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Using the Dell OpenManage Server Assistant CD

Dell™ PowerEdge™ 600SC Systems User's Guide

  Starting the Dell OpenManage Server Assistant CD

  Navigating the CD

  Setting Up Your System

  Utility Partition

  Asset Tag Utility


The Dell OpenManage Server Assistant CD contains utilities, diagnostics, and drivers that can help you configure your system 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 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 has two modes of operation: a setup mode for setting up your system and installing your operating system and a service mode for updating drivers and utilities. Product documentation is available on the documentation CD.

Setup Mode

To set up your system and install your operating system, insert the Dell OpenManage Server Assistant CD into your CD drive, and turn on or reboot the system. The Dell OpenManage Server Assistant main page appears.

If the CD does not boot, verify that the CD drive is specified first in the Boot Sequence option in the System Setup program (see "Using the System Setup Program").

Service Mode

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 insert the CD in a system that uses the Microsoft Windows NT® or Windows® 2000 Server operating system, the system automatically starts the browser software and displays the Dell OpenManage Server Assistant main page.


Navigating the CD

The Server Assistant CD utilizes a standard Web browser interface. Navigating the CD is accomplished by clicking the mouse on the various icons and text hyperlinks.

Click the Exit icon to exit the program if you are using the CD in service mode. If you exit the program in setup mode, the system reboots to the standard operating-system boot partition.


Setting Up Your System

If you purchase a system 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.

Server Setup

Use the Server Setup feature for most situations, including installing and reinstalling an operating system. The Dell OpenManage Server Assistant CD guides you through the operating system setup and configuration process. 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:

  1. Click Server Setup on the Dell OpenManage Server Assistant main screen.

  2. Follow the directions on the screen to complete the installation and configuration process.

The Server Setup feature takes you through the following tasks:


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 system. 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 even when the Dell OpenManage Server Assistant CD is not in the CD drive. The options displayed on your system may vary depending on the configuration.

Table 2-1. Utility Partition Main Menu Options

Option

Description

Run system diagnostics

Runs the system hardware diagnostics.

Run RAID configuration utility

Runs the RAID configuration utility if the optional RAID controller card is installed.

NOTE: The options displayed on your system depend on your system configuration and may not include all of those listed here. For the full name of an abbreviation or acronym used in this table, see the "Glossary."

Running the System Diagnostics

From the Utility Partition main menu, select Run System Diagnostics.

The system hardware diagnostics are described in "Running the System Diagnostics" in your Installation and Troubleshooting Guide.

Running the RAID Configuration Utility

From the Utility Partition main menu, select Run RAID Configuration Utility.


Asset Tag Utility

The Asset Tag utility allows you to enter an asset tag number for your system.

NOTE: The Asset Tag utility works only on systems running MS-DOS.

Creating the Asset Tag Utility Diskette

To create a bootable Asset Tag utility diskette, perform the following steps:

  1. Insert the Dell OpenManage Server Assistant CD into the CD drive of a workstation running the Microsoft Windows operating system.

  2. Insert a blank diskette into the workstation's diskette drive.

  3. From the Dell OpenManage Server Assistant main page, select Create CD Boot Diskette from the System Tools menu.

NOTE: The Asset Tag utility diskette contains CD drivers that provide access to the CD drive when you boot from the diskette.

Assigning and Deleting an Asset Tag Number

An asset tag number can have up to 10 characters. Any combination of characters, excluding spaces, is valid.

To assign or change an asset tag number, perform the following steps:

  1. Insert the bootable Asset Tag Utility diskette into the system diskette drive, and reboot the system.

  2. Type asset and a space followed by the new string.

For example, at the a:\> prompt, type the following command:

asset 12345abcde

  1. Press <Enter>.

  2. When you are prompted to verify the asset tag number, type y and press <Enter>.

The system then displays the new or modified asset tag number and the service tag number.

To delete the asset tag number without assigning a new one, type asset /d and press <Enter>.

Table 2-2 lists the command line options that you can use with the Asset Tag utility. To use one of these options, type asset and a space followed by the option.

Table 2-2. Asset Tag Command Line Options

Asset Tag Option

Description

/d

Deletes the asset tag number

/?

Displays the Asset Tag utility help screen


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