Dell OpenManage™ Client Connector (OMCC) includes a graphical user interface (GUI) and a command-line interface (CLI). In both cases, OMCC affects only one client system at a time. However, if you execute OMCC commands from the Windows® command line, you can run the same command quickly on different clients. You can also perform an action on several clients simultaneously by incorporating the OMCC commands into a script.
Launching the GUI
You can launch the GUI to connect either to the local client system or to connect to a remote client by using one of the following three methods.
Using the desktop icon
Using the Internet Explorer
Using IT Assistant
Using the Desktop Icon
Double-click the desktop icon to connect only to the local system; that is, the OMCC server is its own client. Data is displayed in OMCC only if OMCI is installed on the client.
Using Internet Explorer
Launch Internet Explorer.
In the Address field, type one of the following web addresses:
https://<omcc IP address>:4995/servlet/OMCCStart?locallogin=true&authType=ntlm&application=omcc&client=<client IP address>
where <omcc IP address> is the IP address of the OMCC system and <client IP address>is the IP address of the client system. If you are launching from the OMCC system rather than from a remote system, you can substitute <localhost> for <omcc IP address>.
OR
https://<omcc IP address>:4995
where <omcc IP address> is the IP address of the OMCC system.
Using IT Assistant
To launch OMCC from the IT Assistant GUI, right-click a client system in the Device tree and click Application Launch�Client Console from the drop-down menu.
NOTE: If you select Client Console, you must have OMCC installed on the IT Assistant system. Because you will be
using this option to manage client systems running OMCI, OMCI must be installed on the desktop system. You must
also enable common information model (CIM) for discovery in IT Assistant because desktop systems do not
support Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). CIM ports are dynamic. See the Microsoft® Knowledge
Base at support.microsoft.com for information about CIM port usage.
Client System User Authentication
You can connect to the OMCI system by using one of the following methods:
Using the desktop icon
Using Internet Explorer
Using IT Assistant
Connecting to the OMCC GUI Using the Desktop Icon
If you launch the OMCC GUI using the desktop icon, the Security Alert page displays. Click Yes to continue. Here, you can access the Properties, Actions, and Logs tab.
Connecting to the OMCC GUI Using Internet Explorer
If you launch the OMCC GUI using the Internet Explorer, the Security Alert page displays. See
"Launching the GUI" for more information.
On the Security Alert page, click Yes to continue.
The Login pagedisplays.
Enter a valid username, password, domain name, and application name, and click OK.
The Client System User Authentication pagedisplays.
Enter the IP address and password of the logged-in user whose client system you want to connect to
and click Continue.
NOTE: The logged-in user should be a valid domain user and should have Administrator privileges on the client
system.
If the client system credentials are authenticated and OMCI is present on the client system, you can access the client system information based on log in privileges. If the password is invalid or OMCI is not present on the client system, you will be notified with an appropriate error message.
Connecting to the OMCC GUI Using IT Assistant
If you launch the OMCC GUI using IT Assistant, the Security Alert page displays. See "Launching the
GUI" for more information.
On the Security Alert page, click Yes to continue.
The Client System User Authentication pagedisplays.
Enter the password of the logged-in user whose client system you want to connect to and click
Continue.
NOTE: The logged-in user should be a valid domain user and should have Administrator privileges on the client
system.
If the client system credentials are authenticated and OMCI is present on the client system, can access the client system information based on log in privileges. If the password is invalid or OMCI is not present on the client system, you will be notified with an appropriate error message.
Managing Your Clients
Use the following process to manage your clients with the OMCC GUI:
Launch the OMCC GUI by using one of the methods described in "Launching the GUI."
Follow the steps on your screen to complete the action.
When the OMCC GUI is launched, to view the CIM classes that OMCI supports, click any of the options appearing on the left pane below System. The CIM classes are grouped under the following logical headings: Asset Information, Components, Configuration, Events, HardwareResources, Information, and Sensors.
To view the CIM classes grouped under Hardware Resources, click System�Hardware Resources on
the left pane.
The Details tab is enabled and the Hardware Resources Details Page displays. This page displays a list of CIM classes grouped under Hardware Resources that OMCI supports. The name of the client system you have connected to is displayed in the top left side of the page. Table 5-1 presents some sample classes located on the Hardware Resources Details Page.
Table 5-1. Details Page
Class Name
Description
Parallel Controller
This class describes capabilities and management of a parallel port.
PCI Bridge
This class describes capabilities and management of a PCI controller, providing bridge to bridge capability.
PCI Device
This class describes capabilities and management of a PCI device controller on an adapter card.
Serial Controller
This class describes capabilities and management of a serial port.
USB Controller
This class describes capabilities and management of a USB controller.
Under the Class Name heading, click the class to be reviewed or edited; for example, PCI Bridge.
The PCI Bridge Instance Listing Page displays. Table 5-2 lists sample instances of the PCI Bridge class. These sample instances can vary from system to system.
Table 5-2. Instance Listing Page
Class Name
CreationClassName
DeviceID
SystemCreationClassName
System Name
PCI Bridge
Dell_PCIBridge
PCI Bridge 0
Dell_SystemSummary
WXP-6B57B1S
PCI Bridge
Dell_PCIBridge
PCI Bridge 1
Dell_SystemSummary
WXP-6B57B1S
NOTE: Each instance of the class has one row.
Click any PCI Bridge instance to display the PCI Bridge Properties Page.
This page displays property names and values, a sample of which are shown in Table 5-3. These sample instances can vary from system to system. The CIM classes are further grouped as Base Properties and Dell Properties. Base properties of a class are implemented by Microsoft, while Dell properties are implemented by Dell™. The property names are the same for each PCI bridge, but the values are different.
NOTE: Tool tip information is available for all CIM class attributes. Class name properties with enumerated numbers
are now displayed as text options. You can also select the appropriate text option from the drop-down menu.
Edit the values of the PCI Bridge Properties Page.
NOTE: Some values are read-only and cannot be edited.
Click Apply Changes or click Go Back to Previous Page to return to the previous page.
To continue reviewing and editing the properties of other classes, select the required CIM class group
(Asset Information, Components, Configuration, Events, HardwareResources, Information, and
Sensors) under Systems in the left pane.
BIOS Authentication
To enable BIOS setup password authentication, enter the BIOS authentication password in the Password field and save it. The BIOS authentication password has to be entered before you change the BIOS values.
To enter the BIOS authentication password, perform the following steps:
From the OMCC GUI, click System�Configuration�Dell Configuration�Dell Configuration.
The Dell Configuration Properties Page displays.
In the Password field, enter the BIOS authentication password and save it.
Using OMCC, you can also do the following:
Change the BIOS setup password
Enable/disable password encryption
Set the BIOS password if it has not been previously set
Unset the BIOS password that was previously set
Changing the BIOS Setup Password:
To change the BIOS setup password, perform the following steps:
From the OMCC GUI, click System�Configuration�Dell Configuration�Dell Configuration.
The Dell Configuration Properties Page displays.
In the Password field, enter the old password and the new password together, with a space between
them.
The passwords are sent to OMCI. If the old password matches the existing password, the new password is set as the current password.
Enabling/Disabling Password Encryption
OMCC supports BIOS password encryption on client systems that have an OMCI version of 7.3 or later. If OMCC detects that the OMCI version on the client machine is of version 7.3 or later, the Disable Encryption check box is not selected. If OMCC detects that the OMCI version on the client machine is prior to version 7.3, the Disable Encryption check box is selected. The user can select/deselect the Disable Encryption check box if required.
Enter "0" or "1" in the PasswordEncrypted field if the Disable
Encryption check box is selected or deselected respectively. See "BIOS Password Encryption" for more information.
To access the Disable Encryption check box and
the PasswordEncrypted field, perform the following steps:
From the OMCC GUI, click System�Configuration�Dell Configuration�Dell Configuration.
The Dell Configuration Properties Page displays.
Scroll to the Dell Properties section to access the Disable Encryption check box
and the PasswordEncrypted field.
Setting the BIOS Password
To set the BIOS password, perform the following steps:
From the OMCC GUI, click System�Configuration�Dell Configuration�Dell Configuration.
The Dell Configuration Properties Page displays.
In the Password field, enter a space and then the current password.
Unsetting the BIOS Password
To unset the BIOS password that was previously set, perform the following steps:
From the OMCC GUI, click System�Configuration�Dell Configuration�Dell Configuration.
The Dell Configuration Properties Page displays.
In the Password field, enter the current password and then a space.
Viewing System Summary Information
The Properties tab displays the System Summary page, which includes information about the status, system, operating system, and BIOS information.
Performing Administrative Tasks
The Actions tab allows the administrator to perform basic administrative tasks on the client system, such as restarting and shutting down the system and updating the BIOS.
Restarting or Shutting Down the System
The Restart-Shutdown action allows the administrator to remotely restart or shutdown the client system. To restart or shutdown the client system, perform the following steps:
Click the Actions tab.
Click Restart-Shutdown.
The System Restart and Shutdown Page displays.
Click the Restart or Shutdown button.
A confirmation message displays. Click OK to restart or shutdown the client system or click Cancel to return to the System Restart and Shutdown Page.
If you click OK, the System Restart Notification window displays on the screen of the client system and notifies the user of the client system that the system will be restarting or shutting down in 60 seconds due to an administrative request. If the user on the client system clicks Cancel, the system will not restart or shutdown.
Updating the BIOS
The FlashBIOS action allows the administrator to remotely update the BIOS on the client system. To update the BIOS, perform the following steps:
Create a BIOS header (*.hdr) file. To generate the header file from the nonpackaged format
executable file, enter the following command:
<filename.exe> -writehdrfile
where filename is the name of the flash BIOS update file. Dell recommends that you create the header file in an MS-DOS® environment.
Click the Actions tab and select the FlashBIOS option. The OMCC FlashBIOS Page displays.
NOTICE: Flashing the BIOS replaces the firmware associated with the BIOS. This operation is generally safe.
However, if the procedure fails for some reason, the system BIOS gets corrupted and the client system may be
unable to boot.
In the BIOS IMAGE FILE text entry box, enter the name of the file that contains the BIOS image
header file.
The image header file must be accessible from the client system, and the name entered must be the full path to the file as seen by the client system in one of the following forms:
http://...
ftp://...
A local path such as, C:\... , to a header file on the client system. Remote drive shares are currently not supported by OMCI.
Click Apply Changes.
If OMCI on the client system succeeds in retrieving the BIOS header file and initiating the BIOS update, the following message displays on the client screen:
Update BIOS Method Initiated.
Update BIOS Method succeeded.
The System Restart Notification window notifies the client system that the system will restart in 60 seconds due to an administrative request. If the user on the client system clicks Cancel, the system will not restart. If the client system is restarted at a later time, the BIOS attempts to perform the BIOS update at that time. However, if power to the client system is turned off, the BIOS does not attempt to perform the BIOS update again.
Viewing Log Information
The Logs tab displays the Alert Log page. The Alert Log page displays a list of the Instrumentation Access Provider (IAP) and OMCI events with details about the severity, event, date and time, source and description. The IAP and OMCI events displayed in the Alert Log page are taken from the Windows Event Viewer. The Windows Event Viewer screen can be accessed by clicking Start�Control Panel�Administrative Tools�Event Viewer�Application.
Changing the User Preferences
The Preferences option in the OMCC main menu lets you specify how the GUI will behave each time it is used. Selecting the Preferences option displays the User and Web Server tabs.
Specifying User Preferences
To specify user preferences, perform the following steps:
In the OMCC main menu, click Preferences.
The User Preferences properties page displays.
Specify the Values of the Attributes listed.
NOTE: The Skin is an alternative graphical interface for an operating system or a software program. The Skin
customizes the look of the operating system or program but does not affect its functionality.
Click Apply Changes.
Specifying Web Server Preferences
To specify Web Server preferences, perform the following steps:
Click the Web Server tab. The Server Preferences page displays.
In Server Preferences, specify your server parameters.
Click Apply Changes.
Click the X.509 Certificate tab to display the X.509 Certificate Management page.
Select one of the following options:
Generate a new certificate
Reuse an existing certificate
Import a root certificate
Import a certificate chain
Click Next.
If you have chosen Generate a new certificate, the X.509 Certificate Generation page displays.
Enter the Values of the Attributes listed and click Generate.
If you have chosen Reuse an existing certificate, the X.509 Certificates page displays.
Enter the Values of the Attributes listed and click Next.
If you have chosen Import a root certificate, the CA (Certificate Authority) Root Import page displays.
Enter the Value of the Attribute listed and click Update and Proceed.
If you have chosen Import a certificate chain, the Certificate Import page displays.
Enter the Value of the Attribute listed and click Update and Proceed.
Follow the instructions on your screen to complete the procedure.
Click Help on the top right side of the page for more information about X.509 Certificate options.
