Overview - Dell PowerEdge VRTX User Manual

Overview

The Dell Chassis Management Controller (CMC) for Dell PowerEdge VRTX is a Systems Management hardware and
software solution for managing the PowerEdge VRTX chassis. The CMC has its own microprocessor and memory and is
powered by the modular chassis into which it is plugged.
CMC enables an IT administrator to:
• View inventory
• Perform configuration and monitoring tasks
• Remotely turn on and turn off chassis and servers
• Enable alerts for events on servers and components in the server module
• View and manage storage controller and hard disk drives in the VRTX chassis
• Manage the PCIe subsystem in the VRTX chassis
• Provide a one–many management interface to the iDRACs and I/O modules in the chassis
You can configure the PowerEdge VRTX chassis either with a single CMC, or with redundant CMCs. In redundant CMC
configurations, if the primary CMC loses communication with the chassis or the management network, a standby CMC
takes over the chassis management.
CMC provides multiple System Management functions for servers.Power and thermal management are the primary
functions of CMC, which are listed as follows:
• Enclosure-level real-time automatic power and thermal management.
– CMC monitors system power requirements and supports the optional Dynamic Power Supply
Engagement (DPSE) mode. This mode enables CMC to improve power efficiency by setting the power
supplies while the server in standby mode and dynamically managing the load and redundancy
requirements.
– CMC reports real-time power consumption, which includes logging high and low points with a time
stamp.
– CMC supports setting an optional enclosure maximum power limit (System Input Power Cap), which
alerts and takes actions such as limiting the power consumption of servers, and/or preventing the
turning on of new servers to keep the enclosure under the defined maximum power limit.
– CMC monitors and automatically controls the functions of cooling fans and blowers on the basis of
actual ambient and internal temperature measurements.
– CMC provides comprehensive enclosure inventory and status or error reporting.
• CMC provides a mechanism for centralized configuration of the:
– Network and security setting of the Dell PowerEdge VRTX enclosure.
– Power redundancy and power ceiling settings.
– I/O switch and iDRAC network settings.
– First boot device on the server module.
– I/O fabric consistency checks between the I/O module and servers. CMC also disables components, if
necessary, to protect the system hardware.
– User access security.
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