Dell EMC OpenManage Integration Version 2.0 with Microsoft Windows Admin Center User’s Guide

Integrated deploy and update an Azure Stack HCI cluster using OpenManage Integration snap-in

The Integrated cluster deploy and update feature in OpenManage Integration enables you to update target nodes while creating an Azure Stack HCI cluster using Windows Admin Center. This feature also helps you to comply hardware configurations of selected nodes with Dell EMC recommended hardware configurations.

When deploying an Azure Stack HCI cluster, to maintain symmetrical hardware configuration and update firmware/drivers for Azure Stack HCI cluster nodes, do the following:

1. When deploying an Azure Stack HCI cluster in Windows Admin Center, using Get started wizard, complete the operations on the 1.1 Check the prerequisites, 1.2 Add servers, 1.3 Join a domain, 1.4 Install features, and 1.5 Install updates tabs as required.
   NOTE Renaming nodes in 1.3 Join a domain tab is not supported and may cause prerequisites failure when installing hardware updates. To rename the servers (if required), it is recommended to do it outside of cluster deployment workflow. For example, use Azure Stack HCI OS Server Configuration tool (Sconfig) or Windows Admin Center to rename a node. Before launching the cluster create wizard, ensure the new node name is effective.
2. On Install hardware updates tab, click Install to install OpenManage Integration snap-in. If you have already installed the OpenManage Integration extension version 2.0, click Check for updates to move to the install hardware updates page.
   NOTE If the snap-in prompts to specify the "Manage as" credentials, ensure that you select Manage as and provide appropriate cluster administrator credentials to authenticate to the managed node, and then select "use these credentials for all connections" check box. Ensure that the user is part of the local user group of gateway administrators. For more information about selecting "Manage as", see the Get Started with Windows Admin Center section in the Microsoft documentation.
   When the OpenManage Integration snap-in is installed, the OpenManage Integration standalone extension appears under the Tools menu in the Windows Admin Center. You will be able to use all the features of OpenManage Integration extension along with the snap-in specific features.
3. Review the prerequisites listed in the page to ensure that all nodes are ready to perform Hardware symmetry checks and update.
   • If any of the nodes is not a valid model, you cannot proceed to the next step. For more information about supported models, refer to AS HCI support matrix.
   • If any of the nodes do not contain OMIWAC Premium License, you can continue to update nodes; however, you cannot run Hardware symmetry checks.

   Click Re-Run to run the prerequisites again.

   When finished, click Next: Hardware symmetry check.

4. For Hardware symmetry check, review the configurations listed under each category to ensure all nodes configurations are as per Dell EMC recommended configurations. For more information about hardware configurations required for Hardware symmetry, see Hardware symmetry configurations.
   • (optional) If internet connection is not available, perform the below steps to run hardware symmetry checks in offline mode:
     1. Download the asHCISolutionSupportMatrix.json and asHCISolutionSupportMatrix.json.sign files from http://downloads.dell.com/omimswac/supportmatrix/.
     2. Place these files in C:\Users\Dell\SymmetryCheck folder in the gateway system where Windows Admin Center is installed.
     3. Run the hardware symmetry check.
   NOTE Hardware symmetry will fail if any of the required configurations fail with a "Critical" error. Review the recommendations and details to resolve any issues to achieve Hardware symmetry and proceed to the next step.

   When the configuration fails with a "Warning", this means the configuration can be supported for cluster deployment, but could result in sub-optimal cluster performance. Therefore, it should be reviewed.

   click Re-Run to run the hardware symmetry check again.

   When finished, click Next: Update source.
5. To generate compliance report against the validated Azure Stack HCI catalog, on the Update source page, do the following:
   1. Select one of the methods to download catalog files:
      • Online (HTTPs) - Update Catalog for Microsoft HCI Solutions catalog to download the catalog automatically from dell.com. Online catalog is selected by default.
        Online catalog support requires direct internet connectivity from the Windows Admin Center gateway. The overall download time of a catalog depends on the network bandwidth and number of components being updated.

        NOTE Accessing to the Internet using proxy settings are not supported.
      • Offline - Dell EMC Repository Manager Catalog to use the DRM catalog configured in a CIFS location.

        OMIMSWAC with or without Internet access allows you to select the Offline - Dell EMC Repository Manager Catalog to generate compliance report. You may use this option when the Internet is not available or to use a customized DRM catalog.

        • To use offline catalog, select DRM Settings to ensure the CIFS share path is configured with the DRM catalog. To create a DRM catalog, see the Technical article.
   2. To use the Dell EMC System Update (DSU) and Inventory Collector (IC) tools, select Advance setting, and then select one of the following:
      • Automatically downloads and configures the Dell EMC System Update (DSU) and Inventory Collector (IC). when OMIMSWAC is connected to the Internet.
      • Manually configure DSU and IC and then select Settings to manually download and configure DSU and IC tools in a share location. We recommend using this option when OMIMSWAC is not connected to the Internet.

        DSU and IC settings, configured using Update Tool settings in OpenManage Integration extension will also be available under Advance setting in OpenManage Integration snap-in.

   When finished, click Next: Compliance report.
   OMIMSWAC downloads the catalog, collects the DSU and IC tools that are configured in the Settings tab, and generates a Compliance Report. If DSU and IC tools are not configured in the Settings, then OMIMSWAC downloads them from https://downloads.dell.com to generate the compliance report.
6. On the Compliance report tab, view the compliance report. For more information about the compliance report, see view compliance report.
   • The 'upgradable' components that are 'non-compliant' are selected by default for update.

     You may deselect the selected components or select the 'non-compliant' 'downgradable' components. However, if you want to change any of the default selections, ensure that the dependencies between the corresponding component firmware and drivers are met.

   When finished, click Next: Summary.

7. On the Summary tab, review the components to be updated, and then click Next: Update to update the cluster nodes.
   A message is prompted to enable CredSSP.
   1. Click Yes to enable the CredSSP to continue updating the selected components. You will be directed to the Update page. To improve security, disable the CredSSP after the update operation is complete.
   NOTE While the update is in progress on the Update page, it is recommended not to exit or close the browser. If you close or exit the browser, node updates may fail and the update status may not be shown.

   The update job continues in the background regardless of whether the UI session is alive or not. If the UI session is alive, node level progress status is displayed. OMIMSWAC notifies once the update job is finished.

   • If the update operation fails, check the log files that are stored at the following path for troubleshooting purposes.
     • Gateway system: <Windows Directory>\ServiceProfiles\NetworkService\AppData\Local\Temp\generated\logs
     • Windows 10 gateway system: <Windows installed drive>\Users\<user_name>\AppData\Local\Temp\generated\logs
   • To run the compliance report again, click Re-run Compliance and provide the compliance settings details if required.