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Frequently Asked Questions: Dell OpenManage™ Remote Install User's Guide

	Getting Started		Deploying and Capturing Images
	System State Issues

Getting Started

I'm a new user. Where should I start?

Before you can use Remote Install's ability to set up new systems from stored hard drive images, you must set up several components.

• For a general overview and explanation of Remote Install terms, see "Introduction to Remote Install." 
  
  
• You may also want to review your network options in "Configuring the Network" before you set up your system. 

To get started with Remote Install:

1. Set up an image server. See "Setting Up the Image Server." 
   
   Setting up the image server includes installing remote install on the image server, rebooting the image server, logging in to remote install, adding a DHCP scope, and adding storage for images.
   
   
2. Set up at least one target system:
   
   
   1. Install the operating system and applications you want to use on the system. You must create one example of each type of system you want to capture. You may want to have several types of images, such as a file server, an E-mail server, and others.
      
      
   2. Install the Remote Install agents on the target system(s). See "Installing and Uninstalling the Remote Install Agents."
      
      
   3. Set the boot order of the target system to boot from PXE first, so that Remote Install can control the system. See "Configuring Boot Order."
      
      
3. Capture the images from the target systems that you have set up. See "Capturing Images."
   
    
4. Deploy the images to other systems. See "Deploying and Configuring Systems."
   
   

If you have a question about a specific menu option in the Remote Install GUI, see "Appendix A — Detailed Procedures." For general instructions about using the menu options, see "Using Remote Install."

Does Remote Install change or remove any user accounts on an image?

For Microsoft® Windows® operating system images, the Sysprep application removes (and replaces) default users and groups, but users and groups you set up remain unchanged. You can set up your own user and administrator accounts on a system before using it as an image, and the imaged systems will have those accounts. See "About Sysprep."

Can I install applications on an image in addition to an operating system?

Yes, but see "About Sysprep" for potential issues.

I installed the Remote Install agents on my target tystem; after I rebooted the system, Remote Install failed to discover it. Why?

You may not have set the system to PXE boot first, or the system may lack PXE support. The PXE process allows Remote Install to manage the system. See "Configuring Boot Order" to change the boot order.

If the system is not a supported target system, Remote Install fails to discover it. See "System Requirements."

System State Issues

My system's state is listed as unmanaged. What do I check first?

Ensure that the system's IP address does not overlap with any of the DHCP scopes assigned to the image server. For more information, see "Configuring DHCP." 

How do I change a system's state to Admin?

Use the Systems→ Properties→ List function. Click the system's service tag to display system details. Next, perform one of the following steps:

• If the system is in the Up state, click Reset.
  
  
• If the system is in Capture Failure or Deployment Failure status, click Recover.

For more information about states, see "Systems→ Properties→ List Function."

Deploying and Capturing Images

Can I configure a system before I deploy it?

Yes. You can select a configuration for a target system before deploying it; see "Predeployment" for instructions. The system does not have to be connected to the network or even turned on. When you deploy the system, Remote Install configures it using the configuration values you specified.

How do I reinstall an image on a system that already has one?

See "Reinstalling Images Over Existing Ones." 

The system I want to capture is not listed under "Systems→ Capture→ Capture." Why?

The list only displays systems that can be captured: systems in the Up, Capture Failure, or Admin states. For more information about states, see "Systems→ Properties→ List Function."

My virtual system is still vVirtual, even after I deployed it. Why?

Verify that the Service Tag that you assigned when you set up the predeployment configuration is the same as the one assigned to the actual system. If it is, then see "I installed the Remote Install agents on my target system; after I rebooted the system, Remote Install failed to discover it. Why?"

Can I perform a backup with Remote Install?

Yes. You can capture an entire disk image, then later restore the system to this state if needed. See "Capture for Backup."

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