Introduction to Toptools Database Management
This document describes how to use the Driver/FirmWare features of Toptools Device Manager when a direct connection from your management server to the Internet is not possible.
To update a software driver or flash a BIOS, your Toptools Device Manager must have access to the new program it will use to update the PC. This program is stored in the form of a software package suitable for automatic installation, grouped with other packages.
From Toptools all BIOS, diagnostics, driver and Agent packages for HP Desktop PCs are stored in a system software database called the Revision Management Database (RMDB).
By default, the Revision Management Database is located at HP’s support website.
The Revision Management Database (RMDB)
When Toptools Device Manager updates software on your PCs, it first locates the correct RMDB software packages at the FTP server on HP’s website. These are then listed on the Settings >Drivers/FirmWare page of Toptools and are available for use through the action Manage Driver/FirmWare. When you use this command, Toptools Device Manager will download the required packages and carry out the automatic installation process.
However, depending on your network and security policies, you may not have installed Toptools Device Manager on a computer with an Internet connection. Or the connection may exist but requires the use of passwords or specific proxy security extensions. These prevent the tools in the Device Manager from accessing the Internet.
In either case, you can access the Driver/Firmware features of Toptools Device Manager by creating a “mirror” of HP’s FTP server on your own network.
Once you have created a local RMDB containing the correct directory structure and the files are copied from the HP server, it can be addressed by Toptools Device Manager just as if it were HP’s support website RMDB.
This solution ensures that the automatic process for downloading and registering BIOS, diagnostics,
driver and Agent packages can be carried out securely without Internet access.
This document describes how to add individual packages to the system software database on your local system. These packages can be downloaded individually from the FTP server on HP’s website.
A further step would be for you to create your own software packages for use with Toptools. Though this is feasible, HP does not recommend you do this and no support is provided.
HP Product Lines
The principles of setting up a local FTP server for Toptools Device Manager software updates, as described here, are essentially the same for HP Desktop PCs, HP Omnibooks, HP Hubs & Switches, and HP Visualize Workstation systems.
Setting Up Your Local FTP Server
To set up an emulation of HP’s FTP server on your own network that is able to supply RMDB data when Toptools Device Manager requires it, you must first create the local FTP server.
Proceed as follows:
Windows NT
1Set up your Toptools management server as an FTP server.
Note: The default installation of Toptools performs only a “minimal installation” of the Windows NT Option Pack, which does not include the FTP server capability. Therefore, you must
a Your Toptools
1
