Q: What is Dell Command | Monitor ?
A: Dell Command | Monitor is the new name of Dell OpenManage™ Client Instrumentation. This is the monitoring tool of the Dell Command Suite. With it, system administrators can remotely manage assets, monitor system health, and inventory deployed systems in the enterprise.
Q: What is the difference between Dell OpenManage™ Client Instrumentation (OMCI) and Dell Command | Monitor ?
A: Dell Command | Monitor is the new name for Dell OpenManage™ Client Instrumentation and the latest version is Dell Command | Monitor version 9.0
Q: What platforms are supported by Dell Command | Monitor ?
A: Dell Command | Monitor which is available on Dell Venue 11 Pro, Dell OptiPlex™, Dell Precision Workstation™, and Dell Latitude™ client systems.
Q: What are the prerequisites for Dell Command | Monitor ?
A: The following are the prerequisites for Dell Command | Monitor
• Dell Command | Monitor supported platforms
• The target system has System Management Basic Input Output System (SMBIOS) version 2.3 or later. Otherwise, the Command | Monitor version 9.0 installer exits without installing.
• The system is running a supported Microsoft Windows operating system.
• The .NET Framework 4.0 or later is installed.
• Administrative privileges on the client system. This means, that you must be authenticated on the client system as a user who is a member of the Administrators group; typically the Administrator.
Q: Can one use a 32-bit installer on a 64 bit system?
A: Dell Command | Monitor is available separately for both 32 bit and 64 bit architecture. Cross installation is not supported.
Q: What is the namespace of Dell Command | Monitor ?
A: Dell Command | Monitor uses “root/dcim/sysman” namespace
Q: After installing Dell Command | Monitor, When connecting to “root/dellomci” namespace; Error “Invalid namespace” occurs. Why does this happens?
A: This happens as the namespace “root/dellomci” is removed from Dell Command | Monitor v 9.0.
Q: Does Dell Command | Monitor support Windows XP?
A: Windows XP is not supported since Microsoft has ended all support for it.
Q: Can Dell Command | Monitor be used for configuration of Client BIOS attributes
A: Yes, We can use Dell Command | Monitor for configuration of Client BIOS attributes. You can refer to the sample script for more information
Q: How can I set the BIOS attribute values using Dell Command | Monitor v9.0?
A: BIOS Attributes can be changed using the DCIM_BootService.SetBIOSAttributes() method. The SetBIOSAttributes()method sets the value of the instance defined in the DCIM_BIOSEnumeration class. The method has seven input parameters. The first two parameters can be empty or null. The third parameter AttributeName needs to take the input mapping to the value of attribute name instance of DCIM_BIOSEnumeration class. The fourth parameter orAttributeValue can be any of the possible values of the Attribute Name as defined in the DCIM_BIOSEnumerationclass. If the BIOS Password is set on the system, then you have to provide the same in the fifth argument. The sixth and seventh argument can again be empty or null. You can refer to Powershell or VBS scripts located here to configure BIOS attributes
Q: Does Dell Command | Monitor also support storage and sensor monitoring?
A: Yes, Dell Command | Monitor supports both Storage and Sensor monitoring.
• In storage monitoring, we support monitoring and alerting of
o Intel Integrated Controller (compliant with CSMI v0.81 or later) and
o LSI we support Integrated and 9217, 9271, 9341 and 9361 card Controllers and associated drives (Physical and Logical).
• In Sensor monitoring, we support monitoring and alerting of Voltage, Temperature, Amperage, Cooling Devices(Fan) and Chassis sensors.
Dell Command | Monitor Reference guide will give more information on the class and alerting information.
Q: What are the commonly used classes in Dell Command | Monitor ?
A: The following is a list of commonly used classes
• DCIM_Chassis – This class will provide chassis information of any system,
• DCIM_Battery – This class will give information on the inventory and monitoring information of the battery on any system,
• DCIM_Memory – This class will provide inventory information on the Processor memory,
• DCIM_Processor – This class will provide the inventory information on Processor,
• DCIM_PhysicalMemory – This class will provide the inventory information on Physical Slot memory ,
• DCIM_NumericSensor – This class will provide the inventory and monitoring information on all numeric sensors like Voltage, Current, Temperature and Cooling devices(Fans),
• DCIM_Slot – This class provides information on slot information on a system,
• DCIM_Card – This class provides inventory information on the cards installed on specific slots on the system,
• DCIM_Chip – This class provides inventory information of all the Chips on the system,
• DCIM_ControllerView – This class provides inventory and monitoring information of the raid controller,
• DCIM_PhysicaldiskView - This class provides inventory and monitoring information of Physical Disks connected to the raid controllers,
• DCIM_VirtualDiskView - This class provides inventory and monitoring information of Logical Disks connected to the raid controllers
• DCIM_BiosElement - This class provides inventory information of BIOS,
• DCIM_BiosEnumeration - This class provides information on all the supported BIOS attributes on the system,
For more classes, one can refer to the Dell Command | Monitor reference guide.
Q: How to find the boot order (sequence) of the boot configuration using DCIM_OrderedComponent.AssignedSequence property?
A: When a DCIM_BootConfigSetting instance (Legacy or UEFI) has multiple DCIM_BootSourceSetting instances (boot devices) associated with it through instances of the DCIM_OrderedComponent association, the value of the DCIM_OrderedComponent.AssignedSequence property is used to determine the sequence in which the associated DCIM_BootSourceSetting instances (boot devices) are used during the boot process. A DCIM_BootSourceSetting, whose associated CIM_OrderedComponent.AssignedSequence property is equal to 0 is ignored and not considered part of the boot order.
Q: How to change the boot order?
A: The boot order can be changed using the DCIM_BootConfigSetting.ChangeBootOrder() method. TheChangeBootOrder() method sets the order in which the instances of DCIM_BootSourceSetting are associated with a DCIM_BootConfigSetting instance. The method has one input parameter; Source. The Source parameter, is an ordered array of PartComponent property from DCIM_OrderedComponent class that represents the association between DCIM_BootSourceSetting instances (boot devices) and DCIM_BootConfigSetting instance (boot list type-Legacy or UEFI).
Q: How to disable boot devices?
A: On changing the boot order, the value of the AssignedSequence property on each instance of DCIM_OrderedComponent, that associates the target DCIM_BootConfigSetting instance with a DCIM_BootSourceSetting instance that is not present in the input array of Source parameter, is set to 0, which indicates that the device is disabled.
Q: Fail login message appear when connect to namespace with wbemtest. How can I overcome that?
A: Launch wbemtest with Administrator privilege level to overcome any login message. Go to the Internet Explorer from the All Programs list, right-click and Run as administrator to start the wbemtest and avoid any namespace oriented error.
Q: How do I run TechCenter scripts without any issues?
A: The following are the prerequisites while executing the VBS scripts provided in Command | Monitor Techcenter link:
Please configure winrm on the system using the command winrm quickconfig.
Check if the token support exists on the system by referring to:
The F2 Screen in BIOS Setup.
Using tool like wbemtest to check the key value define in the script to be existing on the system.
NOTE: Dell recommends using the latest BIOS available at dell.com/support.
Q: Does Dell Command | Monitor support SNMP?
A: Yes, Dell Command | Monitor Support SNMP inventory, monitoring and traps. However the default install of Dell Command | Monitor will not have SNMP enabled. Please refer to the Dell Command | Monitor Install guide and SNMP reference guide for more information.
Q: Which MIB should I use in Dell Command | Monitor v9.0 vs Dell OpenManage™ Client Instrumentation (OMCI) 8.x?
A: Since Dell Command | Monitor v9.0, 10892 mib has been replaced with 10909 mib. Since Dell Command | Monitor ver 9.0, MIB 10892 will no longer be supported.
Q: Are SNMP Traps supported with 10909.mib?
A: Yes, SNMP traps are supported with 10909.mib and Dell Command | Monitor v9.0.
Q: What is the path of the 10909.mib?
A: 10909.mib after installation can be found at folder %ProgramFiles%\Dell\Command Monitor\omsa\config. However the default install of Dell Command | Monitor will not have SNMP enabled
Q: Can I imports classes into SCCM for inventory?
A: Yes, one can import the individual MOFs or the OMCI_SMS_DEF.mof files in SCCM console for inventory.
Q: Where is the SCCM OMCI_SMS_DEF.mof located?
A: The OMCI_SMS_DEF.mof file is located in folder %ProgramFiles%\Dell\Command Monitor\ssa\omacim\
Q: What are the various ways in which hardware failure are logged in Dell Command | Monitor?
A: Dell Command | Monitor will display hardware failures in the following ways
1. Event log alerts
2. WMI Alerts
3. SNMP traps
4. Logging of events in class DCIM_RecordLog
Q: How can one Logging issues or clarifications on Dell Command | Monitor?
A: One can log issues in Dell Command | Monitor techcenter forum. If a quick solution is required than one could also raise a support ticket.