Dell USC User manual

Dell Lifecycle Controller
USC/USC-LCE
Version 1.5
User’s Guide

Notes and Cautions
NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of
your computer.
CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates potential damage to hardware or loss of data if
instructions are not followed.
____________________
Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
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2011 – 03

Contents 3
Contents
1Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Why Use USC/USC-LCE?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
USC and USC-LCE Features and 
Product Classification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
What’s new in USC/USC-LCE 1.5 . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Upgrading to USC or USC-LCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Other Documents You May Need . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
2Using USC or USC-LCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Launching USC or USC-LCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Launch Messages—Causes 
and Resolutions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Enabling USC or USC-LCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Disabling USC or USC-LCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Canceling Request to Enter 
System Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Using USC for the First Time. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Using USC-LCE for the First Time . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Using USC Settings Wizard. . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

4Contents
3USC and USC-LCE Features . . . . . . . . . . 25
Lifecycle Log . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
USC-LCE Platform Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
FTP Authentication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Platform Rollback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Hardware Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Configuration Wizards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
HII Advanced Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Hardware Inventory–View and Export . . . . . . . 28
Delete Configuration and Reset Defaults. . . . . . 30
Operating System Deployment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Driver Access . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Driver Extraction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Driver Installation Methods. . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
RAID Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Platform Restore . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Part Replacement Configuration . . . . . . . . . . 32
Backup Server Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Export Server Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Import Server Profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Hardware Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
USC or USC-LCE Repair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
RAID Configuration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Key Encryption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Local Key Encryption Mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . 36

Contents 5
4USC and USC-LCE Operations . . . . . . . . . 37
Viewing Hardware Inventory–Current or 
Factory Shipped . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Exporting Hardware Inventory–Current or 
Factory Shipped . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Prerequisites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Workflow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Viewing and Exporting Hardware Inventory 
after Resetting Lifecycle Controller . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Updating Platform . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Version Compatibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Viewing Current Version Information. . . . . . . . 40
Launching Platform Update Wizard . . . . . . . . 40
Selecting Download Method . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Selecting and Applying Updates . . . . . . . . . . 44
Rolling Back to Previous BIOS and 
Firmware Versions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Updating Hardware Diagnostics Utility . . . . . . . . . 47
Performing Hardware Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Installing Operating System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Prerequisites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Workflow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Selecting Operating System Driver Source 
Location (for USC only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Online Repository . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Local Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50
Using Optional RAID Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Configuring RAID Using Operating System 
Deployment Wizard. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

6Contents
Bypass RAID configuration: . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Selecting Operating System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Selecting an Operating System 
Available in the List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Selecting Custom Operating System . . . . . . . . 53
Selecting an Operating System Not 
Available in the List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Driver Extraction and Installation. . . . . . . . . . 54
Installing Drivers for RHEL 4.8 
Operating System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Rebooting System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Post Reboot Scenarios . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Operating System–Post Installation Scenarios . . . . . 56
Assigning a Windows-Bootable 
System Partition to Drive C . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Installing Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4.8 
on a System with SAS7 (H200) Controller. . . . . . 56
Controlling Access to the System Control Panel . . . . 57
System Control Panel Access Options . . . . . . . 57
Configuring System Date/Time. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Configuring iDRAC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
LAN Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Advanced LAN Configuration. . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Common IP Configuration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
IPv4 Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
IPv6 Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Virtual Media Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
LAN User Configuration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Summary and Confirmation . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Configuring RAID using Hardware RAID . . . . . . . . 70

Contents 7
Important . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Workflow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
View Current Configuration. . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Select RAID Controller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Foreign Configuration Found . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Express or Advanced Wizard. . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Select Basic Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Express Wizard Only - Assign a Hot Spare. . . . . 75
Express Wizard Only - Review Summary. . . . . . 76
Advanced Wizard Only - Select 
Physical Disks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Advanced Wizard Only - Additional 
Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Advanced Wizard Only - Review Summary . . . . 78
Configuring RAID using Software RAID . . . . . . . . . 79
Prerequisites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Workflow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Creating a Secure Virtual Disk on 
Series 7 Controller . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Configuring vFlash SD Card . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
HII Advanced Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Encrypting Unsecure Virtual Disks . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Prerequisites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Workflow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Applying the Local Key on the RAID Controller . . . . . 85
Prerequisites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Workflow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Rekey Controller with a New Local Key . . . . . . . . 86
Remove Encryption and Delete Data . . . . . . . . . . 86

8Contents
Upgrading to an iDRAC6 Express Card . . . . . . . . . 87
Installing iDRAC6 Express Card. . . . . . . . . . . 87
Transferring an iDRAC6 Express Card . . . . . . . 88
Removing iDRAC6 Express Card . . . . . . . . . . 88
Configuring a Local FTP Server . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Requirements for a Local FTP Server. . . . . . . . 89
Copying Repository to a Local FTP Server 
from the Dell Server Updates DVD . . . . . . . . . 89
Using Dell Repository Manager to Create 
the Repository and Copy it to a 
Local FTP Server . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Accessing Updates on a Local FTP Server . . . . . 90
Configuring a Local USB Device. . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Copying Repository to a Local USB Device 
from the Dell Server Updates DVD . . . . . . . . . 91
Using the Dell Repository Manager to Create 
the Repository and Copy it to a 
USB Device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Part Replacement Configuration. . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Prerequisites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Supported Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Collect System Inventory on Restart . . . . . . . . 93
Part Firmware Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Part Configuration Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Back Up Server Profile. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Prerequisites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Workflow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Exporting Server Profile to a USB Device 
or Network Share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Prerequisites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Workflow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

Contents 9
Importing Server Profile from a vFlash SD Card, 
Network Share, or USB Device . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Prerequisites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Workflow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Post-import Scenario . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Importing Server Profile after Motherboard 
Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Prerequisites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Workflow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Post-requisites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Viewing Lifecycle Log History. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Exporting Lifecycle Log . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Prerequisites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Workflow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Adding a Work Note to Lifecycle Log . . . . . . . . . . 103
Deleting Configuration and Resetting Defaults . . . . . 103
5Troubleshooting and Frequently 
Asked Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105
Repairing the USC and USC-LCE . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Repairing USC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Repairing USC-LCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Frequently Asked Questions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118

10 Contents
ALifecycle Log Schema . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
BEasy-to-use System Component
Names . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129

Introduction 11
1
Introduction
The Dell Lifecycle Controller provides advanced embedded systems
management and is delivered as part of iDRAC Express card and embedded
Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) applications in the 11th
generation Dell servers. The iDRAC6 works with the UEFI firmware to access
and manage every aspect of the hardware, including component and
subsystem management that is beyond the traditional Baseboard
Management Controller (BMC) capabilities.
NOTE: The UEFI environment provides the local console interface and the
infrastructure for locally managed system components.
The Lifecycle Controller has the following components:
• Unified Server Configurator (USC) and Unified Server Configurator-
Lifecycle Controller Enabled (USC-LCE):
– Are an embedded configuration utility that reside on an embedded
flash memory card.
– Are similar to the BIOS utility that is started during the boot
sequence, and can function in a pre-operating system environment.
– Enable systems and storage management tasks from an embedded
environment throughout the system’s life cycle.
USC and USC-LCE simplify end-to-end server lifecycle management
using the one-to-one method:
– Provisioning — Entire pre-operating system configuration from a
unified interface.
– Deploying — Simplified operating system installation with embedded
drivers on the Lifecycle Controller.
– Download drivers for operating system installation from one of the
following sources:
• Dell FTP website at ftp.dell.com
• USB mass storage device
• Dell Lifecycle Controller OS Driver Packs DVD

12 Introduction
• Dell Server Updates DVD
• Dell Systems Build and Update Utility DVD (for USC only).
•Networkshare
– Patching/Updates (USC-LCE only) — Operating system agnostic and
reduced maintenance downtime with direct access to updates from
ftp.dell.com . It simplifies BIOS and firmware updates by maintaining
a working version for rollback.
– Servicing (USC-LCE only) — Continuous availability of diagnostics
without the hard drive dependency. Ability to flash firmware
automatically while replacing field replaceable components such as a
Dell PowerEdge RAID controller, NIC, or power supply.
– Security (USC-LCE only) — Supports local key encryption.
– Restoring Platform — Backup the server profile (including RAID
configuration) and restore the server to a previously known state.
• Remote Services simplifies end-to-end server lifecycle management using
the one-to-many method. For more information, see
Dell Lifecycle
Controller Remote Services User’s
Guide .
Why Use USC/USC-LCE?
Systems management is typically a key part of an administrator’s role. Being
able to install an operating system, updating firmware for function and
policies requirements, configuring devices and getting the most out of an IT
network are integral aspects of this role. Prior to the release of USC and USC-
LCE, an administrator had to use many tools such as DSA, SBUU, and DTK
shipped on multiple CDs/DVD. Maintaining and using the multiple disks in
their many versions was time consuming for the administrator.
To resolve these problems, Dell now provides the Lifecycle Controller, a flash
chip embedded on the system with the Dell Unified Server Configurator
application (USC). The Lifecycle Controller allows the IT administrator to
do away with media altogether, allowing operating system deployment with
locally embedded driver repositories, firmware updates, hardware
configuration, and platform specific diagnostic routines. Since USC is
available even when the operating system is not functional or even installed,
it allows added flexibility in provisioning the system and customizing to suit

Introduction 13
your requirements. As the tool is integrated and embedded, formatting or
reinstalling the operating system does not remove the tool, thus saving
significant time and money.
USC and USC-LCE Features and Product
Classification
USC or USC-LCE displays the features that the system supports, depending
on the system configuration. Table 1-2 shows the product classifications for
USC/USC-LCE. For example, for a Dell system y11x series, y denotes
alphabets like M, R, or T; and x denotes numbers.
Table 1-1. USC and USC-LCE Features
Features USC USC-LCE
Base-level product uses BMC and provides the following
capabilities:
• Operating System Deployment
• Hardware Diagnostics
• USC Settings
Yes Yes
Fully-featured product uses iDRAC6 Express and Enterprise cards,
and provides the following capabilities:
• Operating System Deployment
• Hardware Diagnostics
• USC Settings
• Platform Update
• Hardware Configuration
• View and Export Hardware Inventory
• View and Export Lifecycle Log
• Platform Restore
No Yes

14 Introduction
Table 1-2. Product Classification
Dell
System
Series
Options Available System
Management Device
USC or
USC-LCE Available Features
y11xNo
Options Embedded BMC USC
BMC - Operating System
Deployment, Hardware
Diagnostics, USC Settings
y21xto
y51x
Standard Embedded BMC USC
BMC - Operating System
Deployment, Hardware
Diagnostics, USC Settings
Optional
Embedded BMC +
iDRAC6 Express
Card
USC-LCE
BMC - Operating System
Deployment, Hardware
Diagnostics, USC Settings
iDRAC6 Express - adds
Platform Update,
Hardware Configuration,
Driver Repository, Lifecycle
Log, Hardware Inventory
(current and factory shipped)
Embedded BMC +
iDRAC6 Express
card + 
iDRAC6 Enterprise
card
USC-LCE
BMC - Operating System
Deployment, Hardware
Diagnostics, USC Settings
iDRAC6 Express - adds
Platform Update,
Hardware Configuration,
Driver Repository, Lifecycle
Log, Hardware Inventory
(current and factory shipped)
iDRAC6 Enterprise - adds
Full Remote Management,
Dedicated NIC port, Virtual
Console, Virtual Media, part
replacement, vFlash SD card
management, Platform
Restore

Introduction 15
1. For Dell Blade systems — BMC, iDRAC6 Express card, and iDRAC6 Enterprise card are included as
standard configurations.
y61xto
y91x
Standard
Embedded BMC
with iDRAC6
Express card
USC-LCE
BMC with iDRAC6 Express -
Operating System
Deployment, Hardware
Diagnostics, USC Settings,
Platform Update, Hardware
Configuration, Driver
Repository, Lifecycle Log,
Hardware Inventory (current
and factory shipped)
Optional1
Embedded BMC
with iDRAC6
Express card +
iDRAC6 
Enterprise card
USC-LCE
BMC with iDRAC6 Express -
Operating System
Deployment, Hardware
Diagnostics, USC Settings,
Platform Update, Hardware
Configuration, Driver
Repository, Lifecycle Log,
Hardware Inventory (current
and factory shipped)
iDRAC6 Enterprise - adds
Full Remote Management,
Dedicated NIC port, Virtual
Console, Virtual Media, part
replacement, vFlash SD card
management, Platform
Restore
Table 1-2. Product Classification
(continued)
Dell
System
Series
Options Available System
Management Device
USC or
USC-LCE Available Features

16 Introduction
What’s new in USC/USC-LCE 1.5
The new features are:
• Backup and Export server profile
• Import server profile
• View and export factory shipped inventory
• Configure and upgrade firmware for Converged Network Adapters (CNA)
cards. Supported on the following CNA card:
Broadcom:
– M710HD Dual Port 10Gig 57712 NDC
• Software RAID configuration
1
• Enhancement to the RAID configuration feature — Virtual disk slicing
support
• Driver packs support for new operating systems
1
. For more information,
see
USC/USC-LCE – Supported Dell Systems and Operating Systems
section in the
Dell Systems Software Support Matrix available at
support.dell.com/manuals .
1. Indicates the newly introduced feature for USC.
Upgrading to USC or USC-LCE
Depending on the system, you can upgrade from a Baseboard Management
Controller (BMC) to an Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller 6
(iDRAC6) Express or an iDRAC6 Enterprise card; this hardware upgrades the
USC to USC-LCE. See
Updating Platform for more information.
NOTE: You can upgrade Dell systems series y21x-y51x to USC-LCE. See the
Hardware Owner’s Manual for more information.

Introduction 17
Other Documents You May Need
In addition to this guide, you can access the following guides available at
support.dell.com/manuals. On the Manuals page, click SoftwareSystems
Management. Click on the appropriate product link on the right-side to
access the documents.
•The Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller 6 (iDRAC6) Enterprise for
Blade Servers User Guide
provides information about configuring and
using an iDRAC6 for blade servers to remotely manage and monitor your
system and its shared resources through a network.
•The Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller 6 (iDRAC6) User Guide
provides complete information about configuring and using an iDRAC6
for rack and tower servers to remotely manage and monitor your system
and its shared resources through a network.
•The Dell Repository Manager User Guide provides information about
creating customized bundles and repositories comprised of Dell Update
Packages (DUPs), for systems running supported Microsoft Windows
operating systems.
•The USC/USC-LCE Supported Dell Systems and Operating Systems
section in the
Dell Systems Software Support Matrix provides the list of
Dell systems and operating systems that you can deploy on the target
systems.
•The PERC H700 and H800 Technical Guidebook for specification and
configuration related information about the PERC H700 and H800
controllers.
•The Dell Systems Build and Update Utility (SBUU) User's Guide provides
information to deploy and update Dell systems.
•The Glossary provides information about the terms used in this document.

18 Introduction

Using USC or USC-LCE 19
2
Using USC or USC-LCE
Before using USC/USC-LCE, you must ensure that the following pre-
requisites are met:
• Ensure that your network is configured.
• Ensure that the system has the latest versions of iDRAC and BIOS
installed. See
Readme for more information.
Launching USC or USC-LCE
To launch USC or USC-LCE during the system boot, press <F10> key
within 10 seconds of the Dell logo being displayed to enter System Services.
When USC or USC-LCE is launched for the first time, it displays USC
Settings wizard that allows you to configure the preferred language and
network settings. See
Using USC Settings Wizard for more information.
NOTE: If the system does not enter System Services, see Table 2-1 for cause and
resolution.

20 Using USC or USC-LCE
Launch Messages—Causes and Resolutions
Table 2-1 lists the messages that appear during system launch, and their cause
and resolution.
Table 2-1. Launch Error Messages—Causes and Resolutions
Message Cause Resolution
System Services
disabled
• The system is turned
on or restarted while
iDRAC is initializing.
This occurs if:
– The system is turned
on immediately after
AC is applied to the
system.
– The system is
restarted
immediately after
resetting iDRAC.
• The product is
manually disabled.
• Wait for a minute after resetting
iDRAC to restart the system, so that
iDRAC initializes.
•SeeDisabling USC or USC-LCE for
information on disabling USC or USC-
LCE.
System Services
update required
The embedded device
that stores the product
may contain corrupted
data.
Update the product using USC or USC-
LCE Dell Update Package (DUP.) See
the Dell Update Packages User’s Guide at
support.dell.com/manuals for more
information.
If an operating system is not installed on
the system or if running the DUP does
not fix the problem, run the USC or
USC-LCE repair package. See
Repairing
USC
or Repairing USC-LCE for more
information.
System Services
not available
Another process is
currently using iDRAC.
Wait for 30 minutes for the current
process to complete, reboot the system,
and retry. Alternatively, see Canceling
Request to Enter System Services
.