System Updates

This module focuses on how Dell AIOps can quickly identify systems in need of updates to help ensure Code Currency to avoid known issues.

System Updates

This lesson demonstrates how a user views details about newer versions of software available from all products in Dell AIOps. For select platforms, this lesson demonstrates how Dell AIOps helps manage, stage, and even perform those update actions directly from the Dell AIOps portal.

On the **Home** page, scroll to the **Systems Needing Updates** tile on the right side of the page to view a quick summary of systems that have updates available. These updates are categorized by **Urgent** and **Recommended**. Click the **GO TO UPDATES** link to navigate to the Manage System Updates page

The **System Updates** view provides a list of systems, indicating systems that have updates available. The view is divided into different tabs based of system types. - **Storage** monitors updates for storage systems and Data Storage Services - **Networking** monitors updates for Connectrix systems - **HCI** monitors updates for VxRail systems - **Data Protection** monitors updates for PowerProtect Data Manager, PowerProtect DD (standard and Virtual Edition) - **Server** monitors PowerEdge systems - **Collector** monitors Dell AIOps Collectors Click the filter (funnel) icon from a specific tab to view available filter options for that category. The **CODE SUPPORT MATRIX** link will open a new browser tab to the Dell Support knowledge base article with more detail on software support and recommendations.

System Updates - PowerStore

For the remainder of this lesson, you will focus on the update capabilities AIOps has for **Dell PowerStore** systems. (Optional) Click the filter icon, then select PowerStore, then the "X" to the right of **Clear All** to filter the list view by PowerStore systems.

Starting with the **System** column, notice the arrow to the left of the system name, when clicked, the row will expand providing extra details about when the update was released, a brief summary, and link to the full release notes.

Columns to the right provide important information such as: - **Current Version** - version of software currently running on the PowerStore - **Update Version** - Next version of software to update to - **Update Category** - indicates the type of update, i.e: Latest, Urgent, Recommended, etc. - **Update Status** - The last known action such as Health Check or Staged - **Job Status** - Status of the current or last run job, i.e: In Progress, Success, Failed - **Authorized Access Status** - Indicates if credentials have been registered with AIOps for orchestrating upgrade tasks. Notice that the **Manufacturing_Dev** system's **Authorized Access Status** has an alert to update the configuration. This indicates that the credentials provided are incorrect or outdated and AIOps can no longer manage upgrade tasks.

Have AIOps start a **Health Check** task and update the authorized credentials at the same time by selecting the checkbox to the left of **Manufacturing_Dev** and clicking **Health Check**

Since the credentials are invalid, a warning panel pops out from the right, prompting you with information about the issue and the option of updating credentials now. For AIOps to perform upgrade tasks for PowerStore, the credentials provided must have the **Resource Operator** role assignment. For this simulator, type in any values for the **Username** and **Password** fields, then click **Save and Finish** to simulate starting the **Health Check**.

All **PowerStore** access credentials are managed from **Admin** > **Settings** > **Authorized Access Account** page within the AIOps portal.

In addition to **Health Check**, AIOps can direct PowerStore to download the update package with the **Stage To System** button and start the update process with the **Update** button.

System Updates - Networking

Select the **Networking** tab.

Networking devices use a **Stage to System** approach for system updates. If a source-code-to-target update is available, you can select one or more system checkboxes to perform the updates. Select the checkbox next to **Production West** to select this system for update.

Select the '**>'** between the checkbox and Production West to learn more about the update that is available for this system.

Because we are in simulator mode we are unable to update the system. However, to start the system update you would need to select the **Stage to System** button above.

Once the operation is initiated, information displays in the **Update Status** column of this **System Updates** view, The Staging operation may take up to 24 hours to complete.

System Updates - HCI

Select the **HCI** tab.

Note that this Update function is disabled because we are in Simulator Mode.

The **HCI** view provides a list of monitored VxRail, indicating whether a newer version of software is available, and when the update must be performed.

The HCI Systems Update page displays the Doughnut Chart for the following: - VxRail Current Versions—Indicates data about the total number of VxRail versions available in the systems. Each color in the chart represents different versions of VxRail. Hover over each color to view the percentage of the VxRail version installed on the respective system. - Update Advisor Report—Indicates data about the cluster update readiness status in the system. Each color in the chart represents the following Advisor Reports: - Ready To Update - Not Optimal To Update - Not Ready To Update Hover over each color to view the percentage status of the different types of Advisor Reports.

The **HCI systems view table** displays the systems that you have permission to view in Dell AIOps. At the top there is a list of **Available Tasks** that list the following intelligent multisystem update tasks: - Pre-check: Performs a preupdate health check to verify whether a cluster is ready for a system update. - Download: Downloads VxRail update bundles for the VxRail clusters in your environment. - Update: Updates individual or multiple clusters.

To filter for clusters that need to run through the **PRE-CHECK** process, select the checkbox to the left of **PRE-CHECK.**

The list of available clusters have been filtered down for only ones that are eligible for the **PRE-CHECK** process. Thus, only these clusters can currently be selected in the list. Select the **checkbox** to the left of **Cloud data center.**

Select the **RUN TASK(s)** button.

Enter a name for the pre-check job, and then click **Next**.

You will then be provided with a summary of your task. Select **Finish**.

To download VxRail update bundles for the VxRail clusters in your environment, select the **Download** option in the **Available Tasks** row.

The list of available clusters have been filtered down for only ones that have an available update bundle that needs to be downloaded. Thus, only these clusters can currently be selected in the list. Select the **checkbox** to the left of **Cloud data center.**

Select **RUN TASK(S).**

Enter a name for the download job, and then click **Next**.

You will then be provided with a summary of your task. Select **Finish**.

Next, let's perform a cluster update. Note that a special licenses is required to update VxRail. You can perform the update job only on standard clusters, 2-node vSAN cluster, and stretched cluster. The updates job is disabled for dynamic node clusters. Select the **UPDATE** checkbox in the **Available Tasks** row.

Before performing the update task on VxRail clusters, you must: - Generate the appropriate update procedure using SolVe Online for VxRail to ensure that the updates are completed successfully. - Enable vCenter-based access control and set the right permissions on the clusters you want to update. - Enter and verify the credentials on the clusters you want to update. - Download the target version update bundle before you submit the update job. - Perform a cluster health pre-check before updating the cluster. Before performing the update task on a 2-node vSAN and stretched cluster, ensure that: - ADC version is 1.5.202 or later. - VxRail software version is 7.0.100 or later for 2-node vSAN cluster. - VxRail software version is 8.0.200 or later for stretched cluster. If you want to update the witness node along with 2-node vSAN cluster and stretched cluster, ensure that the Witness node deploy type is Virtual Appliance.

The list of available clusters have been filtered down for only ones that are available to be updated. Thus, only these clusters can currently be selected in the list. Select the **checkbox** to the left of **Cloud data center.**

Select **RUN TASK(S).**

You will be presented with the following **Confirmation** window. As we cannot perform the update because we are in simulator mode it is ok to **Proceed.** Select **PROCEED.**

Enter a name for the update job, and then click **Next**.

Review the **Advisories** and then select **Next**.

Enter your vCenter account username and password. In this case, input **username** for the username and **Password123!** for the password. Then click **Enter**.

Once you receive the **Validation Successful** message, select **Next**.

Lastly, you will need to select the **Witness Node** to update. Because we are in simulator mode we are unable to do this step, but you would need to select the checkbox to the left of the Witness Node and then select Next. Select **Cancel** to close the update window.

System Updates - Data Protection

Select the **Data Protection** tab.

Data Protection updates are performed the same as **Networking** updates and use a **Stage to System** approach for system updates. If a source-code-to-target update is available, you can select one or more system checkboxes to perform the updates. Select the checkbox next to **ppdm01** to select this system for update.

Next select the **'>'** between the checkbox and the **ppdm01** title to learn more about the update that is available for this system.

Because we are in simulator mode we are unable to update the system. However, to start the system update you would need to select the **Stage to System** button above. Once the operation is initiated, information displays in the **Update Status** column of this **System Updates** view, The Staging operation may take up to 24 hours to complete.

System Updates - Server

Select the **Server** tab.

The Server view provides a list of monitored PowerEdge servers and chassis, indicating whether a server or chassis may have a newer version of software available, and when the update must be performed. The **Summary Bar** displays the following status information for **System Compliance** or **Component updates**: - Urgent—Apply the updates as soon as possible. - Recommended—Updates are recommended for the next scheduled update cycle. - Optional—Review any updates which apply to your system. - Up To Date—System is updated with the latest version. - Downgrade—Downgrade to the recommended version. - Not Available—Updates are not available in Dell AIOps through the Dell catalog. The PowerEdge server must be updated manually from Dell Support

The colors of the bars mean the following: - Red—Urgent - Yellow—Recommended - Blue—Optional - Grey—Downgrade - Green—Up to Date

Server firmware and driver updates work by comparing versions currently installed on hardware to baseline versions through compliance reports. The default baseline is all of the latest versions available on the Dell online catalog. Select a compliance report to see all versions installed on servers that are part of that compliance report and make any necessary updates. Select the **checkbox** to the left of **Lab Env Test 1.**

Select **Create Compliance Report.**

On the Create Compliance Report page, provide the following information for the **[[Name / Description]]** tab: - Compliance Report Name—name of the custom report. - Compliance Report Description—description of the custom report. Select **Next**.

On the Baseline tab, use the **[[Baseline Type]]** drop-down to select a catalog from a particular catalog group. You can also search for the specific catalog for the target firmware or driver version. The following catalog groups are available to select: - Lifecycle Controller Catalog for Enterprise Servers—contains only BIOS and firmware updates. - Previous Enterprise Servers Catalog—contains latest BIOS, firmware, drivers, and certain applications for both Microsoft Windows and Linux operating systems. - ESXi Catalog for Enterprise Servers—contains a tested and validated stack of firmware respective to specific PowerEdge Server models. - Validated MX Stack Catalog—contains a tested and validated stack of firmware for the MX7000 chassis and compute nodes. - vSAN Catalog for Enterprise Servers—contains a tested and validated stack of firmware for specific Dell vSAN Ready - Update Catalog for Microsoft HCI solutions—contains latest updates for component firmware and driver for the AX nodes. Select **Validated MX Stack Catalog.**

Select the most recent version **FEBCY26 Catalog** Then select **Next** in the bottom right corner.

On the Target Devices tab, select the servers that you want to compare to the selected baseline. Select the topmost **WIN-SYS02...** and then select **Finish** in the bottom right corner.

System Updates - Collector

Select the **Collector** tab.

The **Collector** view provides a list of monitored Dell AIOps Collectors only, indicating whether a newer version of software is available, and when the update must be performed. Select the **'>'** to the left of **ciqc.prod.emc.com.**

In this page we can see the release summary of the latest update version, the update category, and more. The update category details when the update must be performed.

Congratulations! You have reached the end of this particular lesson. Click **Close** in the top left corner of this script to return to the demo guide.

System Updates

This module focuses on how Dell AIOps can quickly identify systems in need of updates to help ensure Code Currency to avoid known issues.

System Updates

System Updates - PowerStore

Have AIOps start a **Health Check** task and update the authorized credentials at the same time by selecting the checkbox to the left of **Manufacturing_Dev** and clicking **Health Check**

All **PowerStore** access credentials are managed from **Admin** > **Settings** > **Authorized Access Account** page within the AIOps portal.

In addition to **Health Check**, AIOps can direct PowerStore to download the update package with the **Stage To System** button and start the update process with the **Update** button.

System Updates - Networking

Select the **Networking** tab.

Select the '**>'** between the checkbox and Production West to learn more about the update that is available for this system.

Because we are in simulator mode we are unable to update the system. However, to start the system update you would need to select the **Stage to System** button above.

Once the operation is initiated, information displays in the **Update Status** column of this **System Updates** view, The Staging operation may take up to 24 hours to complete.

System Updates - HCI

Select the **HCI** tab.

Note that this Update function is disabled because we are in Simulator Mode.

The **HCI** view provides a list of monitored VxRail, indicating whether a newer version of software is available, and when the update must be performed.

To filter for clusters that need to run through the **PRE-CHECK** process, select the checkbox to the left of **PRE-CHECK.**

Select the **RUN TASK(s)** button.

Enter a name for the pre-check job, and then click **Next**.

You will then be provided with a summary of your task. Select **Finish**.

To download VxRail update bundles for the VxRail clusters in your environment, select the **Download** option in the **Available Tasks** row.

Select **RUN TASK(S).**

Enter a name for the download job, and then click **Next**.

You will then be provided with a summary of your task. Select **Finish**.

Select **RUN TASK(S).**

You will be presented with the following **Confirmation** window. As we cannot perform the update because we are in simulator mode it is ok to **Proceed.** Select **PROCEED.**

Enter a name for the update job, and then click **Next**.

Review the **Advisories** and then select **Next**.

Enter your vCenter account username and password. In this case, input **username** for the username and **Password123!** for the password. Then click **Enter**.

Once you receive the **Validation Successful** message, select **Next**.

System Updates - Data Protection

Select the **Data Protection** tab.

Next select the **'>'** between the checkbox and the **ppdm01** title to learn more about the update that is available for this system.

System Updates - Server

Select the **Server** tab.

The colors of the bars mean the following: - Red—Urgent - Yellow—Recommended - Blue—Optional - Grey—Downgrade - Green—Up to Date

Select **Create Compliance Report.**

Select the most recent version **FEBCY26 Catalog** Then select **Next** in the bottom right corner.

On the Target Devices tab, select the servers that you want to compare to the selected baseline. Select the topmost **WIN-SYS02...** and then select **Finish** in the bottom right corner.

System Updates - Collector

Select the **Collector** tab.

In this page we can see the release summary of the latest update version, the update category, and more. The update category details when the update must be performed.

Congratulations! You have reached the end of this particular lesson. Click **Close** in the top left corner of this script to return to the demo guide.