Dank at 10:56, 15 September 2011

2011-09-15T10:56:44Z

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	* Most recent tested BIOS: [http://linux.dell.com/repo/firmware/bios-hdrs/system_bios_ven_0x1028_dev_0x01f9_version_a12/ 0x0159-A12]		* 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)		* Use kernel modules <tt>ahci</tt> (be sure to enable AHCI mode in the BIOS SATA configuration)

			===Dell e6510===
			* Sensor monitoring through coretemp and i8k

	==See Also==		==See Also==

Dank: /* See Also */

2010-03-25T23:50:30Z

WikiSysop: 1 revision

2009-01-28T07:32:15Z

1 revision

← Older revision	Revision as of 07:32, 28 January 2009
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Dank: /* Dell PowerEdge R900 */

2008-09-30T09:59:43Z

Dell PowerEdge R900

New page

[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

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:50, 25 March 2010
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	* [http://gentoo-wiki.com/HOWTO_Dell_BIOS_Upgrade Gentoo] Wiki HOWTO -- Dell BIOS Upgrades		* [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		* [http://linux.dell.com/wiki/index.php/Oss/Firmware_Tools Dell] Wiki page on firmware updates
			[[Category: Hardware]]

Linux on Dells - revision history

Dank at 10:56, 15 September 2011

Dank: /* See Also */

WikiSysop: 1 revision

Dank: /* Dell PowerEdge R900 */