Lifecycle ControllerThis is a featured page

Faster, More Efficient, More Secure Local and Remote Deployment -

Server management is advancing with Dell’s embedded management strategy. When we examined common management tasks, and the inefficiencies associated with them, we discovered something interesting – it wasn’t the tools that were making these management tasks take so long, it was how they were delivered. The most common activities, like provisioning, deploying, and updating, required multiple tools, multiple forms of media, and scouring the Web for the latest enablement tools, like drivers and firmware. This traditional delivery model resulted in an inefficient use of time, potential for error, and potential exposure to security risks.

With the introduction of the 11th-generation (11G) Dell™ PowerEdge™ servers, Dell offers Embedded Management, which resolves the inefficiencies and issues associated with the traditional,media-based systems management delivery model. Dell’s embedded management houses the tools and enablement pieces for management directly on the server, allowing administrators to perform a complete set of provisioning functions from a single, intuitive interface. Dell’s embedded management enables zero-media,low touch deployment that is more efficient, secure, and user-friendly for IT administrators. Lifecycle Controller is the engine for advanced embedded management and is delivered as part of iDRAC Express in the new, 11th-generation Dell PowerEdge servers (“Dell 11G servers”). It includes 1 GBof managed and persistent storage that embeds systems management features directly on the server, thus eliminating the media-based delivery of system management tools and utilities needed for systems management.

Lifecycle Controller’s delivery model simplifies the server lifecycle management experience, from provisioning, to deployment, patching/updates, servicing as well as user customization. It also reduces the time taken to accomplish tasks, reduces potential for error, enhances security, and results in more efficient enterprise management.

A study by Principled Technologies
http://www.principledtechnologies.com/clients/reports/Dell/DellUSCvsHPSmartStart.pdf).

Embedded management is comprised of several aspects
    1. Unified Server Configurator (USC) aims at local 1-to-1 deployment via a graphical user interface (GUI) for operating system install, updates, configuration, and for performing diagnostics, on single, local servers. This eliminates the need for multiple option ROMs for hardware configuration
    2. Remote Services are standards-based interfaces that enable consoles to integrate, for example, bare-metal provisioning and one-to-many OS deployments, for servers located remotely. Dell’s Lifecycle Controller takes advantage of the capabilities of both USC and Remote Services to deliver significant advancement and simplification of server deployment.
    3. Lifecycle Controller Serviceability aims at simplifying server reprovision and/or replacing failed parts and thus reduces maintenance downtime.
    Unified Server Configurator, local 1-to-1 deployment
    • Basic device configuration (RAID, NIC and iDRAC) via simple wizards
    • Diagnose the system using embed Diagnostics utility
    • OS install by unpacking the drivers for the user selected OS.
      • Drivers are embed for systems with iDRAC Express, Lifecycle Controller
      • Drivers are available on Systems Management Tools and Documentation media for systems with Baseboard Management Controller (BMC)
    • Advanced device configuration for NIC and BIOS. This is available only in systems with iDRAC Express
    • Update BIOS, firmware and stage updated drivers by directly connecting to relevant updates onftp.dell.com. This is available only in systems with iDRAC Express
    • Roll back firmware to a last known good state. THis is available only in systems with iDRAC Express
    • Supports 7 languages (English, French, German, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, Korean) ·
    New in 1.3(Released on 12/22/09)
    • Configure provisioning server for auto discovery of iDRAC
    • Report the vFlash media status
    • Enable part replacement and configure automatic firmware flash
    • Configure BIOS boot order o Check for compatible BIOS, IDRAC and Lifecycle Controller versions
    • Configure Self-encryption disk drives

    Lifecycle Controller Remote Services, remote 1-to-many deployment available on systems with iDRAC Express, Enterprise

    • Auto-discovery of bare metal systems. iDRAC can be configured in factory or using USC to connect and authenticate to a provisioning console
    • Operating system install
      • Install OS on the discovered system using drivers resident on the Lifecycle Controller
      • Install custom OS image – allows users to install OS that does not have the desired drivers on the Lifecycle Controller
      • Install OS by booting from service image on a network share
    • Integration into Microsoft® System Center Configuration Manager and BMC Software BladeLogic Operations Manager consoles
    • WSMan interfaces can be used to integrate into home-grown consoles and script
    • New in 1.3 (Released on 12/22/09)
      • Custom Factory Install of Auto-Discovery Security Certificates and Provisioning Server Name/Address
      • WS-Man Interface for changing Auto-Discovery Certificates and re-initiation of Auto-Discovery
      • Remote out-of-band instant Firmware Inventory of installed and available firmware images
      • Bare metal out-of-band updates – Remotely initiate offline BIOS, firmware and driver pack update and schedule updates
    Serviceability available on systems with vFlash media
    • New in 1.3 (Released on 12/22/09)
      • Part replacement – Automatic firmware flash for field/customer replaceable components in the system
      • Pre-OS image staging on vFlash – Boot to a pre-OS image (such as, WinPE) stored on vFlash
    Lifecycle Controller is developed on the industry-standard Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) platform and Web Services for Management (WSMan) interfaces, providing an open environment for console integration. Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager and BMC Software BladeLogic Operations Manager consoles have integrated the Remote Services features of Lifecycle Controller 1.2, thus offering the benefits of those features to existing infrastructures where those consoles are installed.

    Summary:Lifecycle Controller 1.3 Features and Benefits
    FEATURES BENEFITS
    Simplified system management experience Fewer products, less media, and better automation.
    Greater standardization Developed on a UEFI (Unified Extensible Firmware Interface) platform and WSMan (Web Services for Management) interfaces, the Unified Server Configurator GUI delivers better integration and automation.
    Media-less operation No external media required for driver pack, update process or diagnostics.
    Secure process The system and data are protected by multiple layers of security validation.
    Reduced downtime The number of reboots is minimized during the update process.
    More efficient The install inventory eliminates the manual time required to determine the current configuration or needed updates. Available updates are automatically detected and updated.
    Remote Services Auto-discovery of embedded drivers reduces potential for error, eliminates media load time, and allows new platforms to be turned over to production work faster.



    White Papers and Resources


    Deployment solution and Lifecycle Controller overview
    By Roopa Nagaraj, William Smith, Dominick Pisano, Anthony Stankovics, Jim Dougherty

    Principled Technologies report comparing USC 1 3 and HP SmartStart 8 30
    By Principled Technologies

    Unified Server Configurator: IT and Systems Management Overview
    By Shelli Allgood, Anand Narayanan, Hai Phung, Pritesh Prabhu, and Ganesh Viswanathan

    Unified Server Configurator Security Overview
    By Raja Tamilarasan, Wayne Liles, Marshal Savage, and Weijia Zhang

    Creating a USB Storage Device for Updates
    By Scott Hanson

    Lifecycle Controller Remote Services Overview
    Updated for Lifecycle Controller 1.3 - Released December 2009
    By Jon Hass, Andy Butcher, and Raja Tamilarasan

    Dell CIM ProfilesandMOF Files
    Use Lifecycle Controller to remotely manage your server using WS-Management

    Lifecycle Controller 1.3 Web Services Interface Guide
    Version 1.2 - Updated for Lifecycle Controller 1.3 - Document released March 2010
    WinRM CLI examples for remote OS Deployment, Firmware Inventory and Update, Part Replacement Configuration

    Lifecycle Controller Web Services Guide for Linux Users
    Linux Wsmancli examples (supplement to Lifecycle Controller Web Service Interface Guide)

    Repairing or Updating the Lifecycle Controller (LCC) and Unified Server Configurator (USC)
    By Dan Rusek

    Dell Auto-Discovery Network Setup Specification
    Instructions for setting up your network for Auto-Discovery and related troubleshooting information

    Scripting the Dell Lifecycle Controller
    Learn how to use VBscript and PowerShell to execute WSMan commands to manage the Lifecycle Controller

    Unleashing the power of vFlash in the Dell PowerEdge iDRAC
    By Corey Affield







    • scott_hanson
    scott_hanson     		Latest page update: made by scott_hanson , Jul 20 2010, 3:24 PM EDT (about this update About This Update scott_hanson Edited by scott_hanson

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    Keyword tags: 11g systems management Embedded management Lifecycle Controller Systems Management Unified Server Configurator USC
    More Info: links to this page

    Threads for this page

    Started By Thread Subject Replies Last Post
    advhawk Where can I download the update file for USC Platform Update? 2 Feb 18 2010, 11:19 AM EST by RJMPhD
    Thread started: Jan 22 2010, 9:32 AM EST  Watch
    Do you find this valuable?    
    Keyword tags: 11g systems management
    Show Last Reply
    claytonli Where can I download the update file for USC Platform Update? 1 Jun 24 2009, 5:33 PM EDT by scott_hanson
    Thread started: Jun 15 2009, 2:07 AM EDT  Watch
    Hi,

    Dose there anyone know what should I download from Dell download URL if I want to update BIOS, firmware, driver through USC Platform Update and using USB key? Please help, Thanks!

    Regards

    Clayton
    Do you find this valuable?    
    Keyword tags: None
    Show Last Reply
    Showing 2 of 2 threads for this page

    Attachments

    (Showing the last 5 of 13 - view all)
    Adobe Portable Document Format Lifecycle_Controller_Web_Services_for_Linux_04d.pdf (Adobe Portable Document Format - 120k)
    posted by cpoblete   Jul 13 2010, 6:35 PM EDT
    Lifecycle Controller Web Services Guide for Linux Users
    Adobe Portable Document Format DellUSCv1 3vsHPSmartStart8 30.pdf (Adobe Portable Document Format - 314k)
    posted by roopa_nagaraj   May 18 2010, 3:47 PM EDT
    USC 1 3 and HP SmartStart 8 3 comparison report
    Adobe Portable Document Format Lifecycle Controller 1 3 Web Services Interface Guide.pdf (Adobe Portable Document Format - 120k)
    posted by JonHass   Mar 12 2010, 11:06 PM EST
    Version 1.2 - Added Clear all Jobs example
    Adobe Portable Document Format Deployment overview.pdf (Adobe Portable Document Format - 568k)
    posted by roopa_nagaraj   Feb 25 2010, 10:31 AM EST
    Dell deployment solution and Lifecycle Controller overview
    Adobe Portable Document Format Lifecycle Controller 1 3 Web Services Interface Guide.pdf (Adobe Portable Document Format - 124k)
    posted by JonHass   Feb 22 2010, 7:55 AM EST
    Version 1.1 of LC 1.3 Web Service Interface Guide
    (Showing the last 5 of 13 - view all)

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