Comprehensive Guide to Dell M1000E Manual for Blade Server Management

Blade Servers

By Stephen M. Hahn

Chad Fenner

Managing Dell PowerEdge M1000e Blade Servers with the Avocent iKVM Switch

The Avocent® iKVM (integrated keyboard, video, mouse) switch, an analog KVM switch integrated into the Dell™ PowerEdge™ M1000e modular blade enclosure, is designed to simplify administrative tasks by letting IT staff easily view, monitor, and manage server blades and by providing access to the remote management and power control functions of the PowerEdge M1000e Chassis Management Controller.

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In data center environments, simple, flexible server monitoring and management tools can be critical to maintaining efficient operations. The Avocent

iKVM (integrated keyboard, video, mouse) switch, an analog KVM switch integrated into the Dell PowerEdge M1000e modular blade enclosure,1 is designed to let administrators easily view, monitor, and manage each of the 16 server blades in the PowerEdge M1000e and provide access to the Dell Chassis Management Controller (CMC) for management and power control. Key features of the Avocent iKVM switch include local access to each server blade, one-to-one administra- tion for up to 16 administrators accessing each of the

16blades, integration with the Avocent On-Screen Configuration and Reporting (OSCAR®) graphical user interface for configuration and to work with existing Avocent KVM infrastructures, integration with the Microsoft® Active Directory® directory service, and access to the integrated Dell Remote Access Controller (iDRAC) on each blade.

The Avocent iKVM switch is compatible with stan- dard USB keyboards and pointing devices as well as with VGA monitors that support Display Data Channel (DDC). Its video connections support display resolution ranges from 640 × 480 at 60 Hz up to 1,600 × 1,200 at

75Hz. When necessary, administrators can update the

Avocent iKVM switch firmware through the CMC firm- ware update utility.

Using the Avocent iKVM switch

The Avocent iKVM switch provides traditional KVM switching between server blades in the Dell PowerEdge M1000e enclosure as well as a scanning feature, which allows administrators to scan through preselected blades while pausing for a specific time at each blade. They can also select a specific blade through the OSCAR main dialog box, as shown in Figure 1. In addi- tion to the blade names (which administrators can set themselves or pull from the CMC automatically during setup) and chassis slot numbers, the OSCAR interface provides status information for each blade: a green circle, for example, indicates that the blade is online and functioning properly, while a red X means the blade is offline or not functioning properly. A yellow circle indicates that a blade is online but unavailable—for example, because another user is controlling it remotely. The letters in the right column provide additional infor- mation, such as whether a blade is being accessed by a user panel (a green letter) or blocked by a specific user channel (a black letter), and whether the blade is being accessed through the rear panel (the letter A) or the front panel (the letter B). When administrators

1For more information on the PowerEdge M1000e, see “The Next-Generation Dell PowerEdge M1000e Modular Blade Enclosure,” by Chad Fenner, in Dell Power Solutions, February 2008, DELL.COM/Downloads/Global/Power/ps1q08-20080206-Fenner.pdf.

DELL POWER SOLUTIONS February 2008

M1000E specifications

The Dell M1000E blade enclosure is a robust and versatile platform designed to optimize data center efficiency and streamline server management. A fundamental component of Dell's PowerEdge series, the M1000E is engineered to house multiple server blades in a compact, modular chassis, enabling organizations to conserve space and reduce power consumption while enhancing performance.

One of the main features of the Dell M1000E is its ability to accommodate up to 16 half-height server blades or 8 full-height server blades. This flexibility allows for a diverse range of configurations tailored to specific workloads, whether for virtualization, database management, or application hosting. The chassis provides shared power supplies and cooling, further contributing to the enclosure's efficient operation.

In terms of connectivity, the M1000E includes integrated high-speed networking capabilities. It can support multiple generations of networking technologies, ranging from Gigabit Ethernet to 10 Gigabit Ethernet, and offers options for Fibre Channel and InfiniBand connections. This extensive range of networking options ensures that organizations can integrate the M1000E into existing infrastructures seamlessly.

The Dell M1000E also utilizes advanced management tools to simplify administration and monitoring. One of the standout features is the Dell OpenManage suite, which provides a comprehensive set of tools for hardware management and system updates. Users gain insights into system health, performance, and power usage, enabling proactive maintenance and optimization of resources.

The enclosure is designed with scalability in mind. As businesses grow, the M1000E can be expanded easily by adding more blades without the need for significant reconfiguration. This scalability ensures that IT departments can respond rapidly to changing demands, ensuring that resources align with organizational requirements.

From a security standpoint, the M1000E provides multiple layers of protection, including secure access controls and configurable management interfaces. This helps safeguard sensitive information and ensures compliance with stringent data protection regulations.

Overall, the Dell M1000E blade enclosure represents a compelling solution for modern data centers, merging performance, efficiency, and scalability into a single chassis designed to meet the demands of today’s enterprise environments. Its advanced technologies and features make it a valuable asset for organizations looking to enhance their IT infrastructure.