Features of Smart Bootable ISO:
Out of Band update method using self-contained ISO
Leverages Dell System Update in a CentOS Environment
Same logic as in-band updates, just in a clean reproducible environment
Only leverages .BIN Linux Bundles
Used mostly in smaller environments or in scenarios where there are no iDRACs configured and operating system updates are not allowed
Create a Smart Bootable ISO:
NOTE: Platform-Specific ISOs are available for every model on support.dell.com and are created the same way.
Under Application Preferences > Plug-ins, ensure the Dell EMC Bootable ISO plug-in is installed. If not, check the box next to it and select Update in the upper right
Browse to any Repository you want to Export as a Bootable ISO
Select the Repository or Selection of Linux Bundles
Select Export on the upper menu
Select Smart Bootable ISO and then pick a Save Location
NOTE: Select Enable Force Update if downgrade is needed. Bootable ISO logic only does upgrades by default.
Bootable ISO workflow:
ISO Loads up CentOS operating system
Once the kernel loads immediately runs Dell System Update(DSU)
This kicks off the Inventory Collector operating system DUP to pull the current hardware inventory
Then compares against the catalog created from the DRM export wizard
Then automatically does the upgrade of all out-of-date components(or force applies everything if you selected that option during export)
When completed it will ask you to press any key to reboot
NOTE: To run a headless install, you must use a custom script option to append the apply_bundles.sh with /sbin/reboot
Troubleshooting Bootable ISO:
Inventory Collector has a partial failure:
This error won't prevent the ISO from updating the components
It always ends up being tied to an Inventory Collector Defect, usually with a particular NIC model
If it is the newest, it is a Defect that should be escalated
To work around, import a different Inventory collector DUP
DSU only runs a DSU update and then is done:
DSU update is also in the repository
This issue is caused when an older DRM ISO plug-in is used, which has an older DSU version
DSU updates itself and then stops running to reboot as if it were a normal operating system
Since the Bootable ISO is an image when it boots again its running the old DSU and updates itself again
Removed DSU from the bundle or update the Bootable ISO Plugin
DSU runs and finds no updates:
This likely means the ISO was made without this model's bundle
No valid updates exist in the catalog for the server you are running it on
Mount the ISO in a Windows operating system and compare the catalog to the iDRAC Inventory to rule out that the server is in fact up to date per the ISO contents
Re-create the ISO with the proper server model/updates in the bundle