Dell Repository Manager facilitates creating customized bundles and repositories on systems running a Microsoft® Windows® OS. Customized bundles and repositories are made up of Dell Update Packages (DUPs) based on specified criteria, and DUPs are software utilities Dell provides to update specific software components on Dell™ PowerEdge™ servers. This discussion provides updated information about the Repository Manager tool, and can cover topics such as exporting bundles for performing server updates, adding OS and platform constraints to bundles, using independent search filters for bundles and components, and other features and considerations of the latest Dell Repository Manager release. Using Dell Repository Manager helps ensure that a PowerEdge server is equipped with the latest BIOS, driver, firmware, and software updates.

Technical Community - Background Reading

• Dell Server Update page on the DELL.COM site
  
• TechCenter page and demos: Repository Manager
• Transcripts from recent TechTuesday chats: 11-03-09 Dell Repository Manager and 08-18-09 Dell Repository Manager

Chat Transcript

erson	Latest Repository Manager 1.1 manual: http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/software/smdrm/11/en/index.htm
Dell-ScottH	Ah, thanks, was just updating the page
erson	Latest version seems to be Dell_repository_manager_1.1.52.msi
Dell-ScottH	Page updated; love a wiki. Yes, that is correct
Dell-ScottH	Okay, I'm going to kick it off and let Jeff tell the newcomers how to catch up. Jeff you good with that?
Dell-JeffS	He is
Dell-ScottH	Okay, so I don't see any newbies in the mix, just all us regulars. So blah blah...right-click links...transcript available tomorrow...and feel free to ask questions along the way. Today's topic is Dell Repository Manager 1.1, and it’s a continuation of a chat we had last year with the initial release
Dell-ScottH	The TechCenter page is here: www.delltechcenter.com/page/repository+manager
Dell-ScottH	Just updated for the 1.1 download and 1.1 document link (thanks, Erson). The big additions in this release are the prompting to save your work...little oversight on the last version :-) and the addition to export as an SUU bundle. You can get it as a plug-in once you download. And just for you guys, I created a new demo that has not hit the site yet—and just now got it uploaded to YouTube. It shows using Repository Manager to create a bundle for use on VMware ESX in the service console to apply updates on a Dell PowerEdge R710 server
Dell-ScottH	Here is the link: www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcrg4odkw6a
HoosierCAB	I'll be using that tomorrow. I've got two, still-in-the-box PowerEdge R710 servers to rack and get ESX onto by Friday
Dell-ScottH	Cool, the demo should be very relevant to you then
Dell-JeffS	As a side note, it also can be used as a sleep aid
Dell-ScottH	FYI, for those reading the transcript who are new to this topic, Repository Manager is an application that allows customized bundles and repositories to be created on systems running the Microsoft Windows OS. The customized bundles and repositories are made up of Dell Update Packages (DUPs) based on certain specified criteria. DUPs are software utilities provided by Dell to update specific software components on Dell PowerEdge servers. Using Repository Manager helps ensure that a PowerEdge server is equipped with the latest BIOS, driver, firmware, and software updates.
Dell-ScottH	Yes, my voice was very steady and monotone; tried to eliminate all the ums and ahs...do I have any?
Dell-JeffS	Only kidding. Haven't seen it as of yet. Scott spent a better part of the last few days perfecting that one, and thought I'd get a quick jab in
Dell-ScottH	And for the transcript readers, I recommend watching this intro demo: www.dell.com/downloads/global/solutions/repositorymanager.wmv
Dell-ScottH	Actually the Repository Manager demo with ESX was an offshoot from my Web Services for Management (WS-Management) demo that is yet to be posted. I had to update my PowerEdge R710 server to get WS-Management working correctly on the Lifecycle controller, so figured I might as well package this up as a demo. The WS-Management demo is way more interesting...and a much more complicated topic area. It will be interesting to see the direction we take as we go to "agentless" servers and how it will all tie together. Okay, so any questions?
Dell-ScottH	I see Erson is typing; this should be good :-) Always is
erson	So, what about this plug-in structure of Repository Manager? Why was the Dell OpenManage Server Update Utility (SUU) feature a plug-in? Can we expect more plug-ins and so forth?
Dell-ScottH	I'm not sure exactly why they are taking this approach. I'll have to ask the developers why it was not just a new release
erson	Is it a plug-in so that the feature can be updated off-schedule of the main repository releases maybe?
Dell-ScottH	Let me see if one's online
Dell-d_glynn	Plug-ins...interesting
erson	As some of you maybe read, I had some problems updating my PowerEdge M710 servers from the latest Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller 6 (iDRAC 6) and Dell Unified Server Configurator (USC) with the SUU export
Dell-ScottH	Okay, I got Jamal jumping on
erson	Twitter is a great place to vent frustration :)
Dell-ScottH	He's a developer, and we'll ask him about plug-ins. What was the outcome of your PowerEdge M710 SUU problem?
erson	Seems like no one can hear you scream on Twitter, though it didn't work. Tried both a DVD and USB—didn't work
Dell-ScottH	I don't think the SUU exports from Repository Manager can be used with USC yet
erson	Tried the old way to copy the repository from the original SUU DVDs that you can download from ftp.dell.com/sysman and that worked
Dell-ScottH	Think that is 1.6 release; we can ask Jamal
Dell-ScottH	There he is. Welcome Jamal! We were just talking about some of the new things in Repository Manager, and a question was asked about the plug-in structure for SUU. Why implement it that way, and what else can we expect to see in the way of plug-ins?
Dell-JamalB	We did it that way to balance security against not requiring admin rights to get plug-ins
Dell-ScottH	And what version will allow us to export a USC and Lifecycle controller readable update USB?
Dell-JamalB	Lol, fire alarm!
Dell-ScottH	Doh! Was that a sensitive area? Or a real fire alarm?
Dell-JeffS	Nope, building 5 just had a fire alarm
Dell-JamalB	No, a real fire alarm
Dell-ScottH	Nice
Dell-JamalB	Just went off as I was typing
erson	Ah, found it: http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/software/smusc/smlc/lc_1_3/en/ug/html/setusc.htm#wp1189485
erson	It says that you can update with Repository Manager. I actually read the manuals you know :)
Dell-JeffS	Guess Jamal took his laptop with him
Dell-d_glynn	The documents writers thank you
Dell-ScottH	Nice. Didn't know you could read :-)
erson	I started early; been reading my NES 8-bit manuals before playing the games. Some people thought that was oddish behavior. Did you all fall to the floor laughing?
Dell-ScottH	Reading through the manual (1.1 Repository Manager) and don't see the USB Export for use with Lifecycle that the Lifecycle document referenced—trying to follow your train of thought
Chimerically	I always read the manuals before playing games too...heh
erson	I read the Lifecycle 1.3 manual that I linked above, and it said that I can use Repository Manager to create the local USB repository. So I tried.
Dell-ScottH	It doesn't exactly say that. It says to read the Repository Manager User Guide, which I can't find a reference that walks you through creating a USB repository that Lifecycle can read. I seem to remember Jamal saying that feature wasn't quite baked yet. Was hoping he would address that before the fire alarm. Hopefully, there’s no real fire
Dell-ScottH	Are you typing a book?
erson	The paragraph above says how to use the Dell SUU DVDs to create the local USB repository for use with USC. And the paragraph below hints that you can use Repository Manager to do it as well. And a new Repository Manager 1.1 feature is to export to SUU. Not that far fetched to believe that it would work, right?
Dell-ScottH	Exactly. That was my argument with them when I tried in the pre-release version and it didn't work. Seems the SUU guys and Repository Manager guys are not talking.
erson	Anyway, let’s move forward. I didn't waste much time, but I think the manual should have reflected that it would work in a future version of Repository Manager
Dell-ScottH	Yes. Agreed. Well, that was really it; I am done with you guys :-) What else should we discuss?
erson	PowerEdge R810, PowerEdge R910, and PowerEdge M910 servers that you're releasing in March? :)
Dell-ScottH	Jeff is going to our internal event in the next couple of weeks; maybe he'll leak some twitpics from the show. Jeff? Can you do that for us?
Dell-JeffS	You bet :)
erson	What is the future for Repository Manager? What are the features that you are working on?
Dell-ScottH	Should be close enough to release to not get fired; let me look at the internal site with the latest builds
erson	Will a BIOS update suffice to support Westmere-EP?
Chimerically	Gotta run. Bye all
Dell-ScottH	Should. Same Intel 5520 chipset
Dell-KongY	I'm so sorry to be this "unfashionably" late. Looks like I missed the entire chat :( I'll catch up when the transcript comes out tomorrow
Dell-ScottH	Okay, was hoping Jamal would hop back on, but looks not...thanks to all for joining!
erson	What’s the topic next week?
Dell-ScottH	Kong, you are doing Microsoft Exchange 2010 next week, right?
erson	Really liked the Xsigo webinar, BTW
Dell-ScottH	How was the fire?
Dell-JamalB	Uneventful
Dell-ScottH	Oh thanks; think it's a solution that fits you?
erson	Those are the worst fires. It's an awesome solution for sure
Dell-JamalB	Hope I answered the question adequately before I left
Dell-ScottH	So, Jamal, the last question was, "What can we expect to see in upcoming Repository Manager releases?”
erson	Probably not in my price range right now, but I really hope the whole virtualization is going down that path
Dell-ScottH	And, we were under the assumption that Repository Manager could create a USB stick to be read by Lifecycle controller, but that didn't work
Dell-JamalB	Ah, we're talking about more integrations with other tools
Dell-ScottH	@erson, yeah virtual I/O is key. VMotion = great, storage VMotion = great, need I/O VMotion to tie it all together—or to actually untie it all :-)
erson	And when can we expect to make a USB local repository to use with the platform update in USC?
Dell-JamalB	The Dell Systems Build and Update Utility (SBUU) currently doesn't play nice with our SUU repositories, so we've got a fix in the works to make that structure easier for the tool to understand. We're upgrading to the latest Dell OpenManage Deployment Toolkit (DTK) for our Linux ISOs and talking about putting Repository Manager on our SUU DVDs to allow a user to customize an official SUU right from the DVD. I've got a meeting with the USC guys tomorrow. I'm guessing sooner rather than later :)
erson	Since you can copy a SUU repository from the SUU DVDs you can't be far off to get it to work with Repository Manager
Dell-ScottH	So at least you guys are talking :-)
erson	"Catalog file not authenticated correctly" is the error message that you get in the USC when trying to use a SUU-exported repository from Repository Manager 1.1
Dell-JamalB	We're completely compatible with SUU, and I've got a build in test to address the SBUU issue. Hmmm...we don't create signed catalogs yet; that might be where that error is coming from. I think they want the tar.gz version of the file
erson	Scotth, are you guys shifting more focus to Microsoft Hyper-V when you can drag and drop virtual machines (VMs) from a local host directly on the Microsoft Windows Azure platform in Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager (SCVMM). Looks like that will be possible in the next release of SCVMM
Dell-ScottH	That sounds very interesting. Go right from private into the public cloud. Hmmm...Kong, do we have anything slated or is there more focus on Hyper-V? Been very VMware-centric these days
Dell-ScottH	Jamal, thanks for taking the time to jump on. Really appreciate it. I see a lunch in your future
Dell-KongY	Yes, Hyper-V will be forthcoming with an upcoming server product launch. Also, look for more Hyper-V BRC content in the near term; more contributions from Ryan W. and team
Dell-JamalB	Ha ha, no problem. Glad to know people are interested in the tool
Dell-KongY	Thanks, Jamal
Dell-ScottH	Thanks again to everyone that joined
erson	Do you guys have a PowerConnect 8024f in the lab yet?
erson	BTW, why is the full screen button always grayed out in the virtual console on the iDRAC6? It’s cumbersome to record stuff as well, since it's changing size all the time during boot up, entering USC, and so forth. Got quite envious of the virtual folder feature on the HP ilo2 as well. Didn’t have to make everything and ISO, floppy image, or put it on a USB stick. The ability to start the virtual console directly from the CMC was great though
erson	Oh, uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs)—has Dell switched from APC to Eaton? And will that translate into support for Eaton UPSs and power distribution units (PDUs) in Dell Management Console?
erson	/me is shooting off questions as fast as he can...
Dell-ScottH	Oh my...look at all these questions I have to answer now; didn't we say goodbye already? ::blink
erson	I'm not a native English speaker, so I can pretend that I didn't understand that. :) No need to answer. Just venting the questions that I've been thinking about the last week
Dell-ScottH	They'll make the transcript, and I can throw the link at people. You give us jobs :-)
erson	Good stuff :) Ho ho, the 16 GB dual in-line memory modules (DIMMs) aren't cheap
erson	/me is looking at the PowerEdge R710 configurator. Half a million Swedish crowns for 12 16 GB
Dell-ScottH	Yeah, go buy a car instead or a house
erson	Divide by ~7 and you get dollars
Dell-ScottH	Yeah, that's an Audi R8 over here :-)
erson	It's not over here. Hell, Swedish car manufacturers are either going down (Saab) or being sold (Volvo). Not bad having two car manufacturers for a country with about 9 million people though. As long as it lasted anyway
Dell-ScottH	True
erson	Saab makes our fighter jet as well, but I'm guessing they don't share anything with the car company except the name. Almost a year ago since I first joined the chat here at Dell TechCenter. I think I started with making a post on the forum about 11th-generation though :)
Dell-ScottH	Has it been a year already? Man, time flies so quickly. Alright, I gotta run, good seeing you—off to schedule a trip and get some cheap airfare
erson	Yes, almost; joined around 20th of February. Okay, see you next week
erson	Exchange 2010 should be good; haven't delved into that much more than reading up on database availability groups (DAGs). Hopefully, it will bring out a bigger crowd also
erson	Oh, H200 and H700 already on the PowerEdge M610 and PowerEdge M710 servers. Wish I had battery backup on my PowerEdge M710 servers, but Cost Effective RAID Controller (CERC) was the best option back then