Lifecycle ControllerThis is a featured page

Faster, More Efficient, More Secure Local and Remote Deployment, Configuration and Updates -
Dell Lifecycle Controller simplifies server lifecycle management— from provisioning, deployment, patching and updating to servicing and user customization—for servers located both locally and remotely. It is delivered as part of iDRAC (Express, Enterprise and vFlash) in Dell™ PowerEdge™ 11G servers. Lifecycle Controller includes a managed and persistant storage that embeds systems management features directly on the server, thus eliminating the media-based system management tools and utilities usually needed for systems management.

Lifecycle Controller reduces the time and number of steps taken to accomplish tasks, reduces or eliminates potential for error, enhances server and application uptime and security, and results in more efficient IT management. Developed on the industry standard Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) platform and Web Services for Management (WSMan) interfaces, Lifecycle Controller provides an open environment for console integration. Leading systems management consoles (e.g., Microsoft® System Center Configuration Manager, BMC Software BladeLogic® Operations Manager, Symantec™ Deployment Solution, Dell™ Management Console) have integrated Dell Lifecycle Controller, thus offering its features and capabilities to existing infrastructures where those consoles are installed.

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.

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 (legacy BIOS and UEFI capable) 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)
  • Available in systems with iDRAC Express
    • Advanced device configuration for NIC and BIOS.
  • Update BIOS, firmware and stage updated drivers by directly connecting to relevant updates onftp.dell.com.
    • 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 1.4(Released on 7/7/10)
    • Enable automatic configuration on part replacement
    • Initialize, enable/disable and check health/size/partition names of vFlash
    • Install custom OS image
    • Install UEFI based OSs (Win2k8, Win2k8R2, SLES11)
    • Troubleshoot the network connection for firmware updates
    • Firmware updates using Windows repository on CIFS and NFS share
    • Update individual firmware and/or BIOS
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. Custom certificates can be used.
    • 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
    • Remote stage and schedule firmware (iDRAC, Lifecycle Controller, BIOS, PERC, NIC, Power Supply Unit) updates
    • Remote stage and schedule configuration of NIC, BIOS and PERC
    • 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 1.4 (Released on 7/7/10)
      • View and export hardware inventory
      • Export the inventory of the system as shipped from factory
      • Auto discovery status on LCD
      • Install custom OS and UEFI based OSs (Win2k8, Win2k8 R2, SLES11)
      • Upload web server and Active Directory certificates
      • Configuration of BIOS and NIC
      • Configuration of PERC cards as required for OS install
    Serviceability available on systems with vFlash media
    • Part replacement – Automatic firmware flash and configuration 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
      New in 1.4 (Released on 7/7/10)
      • Automate firmware flash on replacing PERC, NIC and Power Supply
      • View and export the server lifecycle log (system firmware, configuration and device) changes/updates as a report in XML format
      • Input user comments to Lifecycle log that is stored on Lifecycle Controller
      • Wipe Lifecycle Controller contents before retiring the system
      • 8 Gb vFlash offering. Interfaces for health status and partition management via iDRAC UI, Unified Server Configurator and Remote Services
    Summary:Lifecycle Controller 1.4 Features and Benefits
  • Feature Benefits
    Automatic configuration of replaced part (NICs, PERCs)
    • Saves time
    • Reduces potential for error or inconsistency
    • Minimizes server/application downtime
    View/export server configuration and firmware inventory
    • Gain greater awareness of server resources
    • Save time
    • View hardware inventory including CPUs, memory, iDRAC, PCI devices, fans, power supplies, system information and video
    Remote configuration of BIOS, NICs and PERC
    • Avoid travel
    • Save time and money
    • Simplify server management
    Wipe Lifecycle Controller contents
    • Comply with security policies
    • Reset iDRAC to factory defaults
    • Clear Lifecycle Controller contents prior to retiring server
    Install custom operating system image
    • Enables user flexibility and choice
    • Allows user to install custom OS
    • Permits installation of OS’s not supported by Unified Server Configurator (e.g., Solaris™ operating system)



    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 Profiles and MOF Files
    Use Lifecycle Controller to remotely manage your server using WS-Management

    Lifecycle Controller 1.4 Web Services Interface Guide
    Updated for Lifecycle Controller 1.4 - Document released August 2010
    WinRM CLI examples for remote OS Deployment, Firmware Inventory and Update, Part Replacement Configuration (Covers LC 1.2 & 1.3)

    Lifecycle Controller Web Services Guide for Linux Users
    Linux Wsmancli examples (supplement to Lifecycle Controller Web Service Interface Guide) Updated: 2010/08/18

    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






  • 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







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    cpoblete     		Latest page update: made by cpoblete , Aug 19 2010, 10:11 AM EDT (about this update About This Update cpoblete Updated LC Guide for Linux - cpoblete

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    Keyword tags: 11g systems management Embedded management Lifecycle Controller Systems Management Unified Server Configurator USC
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    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
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    Keyword tags: 11g systems management
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    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
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    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)
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    Version 1.2 - Added Clear all Jobs example
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    Dell deployment solution and Lifecycle Controller overview
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