PowerEdge

I'm a big believer in simple tools with flexibility to create solutions for your needs. 

As a technical person I find nothing more satisfying than hacking a piece of code to create a unique solution.

Dell Repository Manager allows you to create custom repositories that contain the Dell Update Packages (DUPs) which are then exported to either an ISO file or a lightweight deployment script for Windows or Linux.

I've created two demos that show both.  The first one is an overview of the product and shows exporting to lightweight script for use in Windows.

In the second demo I hack on one of the files to automate the deployment after exporting the ISO and mounting across multiple blades in the chassis.  The changes to the script eliminate the user input and also reboot the blades if the updates were successful.  The nice thing is it is a simple shell script you can edit.  If you are familiar with simple scripting I'm sure you'll find yourself building more intelligence into the code.  I've also included details on editing the script used by Repository Manager to automate the execution and reboot after completion.

Watch the demos here.

In the latest edition of Dell Power Solutions, Editor-in-Chief Tom Kolnowski sums it up nicely, "The Dell Masters Program is all about using deep peer-to-peer networking".  Behind the scenes at the TechCenter we call that, "geeking it out" :-)

The Dell Masters Program is a powerful peer-to-peer network – an inner circle – for those who truly know their stuff and want to show others what they’ve got within the Dell TechCenter. The Masters are all about helping their fellow geeks to ease their pain and discover bold, new horizons. Dell Masters create and contribute content based on their own experiences, ideas and innovations for the Dell TechCenter, a great mash-up of Dell experts and gurus.

Are you ready to get started? If so, follow these easy steps:

Fill out the new registration at: http://www.delltechcenter.com/page/Registration

And we'd also like your thoughts on a badge design: http://dtcbeta.wetpaint.com/page/Dell+TechCenter+Badge+Level+and+Names

Your input is going to make the Dell TechCenter even better ! Questions? Just let us know!

Virtualization is key to any efficient datacenter deployed today.  The days of one-server one-application are gone.  We've virtualized workloads for years with the next wave being the *cloud*.

At the physical level, there have been several innovations that make cloud computing a reality.  First the ability to move workloads seamlessly across machines, with technology like VMware's VMotion.  Then there is the ability to move storage pools with Storage VMotion as an example from VMware.  These technologies allow the movement of applications and storage between machines, but what about the I/O ?

That's where Xsigo fits.  Using a single Host Channel Adapter (HCA) you can connect one cable to the host and define as many as 64 virtual HBAs and NICs.  Xsigo is virtual I/O. 

When I was first introduced to the Xsigo solution I thought, "Ohh great another proprietary fat pipe solution".  Once I was able to see the Xsigo Director in action with VMware, it made more sense.  "Ahhh, I just cable one time then I can create and move I/O around my virtualization cluster as I see fit". I also learned that it was not proprietary, but built on industry standards.

With Xsigo, as I move my workload around the virtualization cluster I can add more I/O resources dynamically, adding performance as my applications demand it.

See a demo of our Xsigo unit in the Dell TechCenter lab.

One of the features of the Dell PowerEdge 11G servers is embedded management (aka the Lifecycle Controller) which allows you to apply server updates from within the system.

Very easy to use with a simple graphical user interface.  You can see several demos of the Lifecycle Controller on our Dell TechCenter site.

Easy enough if your server can access ftp.dell.com for the updates.  What if you don't allow that access, or your server lives in a tightly secured environment ?  There is a second option available that allows you to apply the updates via a USB storage device.

Now you could simply replicate the entire ftp.dell.com site, raise your hand if that sounds appealing ... really no hands ? :-) Yeah, I really don't want you clogging the internet either.

The other option is to follow these instructions that I just tested in our lab to create a custom USB repository to use for your updates.  You're welcome.

I'd like to give a shout out to Brian Summers, one of our most active members on the Dell TechCenter, and a member of our Hall of Fame.  He has produced several great demos on the plug-ins that are available for the Dell Management Console. 

You will be more educated and enlightened on DMC by watching them :-)