systems management
Installing Dell OpenManage Server Administrator on Linux Platforms By O. R. Senthil Kumaran RajKumar V. J.
D
Administrators can choose from an array of different methods when installing Dell OpenManage™ Server Administrator 5.2 on supported Linux® operating systems. This article outlines the available local and remote deployment methods and how administrators can use them in enterprise environments.
ell OpenManage Server Administrator (OMSA) helps
can verify the integrity of these packages by importing the
administrators manage the hardware and software
GPG key from the CD using the following command in the
resources of Dell™ PowerEdge™ servers running
/srvadmin/linux directory:
Microsoft ® Windows ® or Linux operating systems. Administrators can install OMSA locally on Linux-based sys-
rpm --import RPM-GPG-KEY
tems using a set of functionally related Red Hat® Package Manager (RPM™) files or a set of support scripts that provide Related Categories:
both interactive and noninteractive modes. They can also
The key can also be imported from publicly available key servers or from lists.us.dell.com/linux-security-publickey.txt.
perform remote deployments using tarballs available for
Dell OpenManage
download from the Dell Web site, third-party applications
RPM installation
Dell PowerEdge servers
such as Altiris® Deployment Solution™ software, and custom
The /srvadmin/linux/custom directory consists of sets of
yum (Yellowdog Updater, Modified) repositories.
functionally related RPM selections for different operating
Novell SUSE Linux
OMSA supports Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 and 5 and
systems contained in add-RAC3, add-RAC4, add-RAC5,
Novell® SUSE® Linux Enterprise Server 9 and 10. OMSA 5.0 and
add-storageservices, add-webserver, and srvadmin-base
Systems management
later includes OpenIPMI hardware management drivers; the
subdirectories. The three add-RAC subdirectories contain
VMware
Dell PowerEdge Installation and Server Management CD con-
RPM files to enable racadm-based systems management, the
tains the Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) driv-
add-storageservices subdirectory contains RPM files provid-
ers required for all certified platforms along with Dynamic
ing Dell OpenManage Storage Services functionality, and the
Kernel Module Support (DKMS) packages, which enable OMSA
add-webserver subdirectory contains RPM files providing the
to run on custom recompiled kernels. Storage functionality may
Web server required for the Dell OpenManage Web browser–
require non–open source drivers on some platforms.
based interface. The srvadmin-base subdirectory contains
Red Hat Enterprise Linux
Visit www.dell.com/powersolutions for the complete category index.
the basic files required to install a functional command-
1
Local deployment methods
line-based OMSA; it also includes an openipmi subdirec-
The Linux installation files for OMSA are located in the
tory with a DKMS version of the OpenIPMI driver, which
/srvadmin/linux directory on the Dell PowerEdge Installation
might be necessary when a required driver version is not
and Server Management CD. The RPM packages are digitally
installed on the system. Administrators can view the details
signed using a GNU Privacy Guard (GPG) key; administrators
of a particular RPM file in a given folder with the command
DELL POWER SOLUTIONS | May 2007
Reprinted from Dell Power Solutions, May 2007. Copyright © 2007 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.
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Name
Version Release
: srvadmin-isvc
Relocations: /opt/dell/srvadmin
: 5.2.0
Vendor: Dell Inc
Build Date: Thu 16 Nov 2006 07:22:22 PM IST
Build Host: omi-vm2-bldlx32.aus.amer.dell.com
: 240
Install Date : (not installed) Group
Size
: System/Configuration/Hardware Source RPM: srvadmin-isvc-5.2.0-240.nosrc.rpm : 3664740
Signature
License: Commercial
: DSA/SHA1, Thu 16 Nov 2006 07:27:34 PM IST, Key ID ca77951d23b66a9d
Packager
: ominstall@dell.com
URL
: http://support.dell.com
Summary
: Instrumentation Service, 5.7.0
Description : Server Administrator provides a suite of systems management information for keeping supported systems on your network healthy. Server Administrator Instrumentation Service provides fault management information, prefailure information, and asset and inventory information to management applications.
The Instrumentation Service monitors the health of the system and provides rapid access to detailed fault and performance information about the hardware on supported systems.
The Instrumentation Service
requires installation of Systems Management Device Drivers.
Figure 1. Package details for the srvadmin-isvc RPM file rpm
-qpi
packagename.rpm. Figure 1
shows the results for the srvadmin-isvc RPM file. For more information, see the Dell OpenManage
the RPM files also load the OpenIPMI module
and its supportRPMS subdirectory provide sets
into the OS kernel.
of RPM files for different operating systems that
Which add-RAC subdirectory is relevant
can be called by support scripts during scripted
depends on the Dell Remote Access Controller
OMSA installations. If a dependency causes an
Administrators can install OMSA using RPM
(DRAC) installed on the system (see Figure 2).
installation to fail, administrators should look
packages by entering the command rpm -ivh
If no DRAC is present, the DRAC RPM files are
for the missing RPM file in the supportRPMS
*.rpm in the /srvadmin/linux/custom direc-
still installed, and racadm functionality for the
subdirectory.
tory. The files in this directory are arranged to
local system should be available when the
Following installation, administrators can
meet installation prerequisites. Administrators
DRAC is attached and services have been
start the installed services without rebooting by
should keep in mind that srvadmin-base instal-
launched; in this case, only remote racadm
using the command srvadmin-services.sh
lations fail if the necessary IPMI driver version
functionality can be used from the files installed
start.
is not present on the system. The openipmi
on the system.
Server Administrator User’s Guide.
Scripted installation
subdirectory of the srvadmin-base folder
Linux operating systems installed using
provides the required version; administrators
Dell OpenManage Server Assistant should
Administrators can also install OMSA on Linux
can upgrade their version of the OpenIPMI
include all required RPM files; however, other
systems by using the four support scripts in the
driver from this directory with the command
installations may need these files installed
/srvadmin/linux/supportscripts directory:
rpm -Uvh openipmi-*.rpm. Scripts inside
manually. The /srvadmin/linux/RPMS directory
srvadmin-install.sh, srvadmin-openipmi.sh, srvadmin-services.sh, and srvadmin-uninstall. sh. Each script provides an interactive and a
Directory
Remote racadm functionality
Local racadm functionality
noninteractive mode. The interactive mode can
add-RAC3
DRAC III
DRAC III
be helpful to inexperienced administrators,
add-RAC4
DRAC III and DRAC 4
DRAC 4
add-RAC5
DRAC III, DRAC 4, and DRAC 5
DRAC 5
taking them through the installation process step-by-step; the noninteractive mode is useful for automated installations and remote deployments. Administrators can start the interactive
Figure 2. Racadm functionality for RPM files in the three add-RAC subdirectories Reprinted from Dell Power Solutions, May 2007. Copyright Š 2007 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.
mode of any OMSA support script with the www.dell.com/powersolutions
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systems management
command sh srvadmin-scriptname.sh,
the script is designed to detect the current
• Srvadmin-openipmi.sh: This is the OpenIPMI
or view the command-line options that facilitate
system state and only request information nec-
driver helper utility for OMSA, which checks
the noninteractive mode with the command sh
essary to complete the installation. Figure 4
the installed driver version and can install
srvadmin-scriptname.sh -h.
shows the results of viewing this script’s non-
an updated version from the OpenIPMI RPM
interactive command-line options.
file on the Dell PowerEdge Installation and
The srvadmin-install.sh script is used for installing OMSA. Figure 3 shows the results of running srvadmin-install.sh in interactive mode;
The other three scripts support OMSA
Server Management CD, if necessary. If the
installation:
host system is custom compiled, then the DKMS framework rebuilds the OpenIPMI RPM for the kernel and runs a scripted
##############################################
installation. • Srvadmin-services.sh: This script starts the
Server Administrator Custom Install Utility
installed services following installation. • Srvadmin-uninstall.sh: This script helps
##############################################
uninstall OMSA from the host; however, it uninstalls only srvadmin RPM files, not
Components for Server Administrator Managed Node Software:
custom RPM files installed independently [ ] 1. Server Administrator CLI
from the supportRPMS subdirectory or
[ ] 2. Server Administrator Web Server
upgraded OpenIPMI RPM files, which might
[ ] 3. Storage Management
be used by other applications.
[ ] 4. All Enter the number to select a component from the above list.
Remote deployment methods
Enter q to quit.
In addition to noninteractive scripted OMSA installations, administrators can use remote
Enter :
deployment methods facilitated by downloadable tarballs, Altiris Deployment Solution, and yum repositories.
Figure 3. Interactive mode for the srvadmin-install.sh script
Usage: srvadmin-install.sh [OPTION]... Server Administrator Custom Install Utility. This Utility will run in the interactive mode if no options are given and runs silently if one or more options are given. Options: [-x|--express]
installs all components (including 'RAC', if available) any other options passed will be ignored.
[-b|--base]
installs 'Base' components
[-s|--storage]
installs 'Storage' components, including 'Base'
[-r|--rac]
installs applicable 'RAC' components, including 'Base'
[-w|--web]
installs 'Web Server' components, including 'Base'
[-u|--update]
update applicable Server Administrator components
[-a|--autostart] start the installed services after components have been installed. [--prefix PATH] [-h|--help]
installs the selected components as specified in the 'PATH' This option can be used along with any of the options stated above
displays this help text.
Figure 4.Noninteractive mode command-line options for the srvadmin-install.sh script 3
DELL POWER SOLUTIONS | May 2007
Reprinted from Dell Power Solutions, May 2007. Copyright © 2007 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.
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Red Hat Enterprise Linux operating systems. An unofficial yum repository is maintained
Options: [-x|--express]
installs all components (including 'RAC', if available)
any other options passed will be ignored.
by the Dell Linux Engineering team at linux.dell.com/repo/software.
[-b|--base]
installs 'Base' components
[-s|--storage]
installs 'Storage' components, including 'Base'
Flexible deployment on Linux-based systems
installs applicable 'RAC' components, including 'Base'
Administrators can choose from multiple
installs 'Web Server' components, including 'Base'
ways of installing Dell OpenManage Server
[-r|--rac]
[-w|--web]
[-u|--update]
update applicable Server Administrator components
[-a|--autostart] start the installed services after components
have been installed.
[--prefix PATH] installs the selected components as specified
Administrator on Linux-based systems, including RPM-based and scripted deployments for local installation along with downloadable packages,
in the 'PATH'. This option can be used along
third-party software such as Altiris Deployment
with any of the options stated above
Solution, and custom yum repositories. Taking
displays this help text.
advantage of these options can provide
[-h|--help]
increased flexibility when installing OMSA in Figure 5. Command-line options for the setup.sh script
enterprise data centers. O. R. Senthil Kumaran is a senior engineering
Downloadable tarballs
Deployment Solution, administrators should
analyst working with the Test Engineering team
OMSA is available as a set of downloadable
launch the application and import the
of the Dell Product Group at the Bangalore
tarballs from support.dell.com. These packages
OpenManage_Jobs.bin file from the /srvadmin/
Development Center. He has a bachelor’s degree
contain the RPM files, installation scripts, and
support/Altiris directory on the Dell PowerEdge
in Computer Science and Engineering from
documentation in a tar zipped format. The pack-
Installation and Server Management CD, then
National Engineering College, Tamil Nadu.
age includes a script called setup.sh in the
specify a destination folder. They may need to
top-level folder that works similarly to the
modify the Run Script and Copy File tasks to
Rajkumar V. J. is a senior engineering analyst
srvadmin-install.sh script. Figure 5 shows the
match the specific environment. Once the file is
working with the Dell OpenManage Install team
command-line options for this script, which admin-
imported, administrators can schedule the job
of the Dell Product Group at the Bangalore
istrators can use to install specific components
to run on supported Dell systems managed from
Development Center. He has a bachelor’s degree
individually. The script returns exit codes verifying
Altiris Deployment Solution.
in Aerospace Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras.
operation results, which are listed in Figure 6.
Yum repository Altiris Deployment Solution
The RPM network installation feature facilitates
Administrators can use third-party deployment
setting up a custom yum repository to install
software such as Altiris Deployment Solution to
OMSA on multiple servers. Administrators can
distribute and install OMSA. To do so with Altiris
use the yum or Update 2 methods on supported
Exit code
Description
0
Operation successful
1
Platform not supported
2
Minimum OS dependencies not met
3
Upgrade not supported (currently installed version is the latest)
4–49
Various fatal errors
100–199
RPM installation error (number of RPM files that did not install)
200–254
RPM upgrade error (number of RPM files that did not upgrade)
255
Installation aborted following kill signal
QUICK LINKs Dell OpenManage Server Administrator User’s Guide: support.dell.com/support/edocs/ software/svradmin Dell Linux Engineering team mailing lists: lists.us.dell.com
Figure 6. Exit codes for the setup.sh script Reprinted from Dell Power Solutions, May 2007. Copyright © 2007 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.
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