1. PowerEdge M-Series CMC Management
Module 3
PowerEdge M-Series CMC Management
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Welcome to the Dell 12G version of the PowerEdge M1000e training course. This training provides an overview of the components and features of the Dell PowerEdge M1000e Blade Server enclosure.

2. Module Objectives:
Use the Chassis Management Controller (CMC) to configure the M1000e and its components.
Connect to the M1000e by all available methods.
Configure the M1000e chassis and all installed components through the CMC GUI.
Describe the iKVM functionality.

3. PowerEdge M-Series Management Architecture

4. PowerEdge M-Series Management Hardware
CMC
iKVM
The hardware components that make up the management connectivity for the PowerEdge M1000e enclosure include:
Chassis Management Controller (CMC) - manages and monitors the chassis and all system components. The CMC provides multiple systems management functions for your modular server, including the M1000e enclosure’s network and security settings, I/O module and iDRAC network settings, and power redundancy and power ceiling settings.
Integrated Keyboard/Video/Mouse (iKVM) – provides local KVM access to the PowerEdge M1000e server chassis so administrators can connect to a server console interface or the CMC CLI console to perform server or M1000e chassis maintenance tasks.

5. System Control Panel
The LCD shows extensive information about the status of each hardware module, network information for the CMC and each iDRAC, and status and error messages with detailed explanations in plain language. Users may access a wide variety of information about modules via the panel, including their type, user-defined name, configurations, service tag numbers, and IP address information.

6. Chassis Management Controller

7. Chassis Management Controller
CMC - Chassis Management Controller
Speeds deployment of new blades
Central point for infrastructure monitoring, alerting, inventory, and control via a single secure interface
Real-time power and cooling monitoring and management
Dedicated internal Ethernet connection to each iDRAC & I/O switch
Optional second CMC for redundancy
Secure Web (SSL) and CLI (Telnet/SSH) interfaces
Supports multiple levels of user roles and permissions, including Microsoft Active Directory
2 x 10/100/1000Mb Ethernet ports + 1 serial port
Manages FlexAddress Ports
2nd Ethernet port supports daisy chaining of CMCs for improved cable management
Real Time Power/Thermal Monitoring and Management
Real Time System AC Power Consumption with reset-able peak and minimum values
System level power limiting and slot based power prioritization
Manages Dynamic Power Engagement functionality
Manages fan speed control

8. Chassis Management Controller (CMC)
DB-9 serial
local configuration
link indicator
activity indicator
power indicator
Blue Status / Identification Indicator or
Amber Fault Indicator
Provides remote management capabilities and power control functions for PowerEdge M1000e Modular Server Enclosure.
At least one CMC must be installed in the primary (left) CMC bay for the system to power up.
If a second, optional CMC module is installed, failover protection and hot- plug replacement is available.
Configure to send alerts or SNMP trap alerts for warnings or errors related to temperatures, hardware misconfigurations, power outages, and fan speeds.
The CMC, which has its own microprocessor and memory, is powered by the modular chassis into which it is plugged.
The Dell™ Chassis Management Controller (CMC) is a hot-pluggable systems management hardware and software solution. The CMC provides multiple systems management functions for your modular server, including the M1000e enclosure’s network and security settings, I/O module and iDRAC network settings, and power redundancy and power ceiling settings.
You can configure the CMC to send alerts or SNMP trap alerts for warnings or errors related to temperature, hardware configuration errors, power outages and fan speeds.
CMC Module Hardware Features:
Serial connector is used for local configuration. The port requires a null modem cable and the port settings are baud, no parity, 8 bits, 1 stop bit.
Power indicator Off CMC does not have power
Green CMC has power
Blinking Green Firmware update in progress.
Status / identification Off This CMC is the standby CMC
indicator Blue This CMC is the primary CMC
Blinking Blue The CMC is being identified by the systems management software
Fault indicator Off The CMC is operating normally
Blinking Amber A fault has occurred
Ethernet Link Off LAN is not linked
Green LAN is linked
Ethernet Activity Off LAN is not active
Blinking Amber LAN is active (TX & RX)

9. Connecting Management Network Interfaces
Connect the CMC to the management network
Dell strongly recommends isolating/separating the management network in the chassis, used by iDRAC and CMC, from your production network(s).
The CMC has two management ports:
Gb1 is used to connect to the external management network.
STK will allow CMCs in adjacent enclosures to be daisy-chained.
An integrated exclusive use 24-port Ethernet switch provides internal communication between:
The iDRAC on each blade
I/O modules
Optional iKVM
Optional second, redundant CMC.
Up to four enclosures can be daisy chained
To manage the CMC remotely, connect the CMC to your management network and then configure the CMC network settings. Once the CMC is connected to the management network, all external access to the CMC and iDRACs is accomplished through the CMC. Access to the managed servers, conversely, is accomplished through network connections to I/O modules (IOMs). This allows the application network to be isolated from the management network.
If you have one chassis, connect the CMC, and the standby CMC if present, to the management network. If you have more than one chassis, you can choose between the basic connection, where each CMC is connected to the management network, or a daisy-chained chassis connection, where the chassis are connected in series and only one is connected to the management network. The basic connection type uses more ports on the management network and provides greater redundancy. The daisy-chain connection type uses fewer ports on the management network but introduces dependencies between CMCs, reducing the redundancy of the system.
For a basic CMC network connection connect the GB1 port to the management network and leave the STK port unused.
When daisy-chaining chassis together, GB1 is the uplink port and STK is the stacking port. A GB1 port must connect to the management network or to the STK port of the CMC in a chassis that is closer to network. The STK port must only receive a connection from a GB1 port further from the chain or network. Create separate chains for the CMCs in the primary CMC slot and the second CMC slot.
Caution: The STK port on any CMC must never be connected to the management network. It can only be connected to the GB1 port on another chassis. Connecting a STK port to the management network can disrupt the network and cause a loss of data.
Note: Never connect a primary CMC to a secondary CMC.
Note: Resetting a CMC whose STK port is chained to another CMC can disrupt the network for CMCs later in the chain. The child CMCs may log messages indicating that the network link has been lost and they may fail over to their redundant CMCs.

10. Optional Redundant CMCs
There is no difference between the two CMC slots.
One is active and is identified by the blue LED, the other is standby.
The slot does not determine precedence.
First CMC to come online assumes the role of the active CMC (blue LED).
Standby CMC is maintained as a mirror of the active CMC.
Active and standby CMCs must run the same firmware revision.
System reports as redundancy degraded.
The standby CMC is identical to and is maintained as a mirror of the active CMC. The active and standby CMCs must both be installed with the same firmware revision. If the firmware revisions differ, the system will report as redundancy degraded. The standby CMC assumes the same settings and properties of the primary CMC. You must maintain the same firmware version on both CMCs, but you do not need to duplicate configuration settings on the standby CMC.
Note: The settings for the CMC are held in NVRAM on the M1000e chassis control panel.
There is no difference between the two CMC slots; that is, slot does not dictate precedence. Instead, the CMC that is installed or booted first assumes the role of the active CMC. If AC power is applied with two CMCs installed, the CMC installed in CMC chassis slot 1 (the left) normally assumes the active role. The active CMC is indicated by the blue LED. If two CMCs are inserted into a chassis that is already powered on, automatic active/standby negotiation can take up to two minutes. Normal chassis operation resumes when the negotiation is complete.

11. CMC Failover
You can install a standby CMC that takes over if your primary CMC fails. Failovers occur when:
racadm cmcchangeover or the racadm racreset commands are issued
Reset the active CMC from a web interface.
The network cable is removed from the active CMC
The active CMC is removed from the chassis
A CMC firmware update is initiated on the active CMC
Primary CMC is no longer functional
Note: In the event of CMC failover, all iDRAC connections and all active CMC sessions will be lost.
In the event of a CMC failover, all iDRAC connections and all active CMC sessions will be lost. Users with lost sessions must reconnect to the new primary CMC.

12. Initial Configuration
Five ways to assign an IP to the CMC:
DHCP
Using the LCD configuration wizard
Only available if the default login is not changed
RACADM CLI using a null modem cable or
RACADM CLI using the iKVM
setniccfg -s <IP address> <network mask> <gateway>
setniccfg –s
Web GUI or telnet to RACADM CLI
May need to reconfigure your system to be on same LAN
Conflict if two or more chassis active
CMC Network Settings
Enter Static IP:
The CMC’s default IP address is
The option to configure the CMC using the LCD Configuration Wizard is available only until the CMC is deployed or the default password is changed. If the password is not changed, the LCD can continue to be used to reconfigure the CMC causing a possible security risk.

13. Using the CMC GUI to Configure CMC and System Attributes

14. Connecting to the CMC via the GUI
Open a web browser and connect to address>.
The CMC web-based GUI offers a rich set of features and a graphical user interface (GUI) that incorporates the Dell Clarity E style, which was introduced in version 3.0. Clarity E provides:
Dynamic, self-refreshing pages for content-sensitive actions and information without leaving the page to refresh that page.
Updated color scheme with increased color contrast and red/yellow/green health icons.
Additional pop-up information when hovering the mouse over components.
Intuitive home page that allows administrators to perform most monitoring and management functions from a single screen, this results in significantly fewer mouse clicks to navigate pages than in previous CMC versions.

15. Login to the CLI Open a remote connection to CMC IP address via: SSH
Telnet
Open a local connection
iKVM
Serial null modem
CLI user logins are the same as the GUI. The default system login is username = root, password = calvin.

16. RACADM
Make note of the FLAG that is displayed mid-screen (see Setup-Flag above for details on how to configure Flag settings).
Also make note of the RACADM commands, this is a subset of all commands.

17. Setting the CMC Network Configuration
The Network Configuration page features the following configurable network properties:
General Settings
IPv4 Settings
IPv6 Settings
General Settings allow you to view or set the CMC MAC address, Enable CMC NIC, Register the CMC on DNS, Use DHCP for DNS Domain, DNS Domain Name, and NIC specifics such as interface speed, duplex, MTU, and auto negotiation.
Of note, the Enable CMC NIC, if not checked (or disabled) the CMC NIC cannot communicate over the network. Communication to the chassis through the CMC is not available. The server iDRAC GUI, local CLI interface, I/O Modules, and iKVM are still accessible. Network addresses for the iDRAC and CMC can be obtained, in this case, from the chassis' LCD.
The Network Configuration page IPv4 and IPv6 settings as well. For IPv4 set either DHCP or static IP configuration including IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, and DNS server addresses. For IPv6 set whether to Autoconfigure or to set static IPv6 address and prefix length, gateway, and DNS server addresses.
Note: Autoconfiguration Enable allows the CMC to use the IPv6 protocol to obtain IPv6 related address and gateway settings from an IPv6 router configured to provide this information.

18. Enabling CMC Network Services
The Services page enables you to view and configure the CMC services. After making changes, click Apply at the bottom of the page to update the system. CMC network services includes:
CMC Serial
Web Server
SSH
Telnet
RACADM
SNMP
Remote Syslog

19. Performing CMC Firmware Updates
Can be updated via the CMC GUI or CMC CLI interfaces.
CMC GUI only requires the firmware file
CMC CLI requires a TFTP server to upload the file
“Update” tab shows same from Chassis Overview, Chassis Controller, or iKVM tree.
FLASH Upgradeable - You can update the iKVM firmware using the CMC Web-based interface or RACADM fwupdate command.
Note: The iKVM resets and becomes temporarily unavailable after the firmware has been uploaded successfully.
Log in to the CMC web-based GUI.
Select Chassis Overview in the navigation tree.
Select the Update tab and the Firmware Update page is displayed.
Click the iKVM Firmware link to jump to the section to perform a firmware update on the iKVM.

20. Integrated Keyboard Video Mouse

21. iKVM Module Called the Avocent® Integrated KVM Switch Module, or iKVM.
The iKVM is an analog keyboard, video, and mouse switch that plugs into your chassis.
It is an optional, hot-pluggable module to the chassis that provides local keyboard, mouse, and video access to the servers in the chassis, and to the active CMC's command line.
Overview
The local access KVM module for your Dell™ M1000e server chassis is called the Avocent® Integrated KVM Switch Module (iKVM). The iKVM is an analog keyboard, video, and mouse switch that plugs into your chassis. It is an optional, hot-pluggable module to the chassis that provides local keyboard, mouse, and video access to servers in the chassis, and to the active CMC's CLI.
iKVM User Interface
The iKVM uses the On Screen Configuration and Reporting (OSCAR®) graphical user interface, which is activated by a hot key. OSCAR allows you to select one of the servers or the Dell CMC command line you wish to access with the local keyboard, display, and mouse. Only one iKVM session per chassis is allowed.
Using the iKVM
You can connect to a server console interface or the CMC CLI console via the iKVM from the chassis front panel, an Analog Console Interface (ACI), or the chassis rear panel. Only one iKVM connection is available at a time. The iKVM assigns an order of precedence to each type of connection so that when there are multiple connections, only one connection is available while others are disabled.
The order of precedence for iKVM connections is as follows:
Front panel
ACI
Rear Panel
For example, if you have iKVM connections in the front panel and ACI, the front panel connection remains active while the ACI connection is disabled. If you have ACI and rear connections, the ACI connection takes precedence.
Note: The ports on the control panel on the front of the chassis are designed specifically for the iKVM, which is an optional module. If you do not have the iKVM, you cannot use the front control panel ports.

22. Connectors/Indicators
Fault indicator
Power indicator
ACI port for tiering connection only
USB connectors (2) for keyboard and mouse
Video connector
The iKVM includes the following connectors:
One VGA connector. The iKVM supports a video display resolution range from 640 x 480 at 60 Hz up to 1280 x 1024 x 65,000 colors at 75 Hz.
Two USB ports for keyboard and mouse.
Note: The iKVM USB ports do not support storage devices.
RJ-45 ACI port for tiering with Dell and Avocent analog KVM and KVM over IP switches with ARI ports.
Note: Although the ACI port is an RJ-45 connector and uses Cat5 (or better) cabling, it is not an Ethernet network interface port. It is only used for connection to external KVM switches with Analog Rack Interface (ARI) ports, and does not support native KVM over IP.
Caution: Do not connect the ACI port to a LAN device such as a network hub. Doing so may damage the equipment.
Note: By default (enabled), a console session to a given blade is available to both the iDRAC interface and an iKVM (user connected to a blade's console through iDRAC and the iKVM will see the same video and be able to type commands). Use the iDRAC console interface to disable the sharing of the console session.
The iKVM is compatible with the following peripherals:
• Standard PC USB keyboards with QWERTY, QWERTZ, AZERTY, and Japanese 109 layouts.
• VGA monitors with DDC support.
• Standard USB pointing devices.
• Self-powered USB 1.1 hubs connected to the local USB port on the iKVM.
• Powered USB 2.0 hubs connected to the Dell M1000e chassis' front panel console.

23. Disabling Front Panel and/or CMC Access
The front panel port may be disabled and/or access to the CMC CLI may also be disabled. These options are configured in the CMC GUI as shown.

24. Accessing OSCAR OSCAR – On Screen Configuration and Reporting
Press <Print Screen> to launch OSCAR.
Displays a list of available blade servers and the CMC.
Connect either by name of slot number
Security - The OSCAR interface allows you to protect the system with a screen saver password.
The iKVM uses the On Screen Configuration and Reporting (OSCAR®) graphical user interface, which is activated by the <Print Screen> hot key. OSCAR allows you to select one of the servers or the Dell CMC command line you wish to access with the local keyboard, display, and mouse.
The OSCAR user interface allows you to protect your system with a screen saver password. After a user-defined time, the screen saver mode engages, and access is prohibited until the appropriate password is entered to reactivate OSCAR.
Press the <Print Screen> key to bring up the main menu. <Print Screen> or selecting the “X” in the upper right-hand corner will bring the Main menu back.
Select the Slot button to change the server listing between slot number or alphabetically by Name, and it should be noted the names cannot be changed via the OSCAR interface as one might expect. Instead, the CMC assigns slots names for all servers in the chassis. And though you can assign names to the servers using the OSCAR interface from a tiered connection, the CMC assigned names take precedence, and any new names you assign to servers using OSCAR will be overwritten. The CMC identifies a slot by assigning it a unique name. To change slot names (Dell CMC, Slot-01, Slot-10) use the CMC Web interface. To change a slot name using RACADM use the setslotname command from the CMC CLI.

25. Using OSCAR Sorted by the slot number Description Symbol
Slots 1-16 installed blades
Slot 17 is the active CMC
OSCAR status symbols display server status
Symbol
Description
(Green dot) Server is online.
(Red X) Server is offline or absent from chassis.
(Yellow dot) Server is not available.
(Green A or B.) Server is being accessed by the user channel indicated by the letter: A=rear panel, B=front panel.
Also notice Slot 17, the CMC. Selecting this slot displays the CMC command line, where you can execute remote RACADM commands or connect to servers and modules for debugging. Selecting any of the other 16 slots will connect to that servers console.
Connect to a Server
Use the Main dialog box to select servers. When you select a server, the iKVM reconfigures the keyboard and mouse to the proper settings for that server.
To select servers:
Double-click the server name or the slot number. or
If the display order of your server list is by slot (that is, the Slot button is depressed), type the slot number and press <Enter>.
If the display order of your server list is by name (that is, the Name button is depressed), type the first few characters of the server name, establish it as unique, and press <Enter> twice.
To select the previous server:
Press <Print Screen> and then <Backspace>. This key combination toggles between the previous and current connections.
To disconnect the user from a server:
Press <Print Screen> to access OSCAR and then click Disconnect.
Press <Print Screen> and then <Alt><0>. This leaves you in a free state, with no server selected.

26. Module Summary
Now that you have completed this module you should be able to:
Describe the integrated management structure such as iKVM, and CMC.
Describe how the Chassis Management Controller (CMC) functions.
Describe the management network interfaces.
Configure the system through the GUI.
Describe what Oscar is and how to connect

27. Lab 1 Using the CMC Management and Control Capabilities
Access the CMC
Navigate the CMC User interface
Verify components and configuration parameters

28. Questions?