Dell PowerEdge R420 Technical Guide - Page 40

Agent-based management Most systems management solutions require pieces of software, called agents, to be installed on each node in order to be managed within the IT environment. Additionally, the same agent is often used as a local interface into the hardware health and may be accessed remotely as a management interface, typically referred to as a one- to- one interface. For customers that continue to use agentbased solutions, Dell provides OpenManage Server Administrator. OpenManage Server Administrator The Dell OpenManage Server Administrator (OMSA) agent gives you a comprehensive, one- to- one systems management solution for both local and remote servers and their storage. OMSA can help simplify single- server monitoring with a secure command- line interface (CLI) or Web- based management graphical user interface (GUI). It can also be used to view system configuration, inventory, health, and performance. Agent-free management Because Dell PowerEdge servers have embedded server lifecycle management, in many cases, there is no need to install an OpenManage systems management software agent into the operating system of a Dell PowerEdge server. This greatly simplifies and streamlines the management footprint. Dell consoles The central console in a systems management solution is often referred to as the one- to- many console. The central console provides a rapid view and insight into the overall health of all systems in the IT environment. The Dell systems management portfolio includes several powerful consoles, depending upon your needs, including the following: • Dell OpenManage Essentials- OpenManage Essentials (OME) is a recently released systems management console that provides a comprehensive view of Dell systems, devices, and components in an enterprise network. It is used to monitor Dell PowerEdge servers, EqualLogic™ and PowerVault™ storage, and PowerConnect™ switches; to update and configure Dell servers; and to create asset reports. OpenManage Essentials also communicates health status alerts for Dell servers, storage, and network devices to the Dell KACE™ K1000 service desk. OpenManage Essentials is available as a no- charge software download from Support.Dell.com. • Dell Management Console- Dell Management Console (DMC) offers sophisticated data center management capabilities with comprehensive reporting features. DMC can perform basic hardware management and can manage operating systems and applications using various plug- ins from Symantec. • Dell IT Assistant- Dell IT Assistant (ITA) is a console for managing Dell servers, storage arrays, and other components distributed throughout a network. Dell IT Assistant allows for easy identification of system issues through alerts, helping to reduce system downtime. Systems administrators can easily monitor systems anywhere within their network using ITA. ITA is supported on the R420, however, enhanced functionality is now available with OpenManage Essentials. OpenManage systems management tools and utilities Dell OpenManage systems management tools and utilities consist of the following: • Dell Repository Manager- The Dell Repository Manager (RM) is a standalone GUI- based productivity tool that helps simplify the process of managing downloads and baseline BIOS, firmware, and driver updates. Repository Manager can create deployment disks as well as create and manage customized repositories. 40 PowerEdge R420 Technical Guide