View source for Linux on Dells

[http://www.dell.com Dell] has made impressive and extensive strides, in my opinion, regarding support for Linux on their various server and laptop products (I don't know much about Dell workstations). The [http://linux.dell.com Dell Linux Engineering Web] is a good starting point for information.

==Userspace Tools==
===OpenManage===
Dell's OpenManage software can be used to access all manner of functionality. I get my [[Debian]] packages from [ftp://ftp.sara.nl/pub/outgoing/dell/ ftp://ftp.sara.nl/pub/outgoing/dell/]. '''FIXME'''

===libsmbios===
The System Management BIOS (SMBIOS) ([http://www.dmtf.org/standards/smbios/ specified] by the [http://www.dmtf.org/home Distributed Management Task Force]) grew out of the DMIBIOS (so named due to interactions with the [http://www.dmtf.org/standards/dmi/ Desktop Management Interface (DMI)] (also a DMTF initiative). The primary userland tools to interact with SMBIOS are those provided in conjunction with [http://linux.dell.com/libsmbios/main/index.html libsmbios], a Dell-led open source product with its development mailing list found [http://lists.us.dell.com/mailman/listinfo/libsmbios-devel here]. [[Debian]] users ought install the [http://packages.debian.org/search?keywords=libsmbios-bin libsmbios-bin] package; developers will want the [http://linux.dell.com/libsmbios/main/index.html documentation]. These tools use the <tt>dcdbas</tt> and <tt>dell_rbu</tt> kernel modules, available as part of the mainline kernel.

===ipmitool===
[http://ipmitool.sourceforge.net/ IPMItool] can be used (together with appropriate kernel modules, see below) to operate the wealth of sensor and management functionality built into most Dell servers. Examples from a Dell R900:<pre>[wopr](0) $ sudo ipmitool chassis status
System Power         : on
Power Overload       : false
Power Interlock      : inactive
Main Power Fault     : false
Power Control Fault  : false
Power Restore Policy : always-off
Last Power Event     : 
Chassis Intrusion    : inactive
Front-Panel Lockout  : inactive
Drive Fault          : false
Cooling/Fan Fault    : false
Sleep Button Disable : not allowed
Diag Button Disable  : allowed
Reset Button Disable : not allowed
Power Button Disable : allowed
Sleep Button Disabled: false
Diag Button Disabled : true
Reset Button Disabled: false
Power Button Disabled: true
[wopr](0) $ </pre>Interesting diagnostic subcommands include <tt>chassis status</tt>, <tt>sdr</tt>, <tt>lan print</tt>, <tt>sel</tt>, <tt>sensor</tt>, and <tt>fru</tt>.

==Kernel Modules==
* <tt>dcdbas</tt> - Dell System Management Base. Necessary to use a majority of the libsmbios tools, as well as Dell's OpenManage software. Its kernel documentation can be found [http://www.kernel.org/doc/Documentation/dcdbas.txt here].
* <tt>dell_rbu</tt> (requires <tt>firmware_class</tt>) - Dell Remote BIOS Update (RBU). Necessary to use the <tt>dellBiosUpdate</tt> tool for BIOS upgrades directly from kernelspace (and thus protected mode).
* <tt>ipmi_si</tt>, <tt>ipmi_devintf</tt> (require <tt>ipmi_msghandler</tt>) - [[IPMI]] modules necessary for <tt>ipmitool</tt>.

==BIOS Upgrades==
Upgrading Dell BIOSes is easily accomplished on Linux. '''FIXME''' Once you have the SystemID, acquire the appropriate BIOS code from the [http://linux.dell.com/repo/firmware/bios-hdrs/ Dell BIOS repository]. The <tt>dellBiosUpdate</tt> tool is used with this file; use <tt>-f</tt> to specify the new BIOS file, <tt>-u</tt> to specify a BIOS upgrade, and (in my experience) the <tt>--force_mono</tt> option to make things actually work; there's almost certainly something at work here unknown to me. Here's an example:<pre>
[wopr](0) $ sudo getSystemId
Libsmbios:    0.13.13
System ID:    0x01F0
Service Tag:  4HNKYF1
Express Service Code: 9774663229
Product Name: PowerEdge R900
BIOS Version: 1.1.3
Vendor:       Dell Inc.
Is Dell:      1
[wopr](0) $ sudo dellBiosUpdate --force_mono -u -f 0x01f0_version_1.1.6/bios.hdr 
Supported RBU type for this system: (MONOLITHIC, PACKET)
Using RBU v2 driver. Initializing Driver. 
Setting RBU type in v2 driver to: MONOLITHIC (FORCED) 
Prep driver for data load.
Writing RBU data (4096bytes/dot): .....................................................
Notify driver data is finished.
Activate CMOS bit to notify BIOS that update is ready on next boot.
Update staged sucessfully. BIOS update will occur on next reboot.
[wopr](0) $ sudo shutdown -r 0
[wopr](0) $ sudo getSystemId 
Libsmbios:    0.13.13
System ID:    0x01F0
Service Tag:  4HNKYF1
Express Service Code: 9774663229
Product Name: PowerEdge R900
BIOS Version: 1.1.6
Vendor:       Dell Inc.
Is Dell:      1
[wopr](0) $ </pre>Without the <tt>--force_mono</tt> option, all updates I've performed have seemed to work, but failed to 'take'; you are advised to use <tt>getSystemId</tt> to verify the new BIOS version upon restart.

==Monitoring Disks==
* Use <tt>omreport</tt> to discover and interrogate storage; <tt>smartctl</tt> and <tt>smartd</tt>, the typical Linux [[SMART]] tools, don't generally work with the PERC controllers.
* <tt>omreport storage controller</tt> generates controller/backplane output:
<pre>[wopr](0) $ omreport storage controller
 Controller  PERC 6/i Integrated (Embedded)

Controllers
ID                                : 0
Status                            : Ok
Name                              : PERC 6/i Integrated
Slot ID                           : Embedded
State                             : Ready
Firmware Version                  : 6.0.2-0002
Minimum Required Firmware Version : Not Applicable
Driver Version                    : 00.00.03.20-rc1 
Minimum Required Driver Version   : Not Applicable
Number of Connectors              : 2
Rebuild Rate                      : 30%
BGI Rate                          : 30%
Check Consistency Rate            : 30%
Reconstruct Rate                  : 30%
Alarm State                       : Not Applicable
Cluster Mode                      : Not Applicable
SCSI Initiator ID                 : Not Applicable
Cache Memory Size                 : 256 MB
Patrol Read Mode                  : Auto
Patrol Read State                 : Stopped
Patrol Read Rate                  : 30%
Patrol Read Iterations            : 26

[wopr](0) $ </pre>
* <tt>omreport storage pdisk</tt> generates physical disk info:
<pre>[wopr](255) $ omreport storage pdisk controller=0
List of Physical Disks on Controller PERC 6/i Integrated (Embedded)

Controller PERC 6/i Integrated (Embedded)
ID                        : 0:0:0
Status                    : Ok
Name                      : Physical Disk 0:0:0
State                     : Online
Failure Predicted         : No
Progress                  : Not Applicable
Type                      : SAS
Capacity                  : 278.88 GB (299439751168 bytes)
Used RAID Disk Space      : 278.88 GB (299439751168 bytes)
Available RAID Disk Space : 0.00 GB (0 bytes)
Hot Spare                 : No
Vendor ID                 : DELL    
Product ID                : HUS153030VLS300 
Revision                  : A280
Serial No.                : J8WBX7NC            
Negotiated Speed          : Not Available
Capable Speed             : Not Available
Manufacture Day           : 05
Manufacture Week          : 11
Manufacture Year          : 2008
SAS Address               : 5000CCA0054E067D
....
[wopr](0) $ </pre>
* Finally, <tt>omreport storage vdisk</tt> reports on logical volumes:
<pre>[wopr](0) $ omreport storage vdisk
List of Virtual Disks in the System

Controller PERC 6/i Integrated (Embedded)
ID                  : 0
Status              : Ok
Name                : Virtual Disk 0
State               : Ready
Progress            : Not Applicable
Layout              : RAID-5
Size                : 1,115.50 GB (1197759004672 bytes)
Device Name         : /dev/sda
Type                : SAS
Read Policy         : No Read Ahead
Write Policy        : Write Back
Cache Policy        : Not Applicable
Stripe Element Size : 64 KB
Disk Cache Policy   : Disabled

[wopr](0) $ </pre>
* Other interesting commands include <tt>omreport storage enclosure</tt>

==Hardware Compability / Issues==
===Dell PowerEdge R900===
* Dell's [http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/server-poweredge-r900?c=us&l=en&s=bsd&cs=04 R900 page]
* 4U server, 2 or 4 quad-core Xeons, 4-64G 667MHz RAM
* Most recent tested BIOS: [http://linux.dell.com/repo/firmware/bios-hdrs/system_bios_ven_0x1028_dev_0x01f0_version_1.1.6/ 0x01F0-1.1.6]
* Broadcom NICs (eg: NetXtreme II BCM5708, PCIID 14e4:164c) require non-free firmware ([http://packages.debian.org/search?keywords=firmware-bnx2 firmware-bnx2] package in [[Debian]])
* PERC 6/i LSI Logic MegaRAID SAS 1078 SAS controller doesn't seem usable with eg <tt>mptctl</tt> or <tt>smartctl</tt>
* Use kernel modules <tt>ioatdma</tt>

===Dell PowerEdge 1950===
* Dell's [http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/pedge_1950_3?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd 1950 III page]
* 1U server, 1 dual-or-quad-core Xeon, 1-8G 667MHz RAM
* Most recent tested BIOS: [http://linux.dell.com/repo/firmware/bios-hdrs/system_bios_ven_0x1028_dev_0x01b3_version_2.3.1/ 0x01B3-2.3.1]
* Broadcom NICs (eg: NetXtreme II BCM5708, PCIID 14e4:164c) require non-free firmware ([http://packages.debian.org/search?keywords=firmware-bnx2 firmware-bnx2] package in [[Debian]])
* Use kernel modules <tt>ioatdma</tt>, <tt>i5000_edac</tt>

===Dell ATG D630===
* Dell's [http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/latit_atg_d630?c=us&cs=555&l=en&s=biz ATG D630 page]
** Dell's [http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/latit_d630?c=us&l=en&s=biz&cs=555 D630 page]
* Ruggedized laptop, 1 dual-core Core 2 Duo, .5-6G 533-667MHz RAM
* Most recent tested BIOS: [http://linux.dell.com/repo/firmware/bios-hdrs/system_bios_ven_0x1028_dev_0x01f9_version_a12/ 0x0159-A12]
* Use kernel modules <tt>ahci</tt> (be sure to enable AHCI mode in the BIOS SATA configuration)

==See Also==
* Linux kernel [http://www.mjmwired.net/kernel/Documentation/dell_rbu.txt dell_rbu] documentation
* [http://gentoo-wiki.com/HOWTO_Dell_BIOS_Upgrade Gentoo] Wiki HOWTO -- Dell BIOS Upgrades
* [http://linux.dell.com/wiki/index.php/Oss/Firmware_Tools Dell] Wiki page on firmware updates
[[Category: Hardware]]