Dell PowerConnect M8428-k Quick user guide

53-1001980-01
15 November 2010
Dell M8428-k
Hardware Reference Manual

Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
© 2010 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.
Reproduction of these materials in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc. is strictly forbidden.
Trademarks used in this text: Dell, the DELL logo, Inspiron, Dell Precision, Dimension, OptiPlex, Latitude, PowerEdge, PowerVault,
PowerApp,
PowerConnect, and Dell OpenManage are trademarks of Dell Inc.; Intel, Pentium, and Celeron are registered trademarks of Intel
Corporation in
the U.S. and other countries; Microsoft, Windows, Windows Server, MS-DOS and Windows Vista are either trademarks or
registered trademarks of
Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.
Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or
their products.
Dell Inc. disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own.
Regulatory Model Codes: M8428-k

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Contents
About This Document
In this chapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii
How this document is organized . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii
Supported hardware and software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii
What’s new in this document. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii
Document conventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . viii
Text formatting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . viii
Command syntax conventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . viii
Command examples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . viii
Notes, cautions, and warnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix
Key terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix
Notice to the reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix
Additional information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . x
Industry resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . x
Getting technical help. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . x
Chapter 1 Introducing the Dell M8428-k
In this chapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Dell M8428-k overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
NPIV mode and full fabric mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
NPIV mode hardware considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Hardware description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Port side . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Top view . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Transceivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
ISL trunking groups. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Optional features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Unpacking and installing the Dell M8428-k . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Chapter 2 Configuring the Dell M8428-k
In this chapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Items required . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

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Modifying the converged network switch IP address . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Using the CMC CLI to set the IP address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Using the CMC GUI to set the IP address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Using the Dell M8428-k CLI to set the IP address. . . . . . . . . . .12
Configuring for FCoE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Connecting the switch to the Ethernet management network . . . . 14
Connecting the switch to the fabric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Changing from NPIV aggregator mode to full fabric mode. . . . . . . . 17
Changing to full fabric mode using the browser-based GUI . . . 17
Changing to full fabric mode using the command line
interface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Changing from full fabric mode to NPIV aggregator mode. . . . . . . . 18
Changing to NPIV mode using the browser-based GUI . . . . . . . 18
Changing to NPIV mode using the command line interface . . .19
Backing up the configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Chapter 3 Operating the Dell M8428-k
In this chapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Interoperability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Port negotiation on Fibre Channel ports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Accessing the converged network switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Interpreting POST results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Interpreting LED activity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Switch module status LEDs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Port status LEDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Locating the serial number. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Removing and replacing the converged network switch . . . . . . . . .25
Appendix A Dell M8428-k specifications
In this chapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
NPIV Mode default port mapping. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Processor and memory specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Weight and physical dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Facility requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Electrical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Architectural specification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Supported mezzanine cards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Fibre Channel standards compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

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Regulatory compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
FCC warning (US only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
KCC Statement (Republic of Korea) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
VCCI statement (Japan) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
BSMI statement (Republic of Taiwan) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
CE statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Canadian requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Laser compliance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Environmental regulation compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
China RoHS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Regulatory certifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
Index

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About This Document
In this chapter
•How this document is organized . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii
•Supported hardware and software. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii
•What’s new in this document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii
•Document conventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . viii
•Notice to the reader . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix
•Additional information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . x
•Getting technical help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . x
How this document is organized
This document is organized to help you find the information that you want as quickly and easily as
possible.
The document contains the following components:
•Chapter 1, “Introducing the Dell M8428-k,” describes the converged network switch and
explains its basic concepts and features. This chapter also provides instructions for unpacking
the switch module from its shipping container, and references to the appropriate publication
for installing the module into the Blade Server Enclosure.
•Chapter 2, “Configuring the Dell M8428-k” describes how to change the converged network
switch’s IP address, connect the module to the Ethernet network and fabric, change between
NPIV mode and full fabric mode, and backing up the switch module configuration.
•Chapter 3, “Operating the Dell M8428-k,” provides details about monitoring and replacing a
switch module.
•Appendix A, “Dell M8428-k specifications,” is a product specification reference.
Supported hardware and software
This document includes information specific to the Dell M8428-k only.
What’s new in this document
This is a new document.

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Document conventions
This section describes text formatting conventions and important notice formats used in this
document.
Text formatting
The narrative-text formatting conventions that are used are as follows:
bold text Identifies command names
Identifies the names of user-manipulated GUI elements
Identifies keywords and operands
Identifies text to enter at the GUI or CLI
italic text Provides emphasis
Identifies variables
Identifies paths and Internet addresses
Identifies document titles
code text Identifies CLI output
Identifies command syntax examples
For readability, command names in the narrative portions of this guide are presented in mixed
lettercase: for example, switchShow. In actual examples, command lettercase is all lowercase.
Command syntax conventions
Command syntax in this manual follows these conventions:
Command examples
This book describes how to perform configuration tasks using the switch module command line
interface, but does not describe the commands in detail.
command Commands are printed in bold.
--option, option Command options are printed in bold.
-argument, arg Arguments.
[ ] Optional element.
variable Variables are printed in italics. In the help pages, values are underlined or
enclosed in angled brackets < >.
... Repeat the previous element, for example “member[;member...]”
value Fixed values following arguments are printed in plain font. For example,
--show WWN
| Boolean. Elements are exclusive. Example: --show -mode egress | ingress

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Notes, cautions, and warnings
The following notices and statements are used in this manual. They are listed below in order of
increasing severity of potential hazards.
NOTE
A note provides a tip, guidance or advice, emphasizes important information, or provides a reference
to related information.
ATTENTION
An Attention statement indicates potential damage to hardware or data.
CAUTION
A Caution statement alerts you to situations that can be potentially hazardous to you or cause
damage to hardware, firmware, software, or data.
DANGER
A Danger statement indicates conditions or situations that can be potentially lethal or extremely
hazardous to you. Safety labels are also attached directly to products to warn of these conditions
or situations.
Key terms
For definitions of SAN-specific terms, visit the Storage Networking Industry Association online
dictionary at:
http://www.snia.org/education/dictionary
Notice to the reader
This document may contain references to the trademarks of the following corporations. These
trademarks are the properties of their respective companies and corporations.
These references are made for informational purposes only.
Corporation Referenced Trademarks and Products
Dell, Inc. PowerEdge
Microsoft Corporation Windows, Windows 2000, Windows 2003, Windows XP
Sun Microsystems, Inc. Solaris
Red Hat Inc. Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
Novell, Inc SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES)

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Additional information
This section lists additional industry-specific documentation that you might find helpful.
Industry resources
For additional resource information, visit the Technical Committee T11 Web site. This Web site
provides interface standards for high-performance and mass storage applications for Fibre
Channel, storage management, and other applications:
http://www.t11.org
For information about the Fibre Channel industry, visit the Fibre Channel Industry Association Web
site:
http://www.fibrechannel.org
Getting technical help
Contact your switch support supplier for hardware, firmware, and software support, including
product repairs and part ordering. To expedite your call, have the following information available:
1. General Information
•Switch model
•Switch operating system version
•Software name and software version, if applicable
•Error numbers and messages received
•supportSave command output
•Detailed description of the problem, including the switch or fabric behavior immediately
following the problem, and specific questions
•Description of any troubleshooting steps already performed and the results
•Serial console and Telnet session logs
•syslog message logs
2. Switch Serial Number
The switch serial number and corresponding bar code are provided on the serial number label,
as illustrated below.:
3. World Wide Name (WWN)
Use the licenseIdShow command to display the WWN of the chassis.
If you cannot use the licenseIdShow command because the switch is inoperable, you can get
the WWN from the same place as the serial number.
*FT00X0054E9*
FT00X0054E9

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Chapter
1
Introducing the Dell M8428-k
In this chapter
•Dell M8428-k overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
•NPIV mode and full fabric mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
•Hardware description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
•ISL trunking groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
•Optional features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
•Unpacking and installing the Dell M8428-k . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Dell M8428-k overview
The Dell M8428-k is a 28-port switch module with 8 external Converged Enhanced Ethernet (CEE)
ports, 4 external Fibre Channel (FC) ports, and 16 internal CEE ports that installs in a Dell
PowerEdge M1000e Blade Server Enclosure. The switch module is designed to be inserted in any
of the bays labeled B1, B2, C1, or C2.
The external CEE ports operate at 10 Gbps. The internal CEE ports can operate at either 10 Gbps or
1 Gbps. The FC ports support link speeds up to 8 Gbps.
The 16 internal ports connect to the server utilizing 10GBase-KR (KR) technology.
The Dell M8428-k ships with N_Port ID Virtualization (NPIV) mode enabled. This technology
provides the ability to attach more devices to the fabric without having to create more domains.
Management for the converged network switch can be done through Dell Chassis Management
Controller (CMC), the browser based GUI, or the command line interface (CLI).
The switch module contains three (3) temperature sensors. While the sensors will report the
temperature of the switch, they will not initiate shutdown if the temperature is too high. That
decision is made by the CMC.
The switch ships with three licenses installed:
•Fabric license
•Enhanced Group Management license
•FCoE Base license
NPIV mode and full fabric mode
The converged network switch can function in either NPIV mode or full fabric mode.
•The switch module is shipped in NPIV mode by default.

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NPIV mode and full fabric mode
1
•NPIV mode simplifies SAN deployment by using N_Port ID Virtualization. NPIV provides Fibre
Channel switch functions that improve switch module scalability, manageability, and
interoperability.
-For a list of switch module F_Ports mapped to N_Ports in the switch module as shipped
from the factory, refer to “NPIV Mode default port mapping” on page 27.
NOTE
NPIV mode-enabled switches cannot be connected directly into an array; it requires a fabric to
support NPIV.
Features available on the switch module depend on whether the module is configured in NPIV or
full fabric mode.
Table 1 lists Fabric OS components that are supported on a switch when NPIV mode is enabled.
“No” indicates that the feature is not provided in NPIV mode. “NA” indicates this feature is not
applicable in NPIV mode of operation. A single asterisk (*) indicates the feature is transparent to
NPIV, that is NPIV forwards the request to the Enterprise fabric. Two asterisks (**) indicates that if
the Enterprise fabric is not of a specific configuration, the feature may not be available.
TABLE 1 Fabric OS components supported in NPIV mode
Feature Support
Access Control Yes (limited roles)1
Admin Domains No
Audit Yes
Beaconing Yes
Config Download/Upload Yes
DHCP Yes
Environmental Monitor Yes
Error Event Management Yes
Extended Fabrics No
Fabric Device Management Interface (FDMI) Yes*
Fabric Watch Yes (limited)
FICON (includes CUP) No
Native Interoperability Mode NA
License Yes**
Log Tracking Yes
Management Server NA
Manufacturing Diagnostics Yes
N_Port ID Virtualization Yes
Name Server NA
Network Time Protocol (NTP) No (no relevance from fabric perspective)2
Open E_Port NA
Performance Monitor Yes (Basic PM only, no APM support)
Port Mirroring No

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Hardware description 1
NPIV mode hardware considerations
Hardware considerations for NPIV mode are as follows:
•Loop devices are not supported.
•Direct connections to SAN target devices are only supported if the NPIV-enabled module is
connected to a fabric.
Hardware description
This section describes the physical switch module as shipped from the factory. For specifications,
such as installed memory, weight and physical dimensions, facility requirements, architectural
specifications, and regulatory compliance, refer to Appendix A, “Dell M8428-k specifications”
Port side
Externally accessible ports and LEDs are on the port side of the switch module. The port side faces
out when the switch module is inserted into the I/O bay of the Blade Server enclosure. Figure 1
details the port side. For a complete description of the locations and interpretations of these LEDs,
see “Interpreting LED activity” on page 23.
Access the converged network switch handle at the front of the port side of the switch module. By
lifting the handle’s release latch, you can open the handle to remove and insert the unit. To extend
the release lever, gently squeeze the release latch and pull outward.
QuickLoop, QuickLoop Fabric Assist No
Security Yes (ADS/DCC Policy)
SNMP Yes
Speed Negotiation Yes
Syslog Daemon Yes
Trunking Yes**
Zoning NA
1. When a switch is enabled in NPIV mode, RBAC features in the Fabric OS are available, but
there are some limitations.
2. In embedded switches, time should be updated by the server management utility.
TABLE 1 Fabric OS components supported in NPIV mode (Continued)
Feature Support

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Hardware description
1
FIGURE 1 Port side view
Top view
The nonport side of the switch module (shown in Figure 2) is seated into the enclosure. You do not
need to line up the switch module as it will seat correctly when the release lever is closed.
When the switch module is inserted, the midplane connectors activate a connection port, allowing
the switch module to be configured in the Blade Server Enclosure.
1 10 GbE CEE ports with bi-color
(green/amber) port status LEDs above
each port
2 RJ45 console port
3 8 Gbps FC ports with bi-color
(green/amber) port status LEDs above
each port
4SwitchstatusLED(green/amber)
5 Power status LED (green) 6 Release latch
7 Server management LED (blue/amber) 8 Release lever
M8428 -k
21
7 68
45
3

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Hardware description 1
FIGURE 2 Top view
Labeling
Figure 2 shows the labels appearing on the switch module. A second serial label is located beneath
the release lever on the enclosure (visible only when the lever is extended).
Transceivers
NOTE
You must install Dell-approved transceivers in the switch module.
The converged network switch was designed to work with small form-factor pluggable (SFP) optical
modules. The basic switch module ships with four 8 Gbps Dell-approved transceivers for the Fibre
Channel ports.
NOTE
You can also install 4 Gbps transceivers in the FC ports of the switch module. All transceivers must
be Dell-approved.
1 Switch module release lever
2 Release latch
3 Product label including serial number
4 Midplane connectors
4
3
2
1

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ISL trunking groups
1
Transceivers provide optical connections to external devices for both SWL and LWL connections.
Replace transceivers with a new pluggable unit rather than replacing the switch module. Refer to
the manufacturer’s instructions when installing transceivers.
“Removing and replacing the converged network switch” on page 25 provides details about
removing transceivers from the converged network switch.
ISL trunking groups
If you have purchased an ISL Trunking license for your converged network switch, external FC ports
can form trunking groups of ISLs between adjacent switches. Ports that can be used within the
same trunking group are color-coded on the switch module’s port side for easy identification.
All four external FC ports (0, 25-27) can be formed into a single 4-port trunk if the attached switch
supports an 4-port trunk. The ports can also form 2-port or 3-port trunk as well.
NOTE
Only the external ports are available for trunking.
Optional features
The converged network switch supports the following optional software, which is activated with the
purchase of the corresponding license key. Applicable options depend on whether the switch
module operates in NPIV or full fabric mode.
NPIV mode
Full fabric mode
Unpacking and installing the Dell M8428-k
If the converged network switch is installed in the Blade Server Enclosure as shipped to you, skip
this section. This section applies when installing a new module in an empty bay or replacing an
existing converged network switch.
NOTE
The converged network switch is designed to work in I/O bays B1/B2 and C1/C2 of the Dell M1000e
Blade Server Enclosure for SAN connectivity. Make sure to comply with installation requirements in
the Blade Server Enclosure Hardware Owner’s Manual.
•Fabric/Switch License
•NPIV (N_Port) Trunking
•Server Application Optimization
•Enhanced Group Management1
•ISL Trunking
•Advanced Performance Monitoring
•Fabric Watch
1. included with the converged network switch

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Unpacking and installing the Dell M8428-k 1
Perform the following steps to remove the switch module from its shipping package.
1. Open the shipping box and inspect the contents, making sure that nothing is missing or
damaged.
Do not insert a damaged converged network switch into the Blade Blade Server Enclosure. If
the converged network switch appears to be damaged, contact your sales representative
before proceeding.
2. Remove the cardboard accessory tray from on top of the converged network switch.
This tray contains the documentation, regulatory statements, product information guide, and
Documentation CD.
3. Remove the switch module from the box.
The protective foam ends will slide out with the switch module.
4. Remove the foam ends from the switch module.
5. Be sure that you have taken the necessary precautions for electrostatic sensitivity; then break
the seal warning.
6. Slide the switch module out of the antistatic sleeve and inspect it carefully for any obvious
defects or shipping damage.
7. For complete instructions to install the converged network switch into the Blade Server
Enclosure, refer to the section on installing answitch module in the Blade Server Enclosure
Hardware Owner’s Manual.
NOTE
Be sure to remove the protective covers from the midplane connectors before installing the
module into the enclosure.

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Unpacking and installing the Dell M8428-k
1