The Dell OpenManage Server Assistant CD contains utilities, diagnostics, and drivers that can help you configure your system to meet your needs. Some of the functions available on the Dell OpenManage Server Assistant CD are also available on a bootable utility partition that is installed on your hard drive. This section describes how to use the Dell OpenManage Server Assistant CD. It also describes the utility partition and its options and provides instructions for reinstalling the partition (if necessary).
The Dell OpenManage™ Server Assistantapplication programhas two modes of operation: a setup mode for setting up your system and installing your operating system and a service mode for updating drivers and utilities. Product documentation is available on the documentationCD.
To set up your system and install your operating system, insert the Dell OpenManage Server Assistant CD into your CD drive, and turn on or reboot the system. The Dell OpenManage Server Assistant main page appears.
If the CD does not boot, verify that the CD drive is specified first in the Boot Sequence option in the System Setup program (see "Using the System Setup Program").
You can create update drivers and utilities on any system that has Microsoft® Internet Explorer 4.0 (or later). When you insert the CD in a system that uses the Microsoft Windows NT® or Windows® 2000 Server operating system, the system automatically starts the browser software and displays the Dell OpenManage Server Assistant main page.
The Server Assistant CD utilizes a standard Web browser interface. Navigating the CD is accomplished by clicking the mouse on the various icons and text hyperlinks.
Click the Exit icon to exit the program. Exiting the program causes the system to reboot to the standard operating-system boot partition.
If you purchase a system that does not have an operating system preinstalled or if you install an operating system at a later date, use the Server Setup feature to configure your system or install your operating system.
Use the Server Setup program for most situations, including installing and reinstalling an operating system. The Dell OpenManage Server Assistant CD guides you through the operating system setup and configuration process. The program prompts you to select the operating system used on the drive and leads you through a step-by-step process to install the operating system.
To start the Server Setup program, perform the following steps:
Click Server Setup on the Server Assistant main screen.
Follow the directions on the screen to complete the installation and configuration
process.
The Server Setup program takes you through the following tasks:
The utility partition is a bootable partition on the hard drive that contains system configuration and diagnostic utilities. When implemented, the partition boots and provides an executable environment for the partition's utilities. When the utility partition is not booted, it is designated as a non–MS-DOS® partition.
NOTE: The utility partition provides only limited MS-DOS functionality and cannot be used as a
general-purpose MS-DOS partition.
To start the utility partition, turn on or reboot the system. During POST, the following message appears:
<F10> = Utility Mode
The utility partition provides a text-based interface from which you can run the partition's utilities. To select a menu option, you can either use the arrow keys to highlight the option and press <Enter> or type the number of the menu option. To exit the utility partition, press <Esc> from the Utility Partition main menu.
Table 2-1 provides a sample list and explanation of the options that appear on the utility partition menu even when the Dell OpenManage Server Assistant CD is not in the CD drive. The options displayed on your system may vary depending on the configuration.
Runs the RAID configuration utility if the optional ROMB card or RAID controller card is installed
NOTE: The options displayed on your system depend on your system configuration and
may not include all of those listed here. For the full name of an abbreviation or acronym
used in this table, see the "Glossary."
To create the Asset Tag utility diskette and boot the system, perform the following steps:
If you have not already done so, create a bootable Asset Tag Utility diskette from the
Dell OpenManage Server Assistant CD by going to System Tools—> Create CD Boot
Diskette.
Insert the diskette into the diskette drive and reboot the system.
NOTE: The Asset Tag utility diskette contains CD drivers that provide access to the CD drive
when you boot from the diskette.
An asset tag number can have up to 10 characters. Any combination of characters, excluding spaces, is valid.
To assign or change an asset tag number, perform the following steps:
Perform the steps in "Using the Asset Tag Utility."
Type asset and a space followed by the new string.
For example, type the following command:
asset 12345abcde
Press <Enter>.
When you are prompted to verify the asset tag number, type y and press <Enter>.
The system then displays the new or modified asset tag number and the service tag number.
To delete the asset tag number without assigning a new one, type asset /d and press <Enter>.
Table 2-2 lists the command-line options that you can use with the Asset Tag utility. To use one of these options, type asset and a space followed by the option.
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