Dell Remote Access Controller 4 Firmware Version 1.30 manual Requirements, 143

Operating System Deployment Using the DRAC 4 Virtual Media CLI Feature

To accomplish remote operating system deployments for multiple target servers, interactive methods are time consuming, and error-prone. The DRAC 4 Virtual Media command line interface (VM-CLI) utility supports cost-effective, scripted methods for accomplishing remote operating system deployments to multiple target servers. Typically, a deployment infrastructure is already in place, within computing environments that require multiple remote operating system deployments. This section describes how the VM-CLI utility can be integrated into your existing deployment infrastructure in these computing environments.

NOTE: For occasional, one-time operating system deployments, interactive methods of performing the installation are typically used. A Dell™ technical publication describing how this procedure can be accomplished remotely with the use of DRAC 4 Virtual Media features is available on the Dell website at: http://www.dell.com/downloads/global/power/ps1q05-20040170-Gujarathi.pdf

Requirements

Ensure that your deployment infrastructure meets the following requirements before you start using the DRAC 4 VM-CLI utility to accomplish remote operating system installations:

1Each remote target server requires DRAC 4 hardware, whose network interface is operational and accessible from the deployment host (which is the client system used to perform the remote deployment).

NOTE: Dell Custom Factory Integration (CFI) options include the capability to have the network interface of DRAC 4 configured by default, to obtain its network address from a DHCP server. With this capability, the new DRAC 4 hardware obtains a unique network address and name out-of-the-box(the DRAC 4 network name is based on the host’s unique service tag).

2The virtual devices on each remote target server must be at the top of the BIOS boot order, so that the target server’s virtual devices can be booted, when media is connected to them.

NOTE: Dell Custom Factory Integration (CFI) options include the capability to have the Virtual Devices of DRAC 4 configured by default, at the top of the BIOS boot order. With this capability, the new server hardware can boot from its Virtual Media devices out-of-the-box.

Operating System Deployment Using the DRAC 4 Virtual Media CLI Feature

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