Installing Dell Updates using Dell OME

Tags Dell Updates

 

Audience

Staff

 

Overview

How To Install Dell Updates using Dell OME

 

Installing Dell Updates using Dell OME

 

The patching policy has been approved for the methods identified to update Windows desktop systems. In that policy there are two exclusion areas that fall outside of the normal patching process. These two areas are Windows Server updates and Dell Server Platform updates. The Dell server platform updates are checked on a quarterly basis. Dell provides an updated catalog each quarter to publish updates that are applicable for the server platforms iTarget employs. This quarterly update is displayed on the  Systems Update tab on the Summary Screen. By clicking "Get the Latest" it will begin a download of the newest catalog. Once that catalog has been successfully downloaded the pie chart below will display the servers that are compliant, Non-compliant, Non-inventoried, and Issues and resolutions. The intention is to ensure all our platforms remain Compliant (Green). The process to achieve this goal is listed below:

  1. Login to Safari or Internet Explorer (using your Pitt credentials).
    1. https://dellome.hs.pitt.edu
  2. Locate the "Manage" tab and click it.
  3. Locate the "System Update" tab and click it.
  4. From the Summary Screen you will see a pie chart and directly above that chart you will see "Get the Latest" button. Click this button to obtain the newest catalog. If the button is grayed out that means you have the current catalog.
  5. After a successful download of the catalog you will see all the compliant and Non-compliant systems. If you see a "Red" slice than you have systems in need of some updates.
  6. Locate the "Non-Compliant Systems" tab and click it. This will display all the platforms in need of updates (i.e. the Red slice).
  7. We are now ready to determine which updates will be applied and how. This is done using a tested method to mitigate the risk of issues.
  8. The first step in updating systems is to determine which systems are NOT impacting users (these are the systems identified as system13, system14, and so on. These are also identified in AD with a description of AVAILABLE. We use these systems to test out the new updates in a non-invasive way.
  9. Identify if any systems fit the criteria above and see how many updates are available.
  10. Place a check in the box next to the server you are updating. Be careful if you select more than one box the list shown below will include updates for all the checked systems. This could mean that you are applying updates to a system you do not want to at this time.
  11. Each update will be researched to determine the possible impact on the system. To check the details of the update on the bottom of the system that you checked where it displays the updates available you can click the underlined Importance (i.e. Critical, Optional, Recommended) and that will open the Dell website and take you directly to the details of that specific update.
  12. Read over the update and determine what possible impact may occur.
  13. Before applying the updates care must be taken to ensure no other activity is pending that may impact the install of Dell Updates. Our policy is to NOT install Dell Updates if Windows or CommVault updates are pending. To verify this login in to the appropriate server and check to see if Windows updates are pending an install/reboot. If there are pending actions wait until to the next available maintenance window to apply Dell Updates.
  14. After you have researched each updates it is time to apply them. To apply updates locate the "Apply Selected Updates" button on the lower right hand corner of the page and click it.
  15. This will open the "System Update Task" screen. On this screen you can select/deselect any update for that system, specify a time to run the task, determine if a reboot will occur, and provide appropriate credentials to perform the update. When applying the updates there are only two credentials to be used:
    1. For iDRACs use the user account of "Root" and our current password. A message is displayed for all ESXi hosts expressing that any quest operating systems might go down if a reboot is required.
    2. For Windows OS platforms use the Open ?Manage account (Pitt\openmrg) and the password for this account listed in the password spreadsheet. When using this method you must use a capital "P" in the word Pitt.
  16. Once you have scheduled the updates wait and watch the task to determine if it has updated successfully. Once the task has completed the task will show completed, but you may still see the update listed in the Non-Compliant systems. This is because once updates are applied the system waits approximately 10 minutes before running a re-inventory of the platform.

Notes of interest for Dell OME processes:

Dell OME has been configured to allow for Downgrades. This means that if an update produces an unexpected result you can return to the previous version.

 

 

 

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