SMS 2003 Inventory Tool for Dell Update Frequently Asked Questions
Article
Q. Can I deploy SMS 2003 Inventory Tool for Dell Update to non-Dell servers? (Added May 31, 2005)
A.
No, this tool is only for Dell servers. The inventory tool checks but might not always detect non-Dell servers. Running the scan tool on non-Dell servers is not tested and might cause the computer to stop responding or restart unexpectedly. Use the query-based collection named Dell Update to advertise the inventory tool only to Dell servers. For more information, see “Identify all Dell computers you want to manage” in the Inventory Tool for Dell Update - Administrator’s Guide (SMSITDU.doc), included with the inventory tool.
Q. How does the SMS 2003 Inventory Tool for Dell Update find out information about BIOS, firmware, and other components? (Added May 31, 2005)
A.
The SMS 2003 Inventory Tool for Dell Update uses the Inventory Collector Tool (InvCol.exe) from Dell to scan hardware-related components. The Inventory Collector Tool installs special drivers to detect and report on BIOS, firmware, and other components. These special drivers are removed as soon as scanning is complete.
Q. In the URL to the Dell update files, I see square brackets (“[” and “]”). Does it mean these URLs are wrong and download will fail? (Added May 31, 2005)
A.
This is expected and by design. SMS components know how to interpret these square brackets and remove them before constructing the URL for downloading Dell updates.
Q. HWhat log files are available for troubleshooting? (Added May 31, 2005)
A.
For a list of log files, see the Inventory Tool for Dell Update - Administrator’s Guide (SMSITDU.doc), included with the inventory tool.
Q. Can I use SMS 2003 Inventory Tool for Dell Update to inventory or update Dell desktop computers? (Added May 31, 2005)
A.
This inventory tool cannot be used for Dell desktops. It is supported for Dell servers only. The tool is not tested for Dell desktops, and if it runs at all, it does not produce correct results.
Q. How often is the Dell catalog updated? (Added May 31, 2005)
A.
Dell releases new hardware-related updates on a quarterly schedule. The Dell catalog is updated on the same quarterly schedule. Occasionally Dell releases hotfixes and updates before the quarterly release date, but such releases are uncommon. The catalog is not updated for such out-of-cycle releases. These releases are included in the next quarterly scheduled release after a full test cycle to cover various models and configurations. To take advantage of updates released prior to the quarterly release, the user can download the packages from support.dell.com and create SMS packages distribute them by using the software distribution feature.
Q. Can I use the SMS 2003 Inventory Tool for Dell Update to deploy OpenManage™ 4.2? (Added May 31, 2005)
A.
The inventory tool can evaluate the minimum requirements of OpenManage applications. It compares the current OpenManage installation on the computer with OpenManage 4.2, which is defined in the Dell catalog, so that users will know if they are compliant with OpenManage 4.2. However, the tool cannot deploy OpenManage 4.2. Users should download OpenManage 4.2 from Dell’s Web site and create SMS packages to deploy it using the software distribution feature. For more information about the command-line syntax for unattended installation, see the Dell OpenManage Server Administrator Version 1.9 User's Guide at https://docs.us.dell.com/support/edocs/software/svradmin/1.9/en/ug/index.htm.
Q. Can the SMS 2003 Inventory Tool for Dell Update use a local package repository without connecting to the Internet? (Added May 31, 2005)
A.
Yes. For more information, see the section “Maintain Dell Repository on a Network Shared Folder” in the Inventory Tool for Dell Update - Administrator’s Guide (SMSITDU.doc), included with the inventory tool.
Q. Can the SMS 2003 Inventory Tool for Dell Update take advantage of the Dell Server Update Utility CD? (Added May 31, 2005)
A.
With the following two limitations, the Dell Server Update Utility CD can be used to create a network share that the inventory tool can use:
The CD contains only a partial catalog with a specific quarterly release, so you will see results only for the period covered by the catalog and you can deploy updates for only that quarter.
The CD does not contain the PDK components required by the inventory tool. You must obtain these components from the Web and update them manually in the appropriate SMS packages on a regular basis.
For more information about how to use setup and how to create the network share for the repository, see the Inventory Tool for Dell Update - Administrator’s Guide (SMSITDU.doc), included with the inventory tool.
Q. Will the SMS 2003 Inventory Tool for Dell Update bring a Dell server to the same level defined in the Dell Server Update Utility CD? (Added May 31, 2005)
A.
The Dell Server Update Utility CD updates Dell servers to a standard baseline for a specific quarterly release. The catalog that the tool downloads from the Dell FTP site contains releases across multiple quarters. The System Update definition contained in the catalog on the Server Update Utility CD for a specific quarter is identical to the System Update definition for the same quarter in the catalog on the Dell FTP Site. Therefore, the tool will bring any Dell server to the same level as the Dell Server Update Utility CD of the same quarter.
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Did you find this information useful? Send your suggestions and comments about the FAQ tosmsdocs@microsoft.com.
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