Dell Lifecycle Controller Remote Services v2.60.60.60 Quick Start Guide

Introduction

Dell Lifecycle Controller provides advanced embedded systems management to perform systems management tasks such as deploy, configure, update, maintain, and diagnose. It is delivered as part of integrated Dell Remote Access Controller (iDRAC) out-of-band solution and embedded Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) applications in the latest Dell servers. iDRAC works with the UEFI firmware to access and manage every aspect of the hardware, including component and subsystem management that is beyond the traditional Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) capabilities.

Dell Lifecycle Controller Remote Services further enables remote systems management in a one-to-many method. Remote services is accessible over the network using the secure web services interface and can be programmatically utilized by applications and scripts. Remote services enable management consoles to perform one-to-many bare-metal server provisioning. The combination of the Provisioning Server feature to identify and authenticate the attached Dell system to the network and integration with one‑to-many management consoles reduces the manual steps required for server setup and management. The Server Configuration Profiles provide a single view of all the system settings that can be imported and exported from the server to perform one-to-many cloning operations. The interface is aimed at simplifying many tasks, some of which include remotely deploying an operating system, remote update and inventory, and remotely automating the setup and configuration of new and already-deployed Dell systems.

Lifecycle Controller reduces the time and number of steps taken to accomplish tasks, reduces potential for error, enhances server and application uptime and security, and results in more efficient IT management. Developed on the industry standard Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) platform, Web Services for Management (WSMAN) interfaces, and Redfish management interfaces, Lifecycle Controller provides an open environment for console integration that also allows custom scripting for Lifecycle Controller. Leading systems management consoles such as, Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager, BMC Software BladeLogic Operations Manager, VMware vCenter have integrated Dell Lifecycle Controller to utilize its features and capabilities to an existing infrastructure, where these consoles are installed.