell.com/sysman/DCCU_3_1_1045.exe
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Keyword tags:
DCCU
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| ugison | DCCU package command-line | 1 | Mar 18 2009, 10:37 AM EDT by ugison | ||
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Thread started: Mar 18 2009, 10:01 AM EDT
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Hello.
I read a DCCU 3.0 – Dell Client Configuration Utiliity 3.0 TechTuesday Chat transcript and found it very useful as an introduction. However, some information seem to be inconsistent with my findings. I'm doing client automation for Hewlett-Packard and have an assignment to automate DCCU. I need to modify package (created in DCCU naturally) parameters from the command-line.The thing is that properties for setting through command-line are available via WMI namespace which apparently belongs to Dell Open Manage Client Instrumentation. As a consequence, it looks to me that package command-line extensibility is available only in Dell OMCI configured environment. Am I on the right track? :) I guess you can provide me with good information. Thank You..
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Keyword tags:
DCCU OMCI command-line
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