Server Cloning with Server Configuration Profiles Version 1.2 December 2020 Pushkala Iyer, Systems Engineer Prashant Patil, Systems Engineer Vance Corn, Systems Technologist Texas Roemer, Sr. Test Engineer David Schmidt, Marketing Director Paul Rubin, Sr.
Table of contents Executive summary ............................................................................................................................................................................... 3 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Normal profile export .........................................................................
Executive summary Modern datacenter administrators require efficient and automated methods to rapidly prepare servers for production use. The Dell PowerEdge servers’ embedded integrated Dell Remote Access Controller (iDRAC) with Lifecycle Controller provides the ability to capture an entire configuration in a single human‐readable output called a Server Configuration Profile. This profile can be applied to multiple servers, enabling rapid, reliable and reproducible configuration.
Introduction The heart of embedded management in every Dell PowerEdge server, the iDRAC with Lifecycle Controller provides the ability to generate a human‐readable snapshot of server configuration via a Server Configuration Profile. This single file contains all BIOS, iDRAC, Lifecycle Controller, Network, and Storage settings. After capturing this file can be modified, as needed, and then applied to other servers, even different server models.
This RACADM command can be used to export a “Normal” mode SCP to an NFS share: racadm get -f file -t xml -l 192.168.100.50:/myshare And finally, this remote RACADM command can be used to export a “Normal” mode SCP to a local file: racadm –r ‐u ‐p get –f file –t xml The RACADM and Winrm SCP export commands will return a job ID. Job Status commands can be used to check the status of job completion.
For this mode of export, the –replace option is used with RACADM commands: racadm get -f file -t xml -u myuser -p mypass -l //192.168.100.50/share –replace The ExportUse parameter can be used with Winrm WS‐Man commands to generate Replace mode SCP files: winrm i ExportSystemConfiguration http://schemas.dmtf.
The tables found in the Appendices describe the format of every attribute that may be impacted based on the type of export performed. The reason for the behavior is provided in the State column.
The Winrm WS‐Man command for Preview is: winrm i ImportSystemConfigurationPreview http://schemas.dmtf.org/wbem/wscim/1/cimschema/2/root/dcim/DCIM_LCService?SystemCreationClassName=DCIM_ComputerSystem+CreationCla ssName=DCIM_LCService+SystemName=DCIM:ComputerSystem+Name=DCIM:LCService -u:root p:calvin -r:https://192.168.0.10/wsman -SkipCNCheck -SkipCACheck -encoding:utf-8 -a:basic @{IPAddress="192.168.100.50";ShareName="/nfs";ShareType="0";FileName="Preview-test.
Sample Workflow Use Case: Cloning configuration settings from a PowerEdge R730 to a PowerEdge R430 This sample use case illustrates propagating the configuration settings from a source system ‐ an R730 with an H730P storage controller and an Intel x540 network card ‐ to a target system ‐ an R430, with an H330 storage controller and a Broadcom 5720 network card.
3) Execute GetConfigResults on the R430 using preview JobID and save the Lifecycle Controller Log ConfigResults in ‘02_R430_Preview_LCLog_Clone_of_R730.xml’. This will be used to examine any settings that are not successful and to determine the required edits. winrm i GetConfigResults "http://schemas.dell.com/wbem/wscim/1/cimschema/2/DCIM_LCRecordLog?InstanceID=DCIM:LifecycleLog+ cimnamespace=root/dcim” -u:root -p:calvin -r:https://192.168.100.
Failure 6 Because the network controller families differ, the networking FQDD and ports will be different between the R430 (NIC.Embedded.2‐1‐1) and the R730 (NIC.Integrated.1‐4‐1). If the Lifecycle Controller log indicates a failure ‘Invalid parameter value for Target’, then remove that component from ‘03_R730_Export_Template_Clone_Modified_for_R430.xml’ file. FQDD>NIC.Integrated.1‐4‐1 NIC.Integrated.
‐‐> ******‐‐> ******‐‐> Manual Disabled Stop on Error On with SMART User Mode PAGE 13-p:calvin -r:https://192.168.100.40/wsman -encoding:utf-8 -a:basic -SkipCNcheck SkipCAcheck 6) Execute GetConfigResults on the R430 using the Preview JobID and save the Lifecycle Controller log ConfigResults in ‘04_R430_Preview_LCLog_Clone_of_R730.xml’. Make sure there are no failures identified. winrm i GetConfigResults "http://schemas.dell.com/wbem/wscim/1/cimschema/2/DCIM_LCRecordLog?InstanceID=DCIM:LifecycleLog+ cimnamespace=root/dcim” -u:root -p:calvin -r:https://192.168.100.
Summary The iDRAC with Lifecycle Controller technology enables system administrators to create human‐readable snapshots of an entire server system configuration using Server Configuration Profiles. This paper shows how settings from one server can be checked for applicability to another server without disturbing the target. The user can then either modify the source Profile for applicability to the target system, or choose to apply only the component sections that can be used without error.
Appendix 1: RAIDaction Profile Example – Before Edit PAGE 16Disk.Bay.1:Enclosure.Internal.0‐1:RAID.Integrated.1‐1 ‐‐>
No Online PAGE 17Appendix 2: RAIDaction Profile Example – After Edit Note the changes marked with yellow highlighting below: PAGE 18 No Ready PAGE 19Appendix 3: Attribute Behavior in Normal Export 19 Component Attribute State Value LifecycleController. Embedded.1 LCAttributes.1#LifecycleControllerState Commented (Capability/ Feature Enablement) As set (ex, Enabled) System.Embedded.1 ServerPwr.1#PowerCapValue Commented (Dependency) As set (ex, 247) System.Embedded.1 ServerTopology.1#DataCenterName As set (ex, Dell‐DC) System.Embedded.1 ServerTopology.1#AisleName System.Embedded.1 ServerTopology.1#RackName System.Embedded.
Component Attribute State Value Bios.Setup.1‐1 UefiBootSeq Bios.Setup.1‐1 BiosBootSeq Bios.Setup.1‐1 HddSeq Commented, (Boot Settings) Commented, (Boot Settings) Commented (Boot Settings) As set (ex, NIC.Integrated.1‐1‐1, NIC.Integrated.1‐2‐1 …) As set (HardDisk.List.1‐1, NIC.Integrated.1‐1‐1) As set (RAID.Integrated.1‐1) Bios.Setup.1‐1 OneTimeBiosBootSeq As set Bios.Setup.1‐1 OneTimeUefiBootSeq Bios.Setup.1‐1 OneTimeHddBootSeq Bios.Setup.
Component Attribute State Value NIC.Integrated.1‐x‐1 FirstTgtTcpPort Commented (I/O Identity) As set (number) NIC.Integrated.1‐x‐1 FirstTgtIscsiName Commented (I/O Identity) As set (string) NIC.Integrated.1‐x‐1 FirstTgtChapId Commented, (I/O Identity) As set (number) NIC.Integrated.1‐x‐1 FirstTgtChapPwd Commented, (I/O Identity) As set (string) NIC.Integrated.1‐x‐1 ConnectSecondTgt Commented,(I/O Identity) As set (ex, Disabled) NIC.Integrated.
Component Attribute State Value OldControllerKey Commented (Dependent, Security Obfuscated) Commented (Dependent, Security Obfuscated) ****** NewControllerKey Virtual Disk RAIDaction Set to “Update” Name Uncommented (Destructive) Uncommented (Destructive) Commented (Dependent) Commented (Dependent) Size Commented (Dependent) As set, number StripeSize Commented (Dependent) As set, number SpanDepth Commented (Dependent) As set, number SpanLength RAIDTypes Commented (Dependent) Commented
Appendix 4: Attribute Behavior in Clone Export 23 Component Attribute State Value LifecycleController. Embedded.1 LCAttributes.1#LifecycleControllerState Commented (Capability/ Feature Enablement) As set (ex, Enabled) System.Embedded.1 ServerPwr.1#PowerCapValue Commented (Dependency) As set (ex, 247) System.Embedded.1 ServerTopology.1#DataCenterName As set (ex, Dell‐DC) System.Embedded.1 ServerTopology.1#AisleName System.Embedded.1 ServerTopology.1#RackName System.Embedded.
Component Attribute State Value Bios.Setup.1‐1 TpmClear (Dependency) As set Bios.Setup.1‐1 IntelTxt (Dependency) As set Bios.Setup.1‐1 AcPwrRcvryUserDelay (Dependency) As set Bios.Setup.1‐1 UefiBootSeq As set Bios.Setup.1‐1 BiosBootSeq Bios.Setup.1‐1 HddSeq Bios.Setup.1‐1 OneTimeBiosBootSeq Bios.Setup.1‐1 OneTimeUefiBootSeq Bios.Setup.1‐1 OneTimeHddBootSeq Bios.Setup.
Component Attribute State Value NIC.Integrated.1‐x‐1 ConnectFirstTgt Commented (I/O Identity) As set NIC.Integrated.1‐x‐1 FirstTgtIpAddress Commented (I/O Identity) As set NIC.Integrated.1‐x‐1 FirstTgtBootLun Commented (I/O Identity) As set NIC.Integrated.1‐x‐1 FirstTgtTcpPort Commented (I/O Identity) As set NIC.Integrated.1‐x‐1 FirstTgtIscsiName Commented (I/O Identity) As set NIC.Integrated.1‐x‐1 FirstTgtChapId Commented (I/O Identity) As set NIC.Integrated.
Component Attribute State Value CurrentControllerMode Uncommented (Destructive) Uncommented (Destructive) Commented (Dependent) As set (string) Commented (Dependent, Security Obfuscated) Commented (Dependent, Security Obfuscated) ****** RAIDrekey KeyID OldControllerKey NewControllerKey Virtual Disk RAIDaction RAIDinitOperation Cachecade Name Size StripeSize SpanDepth SpanLength ****** Uncommented (Destructive) Uncommented (Destructive) Uncommented (Dependent) Set to CreateAuto Uncommented (D
RAIDPDState 27 Server Cloning with Server Configuration Profiles Uncommented (Destructive) only when Status is Ready or Non‐RAID As set
Appendix 5: Attribute Behavior in Replace Export 28 Component Attribute State Value LifecycleController. Embedded.1 LCAttributes.1#LifecycleControllerState Commented (Capability/ Feature Enablement) As set (ex, Enabled) System.Embedded.1 ServerPwr.1#PowerCapValue Commented (Dependency) As set (ex, 247) System.Embedded.1 ServerTopology.1#DataCenterName As set (ex, Dell‐DC) System.Embedded.1 ServerTopology.1#AisleName System.Embedded.1 ServerTopology.1#RackName System.Embedded.
Component Attribute State Value Bios.Setup.1‐1 Bios.Setup.1‐1 AcPwrRcvryUserDelay UefiBootSeq As set As set Bios.Setup.1‐1 BiosBootSeq Bios.Setup.1‐1 HddSeq Bios.Setup.1‐1 OneTimeBiosBootSeq Bios.Setup.1‐1 OneTimeUefiBootSeq Bios.Setup.1‐1 OneTimeHddBootSeq Bios.Setup.
Component Attribute State Value NIC.Integrated.1‐x‐1 IscsiInitiatorChapId As set NIC.Integrated.1‐x‐1 IscsiInitiatorChapPwd NIC.Integrated.1‐x‐1 ConnectFirstTgt NIC.Integrated.1‐x‐1 FirstTgtIpAddress NIC.Integrated.1‐x‐1 FirstTgtBootLun NIC.Integrated.1‐x‐1 FirstTgtTcpPort NIC.Integrated.1‐x‐1 FirstTgtIscsiName NIC.Integrated.1‐x‐1 FirstTgtChapId NIC.Integrated.1‐x‐1 FirstTgtChapPwd NIC.Integrated.1‐x‐1 ConnectSecondTgt NIC.Integrated.1‐x‐1 SecondTgtIpAddress NIC.Integrated.
Component Attribute State Value FC.Slot.x‐x BootScanSelection As set (string) FC.Slot.x‐x FirstFCTargetWWPN FC.Slot.x‐x FirstFCTargetLUN FC.Slot.x‐x SecondFCTargetConnect FC.Slot.x‐x SecondFCTargetLUN FC.Slot.x‐x ConnectFirstFCoETarget FC.Slot.x‐x FirstFCoEWWPNTarget FC.Slot.x‐x FirstFCoEBootTargetLUN FC.Slot.
Component Attribute State Value RAIDdedicatedSpare Uncommented (Dependent) Uncommented (Dependent) Set to “AutoSelect” when “RAID Action” is “CreateAuto” As set (ex, “Enabled”) RAIDHotSpareStatus Uncommented (Capability/ Feature enablement) As set (ex, Dedicated) RAIDPDState Uncommented (Destructive) only when Status is Ready or Non‐RAID As set T10PIStatus Physical Drive 32 Server Cloning with Server Configuration Profiles
