Using the Dell OpenManage Server Assistant CD

Dell™ PowerEdge™ 1655MC Systems User's Guide

Starting the Dell OpenManage Server Assistant CD

The Dell OpenManage Server Assistant CD contains utilities, diagnostics, and drivers that can help you configure your server modules to meet your needs. Some of the functions available on the Dell OpenManage Server Assistant CD are also available on a bootable utility partition that is installed on your hard drive. This section describes how to use the Dell OpenManage Server Assistant CD. It also describes the utility partition and its options and provides instructions for reinstalling the partition (if necessary).

NOTE: The Dell OpenManage Server Assistant CD is not required for the first time deployment of your server module if it came with a preinstalled operating system or solution software.

Starting the Dell OpenManage Server Assistant CD

The Dell OpenManage™ Server Assistant application program guides you through the operating system setup and configuration process. You may also use the Dell OpenManage Server Assistant CD to recreate the utility partition.

To install an operating system on a server module, attach the USB CD drive to the USB port on the front of the server module, insert the Dell OpenManage Server Assistant CD into the USB CD drive, and turn on or reboot the server module (see "Using the USB Diskette or USB CD Drives" in "System Overview"). By connecting the CD or diskette drive before booting the server module, the attached USB drive is automatically designated as the first drive in the boot sequence.

NOTE: You must use the Server Assistant CD to install an operating system. Using the Server Assistant CD ensures that the correct drivers are installed on the server module.

From the KVM window, select the server module whose video that you want to view. The Dell OpenManage Server Assistant main page appears. The Dell OpenManage Server Assistant uses a standard Web browser interface. The KVM switch also switches the keyboard and mouse so that you can use the Web browser interface on each server module.

Setting Up Your Server Modules

If you purchase a server module that does not have an operating system preinstalled or if you install an operating system at a later date, use the Server Setup feature to configure your system or install your operating system.

Use the Server Setup feature for most situations, including installing and reinstalling an operating system. The program prompts you to select the operating system used on the drive and leads you through a step-by-step process to install the operating system.

To start the Server Setup feature, perform the following steps:

Click Server Setup on the Dell OpenManage Server Assistant main screen.
Follow the directions on the screen to complete the installation and configuration process.

The Server Setup feature takes you through the following tasks:

Setting the server module date and time
Configuring your RAID controller (if applicable)
Selecting your operating system
Configuring hard drives
Entering operating system information
Viewing an installation summary
Installing an operating system

Updating Drivers and Utilities

You can create and update drivers and utilities on any system that has Microsoft® Internet Explorer 4.0 or later or Netscape Navigator 6.0 or later. When you attach the CD drive to a server module that uses the Microsoft Windows®-based operating systems, the module automatically starts the browser software and displays the Dell OpenManage Server Assistant main page.

To update a driver or utility, perform the following steps:

Select the system model from the drop-down box.
Select the type of drivers or utilities that you want to update.
Click Continue.
Select each driver or utility that you want to update.

You are prompted for a location in which to save the files.

Select the location where you want to save the files.

The files are in a compressed format.

Decompress the files.

The files are now ready to be installed or used on your server.

Utility Partition

The utility partition is a bootable partition on the hard drive that contains system configuration and diagnostic utilities. When implemented, the partition boots and provides an executable environment for the partition's utilities. When the utility partition is not booted, it is designated as a non–MS-DOS® partition.

NOTE: The utility partition provides only limited MS-DOS functionality and cannot be used as a general-purpose MS-DOS partition.

To start the utility partition, turn on or reboot the server module. During POST, press <F10> when the following message appears:

<F10> = Utility Mode

The utility partition provides a text-based interface from which you can run the partition's utilities. To select a menu option, you can either use the arrow keys to highlight the option and press <Enter> or type the number of the menu option. To exit the utility partition, press <Esc> from the Utility Partition main menu.

Table 2-1 provides a sample list and explanation of the options that appear on the utility partition menu.

Table 2-1. Utility Partition Main Menu Options

Option	Description
Run system diagnostics	Runs the system hardware diagnostics. (See your system's Installation and Troubleshooting Guide.)
Run RAID configuration utility	Runs the RAID configuration utility.
NOTE: The options displayed on your system depend on your system configuration and may not include all of those listed here.

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