16 Introduction
Using IT Assistant, you can:
• Identify the groups of systems that you want to manage remotely
• Consolidate your view of all systems, providing a central launch point for
systems management applications
• Create alert filters and actions that will automatically notify you when
system uptime is affected
• Create custom enterprise-wide reports that show the status of each system,
including switches, storage devices, BIOS, firmware, and driver versions
• Create customized tasks that allow you to coordinate configuration
management across the entire enterprise, including performing software
updates, shutdown and wakeup, and command line execution
• View a graphical presentation of the devices in your network, from which
you can launch applications, refresh inventory and status, and perform
troubleshooting
• Launch the following Dell systems management applications: Server
Administrator, Remote Access Controller console, Dell PowerConnectâ„¢,
Digital keyboard/video/mouse (KVM) console, printers, tapes, storage
devices, Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) devices, and
client systems.
• Load Dell Update Packages and System Update Sets into the IT Assistant
repository, then run a compliance check of all the systems in your enterprise
against the Update Packages and install necessary updates. A System Update
Set is a logical set of Dell-certified packages that work together without
problems. Dell Update Packages are available from the Dell Support website
at
support.dell.com
or from the
Dell Server Updates
DVD.
Dell Remote Access Controller Console
The Dell Remote Access Controller (DRAC) console is a management station
software designed to provide remote management capabilities for your Dell
systems. You can remotely connect to the RAC hardware and access the
following RAC features either by using a Web browser or the racadm CLI:
• Hardware sensor monitors, such as temperature, voltage, and fans
• Access to hardware and alert logs
• Ability to generate alerts, even when the system is down