Dell Server Management, Software to assist with Options

[milamber_of_the_...]

Hi guys,
If i got the wrong forum shoot me, but i figure someone out here has to be administering a network of some description, chances are that network might have Dell servers, and chances are that since you will no doubt be a competent administrator, you will have your servers up to date and tools to monitor their health and stuff.

So, to stop beating round the bush, I am in need of a piece of software that will check the firmware and driver versions on my Dell servers and then check Dell's website for updates. It doesn't have to download and install them, just check the firmware/drivers on the server and let me know if they are out of date.

Does anyone know of software like this? I was using Server Administrator but the latest one i have (stuck with Windows Server 2k3 R2 SP2 here) doesn't tell me that information anymore.

Cheers for any help.

M

[iamthemaxx]

I don't know of anything that will do *just* that and automatically, but Dell's OMSA is great on many levels.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenManage
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/software/svradmin/

[milamber_of_the_...]

thanks iamthemaxx (for both things) I am currently using OMSA but it isn't showing any of that information.

M

[iamthemaxx]

What version are you on?

[milamber_of_the_...]

V5.5.0
anything higher than that refuses to install due to lack of IE7 and .net both of which we are not allowed to install on our servers.

M

[iamthemaxx]

Ouch :(

Here is what I can see under 6.5;

CODE

BIOS Information    
Manufacturer    Dell Inc.
Version    3.0.0
Release Date    01/31/2011

And under 3.3

CODE

BIOS Information        
Attribute    Value
    
Manufacturer    Dell Inc.
Version    A01
Release Date    04/06/2004

These are both Linux machines.

[milamber_of_the_...]

ahhhh HA! apparently, since the firmware was out of date, the installer for the management software decided that it wouldn't install the storage module..... how that is meant to make sure i upgrade the firmware i don't know.

Anyway, went in to add/remove and manually told it to install the storage module and all is sweet :D

M