Dell™ Update Packages offer new levels of ease and flexibility for updating the system software on Dell PowerEdge™ systems.
The following Microsoft® Windows® operating systems are supported:
Windows 2000 Server (includes Windows 2000 Server, Windows 2000 Advanced Server, and Windows Small Business Server [SBS] 2000) (SP1 or later)
Windows Server 2003 (includes Web, Standard, and Enterprise Editions)
By using the Update Packages, you can perform the following functions:
Apply an individual update to a system by using an intuitive graphical user interface (GUI)
Batch a number of updates for your system by using the command line interface (CLI) feature
Leverage your company's software distribution tools to remotely apply updates to any number of servers
Each Update Package is designed to update a single software component on your system. This product feature allows you to select and apply just the updates that you want for your system, thus minimizing the resources required to transport the Update Packages across your network.
The Update Packages improve your ability to effectively update your systems. For example, each Update Package contains pertinent information about when Dell issued the package, which systems the package is designed to support, and what functional enhancements are contained in the update or which problems were fixed.
Each Update Package contains the execution logic to verify that the update will work on your system. By using Update Packages, you are not required to use any Dell OpenManage™ software applications, you do not need to create alternative media, and you do not have to reboot your system to MS-DOS® to apply the updates.
You can use the Update Packages interactively, which is ideal for applying a limited number of updates. You can also use Update Packages in batch mode to accommodate large environments with multiple systems or to process multiple updates per system. In addition, you can use remote scripting with systems management software solutions.
This User's Guide is designed to familiarize you with Update Packages so that you can begin applying them to simplify the system software maintenance on your Dell systems.
The "Using Update Packages" section of this guide provides a number of sample scenarios for using Update Packages.
Before You Begin
Update Packages are available for applying updates to your system software components. The following prerequisites apply for installing and using Update Packages:
Update Packages support Dell systems running these Windows operating systems:
Windows 2000 Server (includes Windows 2000 Server, Windows 2000 Advanced Server, and Windows Small Business Server [SBS] 2000) (SP1 or later)
Windows Server 2003 (includes Web, Standard, and Enterprise Editions)
You must be able to log on to the system with an account that has Administrator privileges.
How to Obtain Update Packages
Go to the Dell Support website at support.dell.com.
Select your system.
Click Downloads.
Select the download category, such as Embedded Server Management, FlashBIOS Updates,
SCSI RAID, or Systems Management, or choose All to see all available updates for your
system.
Select Microsoft Windows Server 2003 or Microsoft Windows 2000 as the operating system,
and then select English as the operating system language.
Click Go.
Select a device, such as Dell ESM Firmware, Dell Server SystemBIOS, AdaptecPERC
3/Di, or Dell Remote Access Controller — DRAC III.
Download the Update Packages for the system or systems in your environment. Before you install the Update Packages, run the packages, read the information provided about the updates, and determine if you want to install them.
The following steps suggest the tasks that you may perform before you install Update Packages on your system:
Run the Update Packages /c option from the CLI on the target system to check if it meets the
prerequisites for performing an update.
To perform the check from the CLI, type the following command at the command line prompt:
packagename.exe /c /s
To verify that the system meets the prerequisites for performing the update from the GUI, double-click the .exe file for the Update Package you downloaded.
Then, read the information about the update in the GUI's scrolling text window.
You can view the log results after running the check option from either the CLI or the GUI. The default path for the log file is C:\dell\updatepackage\log.
Determine if the selected system meets compatibility requirements. See "BIOS Update
Requirements" and "RAID Controller Supported Servers, Operating Systems, Firmware, and
Driver Versions" in the Dell OpenManage Server Administrator Compatibility Guide for
additional information. See "Other Documents You May Need" for the location of the
Compatibility Guide.
Create a directory structure for performing the updates (for example, create a directory for
each system type).
Determine a methodology for performing the updates.
Single update method: Run the Update Package from the GUI in interactive mode to perform the update.
Script method: Use this method if you have a requirement for running one or more updates from a script on a single system.
If you are installing multiple Update Packages, install the updates that require a reboot last. Dell recommends the installation order as described in Table 1-1.
Table 1-1. Update Packages: Recommended Installation Order
Installation Order
Software Components
1
Device drivers
2
Device firmware
3
ESM firmware
4
BIOS
NOTICE: If you are installing both ESM and BIOS updates, you must install the ESM firmware update
before the BIOS update.
NOTICE: If you are planning to install Server Administrator as well as a BIOS update, you must install
Server Administrator before the BIOS update. If you have updated the BIOS already and you are planning
to install Server Administrator, you must reboot your system so that the changes to the BIOS will take
effect.
Important Tips to Remember for Using Update Packages
Prepare repair disks before you perform any updates.
Download the current version of drivers, BIOS, and firmware so that you have a backup plan in case any issues arise.
When you are upgrading any RAID controller software drivers, Dell OpenManage Array Manager may need to be upgraded. Check the Dell OpenManage Server Administrator Compatibility Guide before proceeding. See "Other Documents You May Need" for more information.
Ensure that you have a backup of Windows operating system registry files or system configuration files stored on a system other than the one you are updating.
The updates must be planned for and performed by the system administrator who knows which applications could be affected.
Before updating all systems, perform the upgrade on one nonessential system to test the update.
Do not shut down the system while an update is in progress.
Ensure that the system reboots without power interruption after performing a BIOS update.
You cannot run an Update Package in interactive mode from a Telnet session.
Other Documents You May Need
Besides this User's Guide, you can find the following guides on the Dell Support website at support.dell.com, on the Systems Management documentation page. To locate the Systems Management page, click Reference→ User's Guides→ Software→ Systems Management. In addition, you can find the Server Administrator documents on the Product Documentation CD that came with your system.
The Dell OpenManage Server Administrator User's Guide provides information about using Server Administrator to perform system software updates. See "Update Service" for details.
The Dell OpenManage Server Administrator Compatibility Guide provides software version information that you may find relevant and useful for performing updates. See "BIOS Update Requirements" and "RAID Controller Supported Servers, Operating Systems, Firmware, and Driver Versions" in the Compatibility Guide.
NOTE: Dell Update Packages do not require Server Administrator; however, you may use Server
Administrator's Update Service to install the Update Packages.
Obtaining Technical Assistance
If at any time you do not understand a procedure described in this guide or if your product does not perform as expected, help tools are available to assist you. For more information about these help tools, see "Getting Help" in your system's Installation and Troubleshooting Guide.
Dell Enterprise Training and Certification is available now; see www.dell.com/training for more information. This service may not be offered in all locations.
