DTK Deployment Overview, Preparing For Deployment

Deployment Methods Complexity	Advantages		Disadvantages

		made in only in one	• Set up time is longer.
		place.
	•	High flexibility for
		remote deployment.
	•	No media required.
	•	Faster deployment.

After you have determined which deployment method best suits the needs of your organization, you are ready to begin building the DTK deployment directory structure on a network volume. For instructions on installing the DTK components and populating the deployment directory structure, see Preparing The

Script Files.

DTK Deployment Overview

The deployment process can be separated into two main tasks: preparation and the actual deployment.

For more details, see Preparing For Deployment and Deploying.

Preparing For Deployment

For using DTK utilities and scripts to deploy on a target system:

1.On systems running Windows, copy or extract DTK utilities, sample scripts, sample configuration files, and drivers provided (in the zip file) to the Windows PE image. On systems running Linux, obtain the DTK Linux ISO image, which is a self-contained bootable ISO image.

2.On systems running Windows, organize DTK utilities, scripts, and configuration files, the operating system installation files, and the requisite system files and drivers on a network share or local media. On systems running Linux, use and customize the sample scripts per your requirements.

3.Set up an optimally configured source system by using the Dell Systems Build and Update Utility on the Dell Systems Management Tools and Documentation DVD (to install your operating system) and the Systems Service and Diagnostics Tools (to load drivers). This source system acts as the master server that is used to replicate settings to target servers.

NOTE: You can also download the latest drivers from support.dell.com.

4.Generate a system BIOS, BMC (Baseboard Management Controller), RAID, and/or RAC configuration profile from the optimally configured source system. Copy the generated configuration files to a read/write share onto the workstation.

NOTE: You can obtain the system BIOS, BMC, RAID, and/or RAC configuration files from DTK Windows PE ISO image and running the SYSCAP.BAT, RAIDCAP.BAT, and RACCAP.BAT scripts or for Linux from DTK Linux ISO image and running the syscap.sh, raidcap.sh, and raccap.sh scripts.

NOTE: You can use a system BIOS configuration profile generated for all systems belonging to the same generation. For example, syscfg_x9xx.ini for 9G systems.

5.Create an operating system answer file that contains unattended operating system software installation information.

6.Edit the DTK sample script files that read the system configuration files to set up the system BIOS, BMC, RAID, and RAC and then install an operating system on a target system.