[Glossary]

Software on managed servers used to make changes to the servers. Functions supported include software installation and removal, software and hardware configuration, and server status reporting.

See configuration file.

See virtual appliance.

The specific term to use when referring to a SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) configuration file.

Describes a server that does not have a production operating system installed. This could be a brand new server with no OS installed on it. A bare metal server is typically one that is not yet known to the management software or has just been added but does not have a production OS deployed.

The process for making a bare metal server known to the provisioning software. In order to discover a bare metal system, that system is usually booted into a special service OS. The service OS has just enough software on it to report various details about the server back to the management software and deploy a production operating system. Bare metal discovery can sometimes be done using the server's iLO, in which case the service OS is not necessary.

A region of memory that is accessible by both the iLO and the embedded software environment. Management software can communicate with the embedded environment through the iLO by reading and writing files to the blob store. This eliminates the need to communicate through the server's production network interfaces.

A data store containing all the information from a target server including the files, disk partition information, and anything else needed to completely recreate the target server back to the same server, or perhaps a different one. The captured image does not include partitions, only file system data. See also image installation.

The generic term for Windows and Linux unattended installation files. These files provide all the information required to install the operating system without user intervention. Also applies to hardware configuration utilities such as BIOS configuration and Array Controller configuration. Customers may create new configurations for their own purposes. See also AutoYaST file and kickstart file.

A simple user-defined name/value pair that is used as a form of variable substitution in scripts and other appliance functions. When referenced, the custom attribute name is replaced by the value of that custom attribute. Custom attributes do not stand alone; they are always associated with an object in the management database, such as servers, groups, or OS Build Plans. Custom attributes can be inherited from a containing object. For example, a server in a group will inherit the custom attributes from that group.

See image installation.

See provisioning.

See job.

See OS distribution files.

See embedded deployment features.

A set of deployment tools and service OS's that are built in to HP ProLiant servers beginning with the Gen8 series. These embedded tools make it possible to deploy, configure, and troubleshoot a ProLiant server without network booting (PXE) or removable boot media.

A chassis that contains multiple blade servers and interconnect devices.

The collection of servers that a single HP Insight Control server provisioning appliance manages. Usually, these servers are on the same network, or on connected networks. A facility can be all or part of a data center, server room, or computer lab.

See Media Server.

A server deployment product for unattended server provisioning.

HP Smart Update Manager, a common tool for firmware and driver updates.

See Integrated Lights-Out (iLO).

An HP Integrated Lights-Out (iLO) feature that allows you to attach a removable storage device or image file from a client machine to the server, and have that appear to the server as a local device. The server can boot from that virtual device or use it with a running operating system.

The process of installing a server using a previously captured image of the disk to make a duplicate of the original server. This is in contrast to a scripted installation.

An independent microprocessor built into ProLiant servers that provides multiple ways to configure, update, and operate servers remotely. iLO can remotely perform most functions that otherwise require a visit to servers at the data center, computer room, or remote location. See http://www.hp.com/go/ilo.

A single server deployment using the HP ProLiant Gen8 iLO Management Engine. See also embedded deployment features.

An Ethernet, FC, or FCoE interconnect module designed to work in a blade enclosure.

A task that runs on the Insight Control server provisioning appliance. Jobs typically affect the state of a target server and include running an OS Build Plan.

Not yet defined.

The specific term to use when referring to a Red Hat Enterprise Linux or VMware ESXi installation file. Use configuration file for generic use.

The service OS for the Linux operating system.

A server status where a server has booted to a service OS and is running a maintenance version of the SA OGFS agent. Servers in maintenance mode are typically waiting to be provisioned.

A provisioned server that has an SA agent installed on it and is under the control of the Insight Control server provisioning appliance.

Software on the Media Server which can include vendor-supplied OS distribution files, HP-provided OS distribution files, captured images, and firmware and driver updates such as HP Service Packs for ProLiant (HP SPP).

A server containing the vendor-supplied OS media used during OS provisioning. The OS media on the Media Server is accessed over the network using HTTP for Linux and ESXi, and SMB for Windows. The Media Server may also contain media for other purposes such as firmware and driver updates, and is also where captured images are stored. The Media Server is a separate server from the Insight Control server provisioning appliance.

Windows Automated Installation Kit. A set of tools, including WinPE, produced by Microsoft for provisioning the Windows operating system. WAIK became available first for Windows Vista.

A method of updating system firmware that requires the server to be taken offline and rebooted as part of the process. In an offline update, the system is shut down and booted into a service OS where the firmware update occurs. Upon completion of the update, the system can be brought back online.

A script that executes inside the Opsware Global File System. OGFS scripts execute on the Insight Control server provisioning appliance and are typically written in shell or Python.

The OGFS represents the SA data model as a hierarchical structure of file directories and text files. For example, in the OGFS the /opsw/Server directory has information about target servers. There are also subdirectories that reflect the contents (such as file systems and registries) of the target servers. If you have the required permissions, you can view and even modify the file systems of target servers in the Global Shell.

A sequence of OS Build Plan steps that execute in a specific order to perform a task on a target server. OS Build Plans are typically used for provisioning operating systems, but can be used for almost any task that can be automated.

An autonomous operation, such as "run script" or "install package", assigned as part of an OS Build Plan.

The files that make up an operating system before that operating system is installed on a server. These files are provided to consumers via ISO images or physical CD/DVDS from OS companies such as Microsoft, Red Hat, VMware, and Novell.

The process of giving a running server the characteristics that make it unique, including IP configuration, host name, and domain. A server can be personalized during the initial OS deployment or after the OS is already installed.

A single compressed (zipped) file that can contain executables, configuration information, and script files. An example of a package is a .zip file of Windows drivers to be used during unattended installations.

See service OS.

A server in this state has an operating system installed.

Installing an operating system on a target server using either scripted installation or captured image deployment.

See embedded deployment features.

The types of scripts supported by Insight Control server provisioning are:

The OS provisioning method that uses configuration files and OS distribution files to deploy an OS to a target server as an unattended installation. This is the native way the operating system is intended to be installed by the OS vendor but with the interactive installation process automated. This is in contrast to an image installation.

HP Server Automation software.

The process where a server becomes known to the Insight Control server provisioning appliance. For bare metal, the server boots to a service OS with an agent installed that registers with the appliance. For servers already running an OS, the agent is installed onto the running OS and then registers with the appliance. Once a server has registered with Insight Control server provisioning, it can be selected for provisioning.

A special purpose operating system that runs entirely in system memory and is used to perform various maintenance functions on a server, including preparing a system for operating system installation. Insight Control server provisioning has service OS's based on Linux and Windows. See also LinuxPE and WinPE.

Stands for SUSE Linux Enterprise Server. A Linux-based operating system developed by SUSE.

See package.

See Media Server.

HP Service Pack for ProLiant. See http://www.hp.com/go/spp.

See server status and job status.

See OS Build Plan step.

See HP Scripting Toolkit (STK).

The intended server for an Insight Control server provisioning operation. A target server has an SA agent running on it.

The specific term to use when referring to a Windows installation file. Use configuration file for generic use.

An automatic Windows or Linux OS installation that does not require user intervention.

A server with an SA agent installed, under the control of Insight Control server provisioning, and waiting to have an operating system installed. See maintenance mode.

A server status where the server cannot be contacted by the Insight Control server provisioning appliance.

See virtual appliance upgrade.

A virtual machine with a preinstalled software application that is optimized to run the application.

Downloading and installing an update release of the HP Insight Control server provisioning appliance to incorporate software updates and new content for OS provisioning.

See Microsoft WAIK.

An installation using the Windows Imaging Format. See image installation.

The Windows Preinstallation Environment is the service OS for the Windows operating system.