Dell POWEREDGE R720 - Manual (Page 5)

Update Dell™ Server Hardware with Dell OpenManage Essentials
5
Executive Summary
This white paper describes the process of maintaining and enforcing a hardware revision baseline
within the Dell PowerEdge server environment using OpenManage Essentials.
This document explains the process to update servers without forcing an unplanned shutdown. Using
OpenManage Essentials, IT administrator can keep the servers up to date without affecting the
production environment. You can use a single console to update multiple Dell servers.
Introduction
IT Administrators face many challenges today, which include managing system updates (BIOS,
firmware, driver) in the customer datacentre. Administrators find it challenging to keep track of new
versions of firmware and drivers, which are released at frequent intervals.
This white paper explains how an IT Administrator can overcome the obstacles that come with
managing system updates by using Dell OpenManage Essentials. This document includes:
 Deploying System Updates along with OMSA agent
 Obtaining the latest versions of drivers, firmware, and BIOS
 Determining the servers that should be updated and their respective packages (DUPs)
 Updating the hardware at the convenience of IT Administrator.