I’ve been working on a VMware and Dell System recently to commission a Storage Area Network with a 10Gb backbone, as part of the project we are upgrading the ESXi servers to 5.1, and as Dell OpenManage Server Administrator version 7.3 has been released recently we have been implementing it on the servers as we have been upgrading them.
Below are instructions on how to do this, and how to access the OpenManage Server Administrator console after it is installed.
1. Download the OpenManage Server Administrator vSphere Installation Bundle (VIB) for ESXi 5.1, v7.3 from Dell’s website. It can be found on the Product Support page in the System Management section. Or you can download it from here.
2. Login in to vCenter, click Home, Update Manager and then select the Patch Repository tab.
3. Click Import Patches.
4. Browse to the downloaded zip file and click Next.
5. If you get a Security Warning dialogue box pop up, click Ignore.
6. Click Finish to confirm the import.
7. If you browse the Patch Repository you will now see the OpenManage 7.3 for ESXi 510 patch.
8. Click the Baseline and Groups tab. Then click on the left-hand Create option to create a new baseline.
9. Give the baseline a name, Dell Host Extension, and select the Host Extension radio button, and click Next.
10. Browse to the OpenManage 7.3 for ESXi510 extension, select it and click the Down Arrow to add it, click Next.
11. Review the selection and click Finish.
12. Click on Home, Hosts and Clusters, select the host you want to Install OpenManage Server Administrator on and select the Update Manager tab, then click Attach.
13. Select the Dell Host Extension baseline, then click Attach.
14. Select Patches and Extensions check box and click Scan.
15. To Apply the Extension, put the host into Maintenance Mode. Click the Stage button and then click the Remediate button.
To Access Server Administrator on ESXi 5.1 do the following or, just copy and paste the following address into a browser, changing the ESXiservername:
https://ESXiservername:1311/OMSALogin?manageDWS=false
1. From a Windows Server with Dell OpenManage Server Administrator installed, Open the local Server Administrator instance.
2. Click Logout in the top right hand corner of the web interface.
3. Click Log in.
4. At the bottom of the login dialogue box, click Manage Remote Node.
4. Enter the Esxi hostname or IP address, username and password, and check the box to Ignore certificate warnings. Click Submit.
You will now be presented with the Dell OpenManage Server Administrator interface for your ESXi server.
Related Links:
1. Dell OpenManage Server Administrator Manuals
2. Dell OpenManage Server Administrator User Guide
3. Dell OpenManage Support for VMware ESXi 5.x
Related Articles:
1. Dell PS Series Configuration Guide version 17.1 (formerly EqualLogic Configuration Guide)
2. Dell EMC Server Update Utility SUU 17.04.00 released
4. Dell PERC: How to clear the foreign configuration on a HDD using the Raid Configuration Utility
5. How to check the last time an ESXi host booted
This is one of my most popular posts, so if you found it useful please share with your colleagues, like or leave a comment. Thanks, Carl.
after installing the above. i can reach esx server from any where on the network, but can reach it from switch?any idea?
That sounds like a vlan issue to me?
sorry, i mean i can not reach the esx server from any PC on the network, but i can reach it from switch
Greetings,
I followed your steps outlined above however when attempting to access the server admin URL for the particular host I get page cannot be found. Do you need to open up an ports on the esxi host for this to work?
Cheers
No, i didn’t have to open any additional ports.
Which version did you install, how are you trying to connect? You can connect directly to the ip:port, i had to connect via a Windows OpenManage Server, and select remote node at the bottom.
I have the same problem as IT_Vision. I installed 7.3. I get no response from the web page.
Can you see OpenManage listed as installed on the ESXi server? Do you get any response from the webpage at all?
Hello,
I see that OpenManage is installed and listed. I do have OpenManage Essentials installed where I am centrally pulling snmp information from my ESXi hosts. I am able to get SNMP information from the esxi hosts, but now web page available when I attempt to connect directly to the host on port 1311. OME shows the heath status of the server has an Alert.
Under the software Agent Information for esxi host it shows:
– Server administrator / Agent Version: 7.3.0
– Server Administrator (Storage Management ) / Agent Version: N/A
I have another host that has a bad Perc Battery and a failed hard drive, but that information is not getting communicated to the Open Manage Console, and I am unable to open the web interface on that particular host either.
Cheer
As far as i know you have to access the remote node, via another OpenManage server, you cannot connect directly to the hosts ip and port.
We have a Windows Management server running OpenManage. Connect to that, but rather than login, under the login dialogue box, there is an option called Manage Remote Node. Click this, enter the IP, username and password, and ignore certifcate warnings check box and click sumbit.
Cheers,
Carl
Hi Carl,
Thank you for the response. For the user name and password are you entering the esxi host root user name and password?
I have other Dell Physical servers that are running OpenManage and tried your suggestion as well and it would not connect. Maybe I am using an incorrect user name and password.
Thank You
Yes, use the esxi host username and password.
Cheers,
Carl
Hello,
Thanks for the step-by-step guide. Great info!
I am running ESXi 5.1 on a home lab PE2950. I would like to install OpenManage Server, but I do not have vCenter purchased. Is there a way to install OpenManager without vcenter since my vSphere client does not have the update manager section?
-Brian
Hi Brian,
You vcenter has a 60 day evaluation so you could use the time to install via the instructions above.
Alternatively take a look at chapter 6 fron the link below, it details alternative ways of installing it on ESXi.
ftp://ftp.dell.com/Manuals/all-products/esuprt_software/esuprt_ent_sys_mgmt/esuprt_ent_sys_mgmt_opnmng_sw/dell-opnmang-srvr-admin-v7.3_User%27s%20Guide3_en-us.pdf
Let me know how you get on.
Carl
Is a reboot required of the host?
HI Bob, I think yes, a reboot is required.
Cheers,
Carl
thanks. The install (7.4 version) was quick (on host with 5.5 update 1). Do I need to open any firewall ports on the host itself under security profile? I cannot get the webpage to display using
https://locahostname:1311
thanks,
Never mind I figured it out. I installed the OMSA 7.4 on my desktop and can access the host from there. Thanks for your help and blog post!
Hey again Hayes. I did a BUNCH of testing trniyg to get around it. If there is a way, I can’t find it. The issue is that the vSphere Client gets an API version from the VMware Server, and then starts the old v2.5 version of the VI Client. I changed quite a few things server-side to try and fool vSphere into using the new API v4, but in doing so broke almost all functionality from the client. With all the config changes I’ve made, I have now lost the ability to use the vSphere Client at all as well as the web client because of the hacks and changes. Not a big deal for me since this isn’t my production machine. I just don’t think there is a way around it. So I’ve been doing what you are, and using the web client to create them, then managing them with the vSphere client. Good enough, and thanks for the tip. 🙂