Creating A Repository ISO – Part 1

UPDATE: Here is a list of pre-made ISOs updated about once a month: https://crtech.tips/bootable-firmware-repository-isos/

This How To will guide you through creating a repository ISO for your Dell Poweredge system. The ISO will update ALL the firmware in your system – if made properly.

The ISO will need to be burned to a bootable DVD, USB key, or ran through iDrac with an Enterprise license.

This is Part 1 of creating the ISO. Part 2 features how to run the ISO on your server.

So let’s begin…

Download: Dell Repository Manager

NOTE: I would recommend updating the iDrac firmware before this process, but it’s not a requirement

Once installed, there will be two icons on your desktop. We will be working with the Data Center Version.

Launch Dell Repository Manger and make sure that it is up-to-date

In the upper right hand corner you will sometimes see New Dell Online. Click this to update the Dell Online Catalog

Now we are all updated and ready to begin creating our ISO.

Go ahead and click back onto the Welcome tab and click Create a New Repository

Fill in the Name – I like to use the model of the server I am updating. However, you can put whatever you want in here; it does not make a difference on the ISO.

Accept the Default Setting on the Base Repository screen and press Next

Select the brand of server you are using – mine is a Tower

Always choose Linux (32-bit and 64-bit) on the Select OS screen

Select the model of your Dell PowerEdge system

On the Select Bundle screen choose the latest version

Accept the defaults on Optional Components screen and press Next

Then press Finish

Once the Bundle completes the process of  gathering all the firmware for you system press Export

When exporting the ISO we need to make sure to choose the Bootable ISO (Using Linux Bundle)

This will make the ISO bootable and compatible with all of our linux binary firmware updates

Sometimes the Select Plugins page takes a while to find the correct plugin and sometimes it even fails. I’ve seen it fail before and the ISO works fine. I believe it’s looking for a FrameWork version, but I could be wrong. Anyway, press Next on this screen.

Tell the Repository Manager where to save your file to!

Select the default settings on the Custom Scripts page

And we are done! Click Finish

The program will prompt you, saying there is a job in the queue. At the bottom of the screen in the Job Queue, click anywhere it will expand your jobs.

Now wait for the ISO to build.

Awesome we are done creating our ISO. See Part 2 for running the ISO!