Dell | Product Group

Muneer K

Md Sahid Shaik

Harsha Yalagach

CCTK Introduction

A Dell technical white paper

CCTK Introduction

ii

This document is for informational purposes only and may contain typographical errors and technical

inaccuracies. The content is provided as is, without express or implied warranties of any kind.

2012 Dell Inc. All rights reserved. Dell and its affiliates cannot be responsible for errors or omissions in

typography or photography. Dell, the Dell logo, and PowerEdge are trademarks of Dell Inc. Intel and Xeon are

registered trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. Microsoft, Windows, and Windows

Server are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other

countries. Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming

the marks and names or their products. Dell disclaims proprietary interest in the marks and names of others.

October 2012| Version 1.0

CCTK Introduction

iii

Contents

1 Introduction ....................................................................................................... 4

2 Scope ............................................................................................................... 4

3 Configuring and Applying Bios settings using CLI ........................................................... 4

3.1 On Same system / Host machine ........................................................................... 4

3.2 On all platforms ............................................................................................... 6

4 Configuring and Applying Bios settings using GUI........................................................... 7

4.1 On Same system / Host machine ........................................................................... 8

4.2 On all platforms ............................................................................................. 11

4.3 Miscellaneous Features ..................................................................................... 13

4.3.1 Validate .................................................................................................... 13

4.3.2 Category Filter ............................................................................................ 14

4.3.3 Search ...................................................................................................... 15

4.3.4 Sort ......................................................................................................... 16

4.4 Export the Configured Settings ........................................................................... 17

4.5 Deploy the configured file (exe Self Contained executable). ..................................... 18

4.5.1 Deploying Using SCCM ................................................................................... 19

4.5.2 Deploying Using SCCM & DCIP .......................................................................... 22

4.5.3 Deploying Using ACTIVE DIRECTORY .................................................................. 23

5 Additional resources ........................................................................................... 24

CCTK Introduction

4

1 Introduction

Dell Client Configuration Toolkit (CCTK) software provides Bios Configuration capability to Dell client systems such as OptiPlex, Latitude, and Dell Precision workstation. You can configure the client systems using Command Line Interface (CLI.) or a Graphical User Interface (GUI). CCTK CLI is a command line exe where you can run the commands or you can make a script out of these commands and apply in multiple platforms. GUI is a user interface, where you can select the bios settings which you want to apply and create the exe (self-contained executable) to apply on one or more platforms. You can use CCTK in Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) environments and Microsoft Windows Pre-installation Environment (Windows PE), and on the Microsoft Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows8 operating systems. Note: CCTK GUI is not available for Linux environment. Note: To Install CCTK, Please follow the below link. http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/SOFTWARE/smcctk/2.1.1/IG/CCTK2.1.1IG.pdf

2 Scope This white paper illustrates how can you configure and deploy Bios settings using CCTK CLI and GUI. This document will not cover in detail some specific tokens like TPM , BootOrder etc.,

3 Configuring and Applying Bios settings using CLI Invoke CCTK CLI

Go to Start All Programs Dell CCTK CCTK Command Prompt

OR

Open Command Prompt and move to the CCTK installer directory

3.1 On Same system / Host machine

1. To configure Bios settings first try to get the help, this tells the bios options applicable in your

system.

Command:

cctk h

Example:

Please see the below image...

CCTK Introduction

5

2. To know about particular Bios option (description and possible values) use the below command

cctk h

Example:

Please see the below image

CCTK Introduction

6

Note: Here the + symbol after the Argument/Value tells the applicable values on this

machine. In the above example the Argument/Value selectdays is not applicable on this

machine so no + symbol added. You cant configure selectdays on this machine.

3. Use the below syntax to configure bios settings

cctk --optionname =

If the system has admin or system password set, then you need to provide the password as well.

cctk --optionname= --vasetuppwd=

cctk --optionname= --vasyspwd=

Example:

cctk --autoon=weekdays

cctk --autoon=weekdays --valsetuppwd=adminpassword

3.2 On all platforms

1. To replicate all your host settings in other platforms, you have to capture the settings in a file

and then apply those setting in all other platforms.

To capture your host machine bios settings (configured by CCTK) use the below command.

cctk o filename

where the filename is any file name as given in below example.

Example:

cctk o config.ini

Now you can take config.ini file and apply this file in other platform using the command..

cctk i config.ini

CCTK Introduction

7

This command will apply all bios settings available in config.ini file to that platform.

Note: To apply with more Bios options, which may be applicable in other platforms, you can open

this config.ini file and add more bios options, and then run the above command.

To configure remotely on other platforms using Active Directory or SCCM or DCIP or some other

management tools,

You should write a small script with the command (cctk i config.ini) and run this script.

Note: You have to give cctk.exe path properly. To do that go to the CCTK installer directory (Example: C:\Program Files\Dell\CCTK) and copy this entire directory (including sub-directories)

into a some shared location. If the platform (where you are running this script) is 32bit then the

path should be C:\Program Files\Dell\CCTK\X86\cctk.exe else if the platform is 64bit then the path

should be C:\Program Files\Dell\CCTK\X86_64\cctk.exe.

Note: Similarly deploying BIOS configuration on other platforms can also be done easily using GUI

via SCE (self-contained executable). For more information please see the Configuring and

Applying Bios Settings using GUI

4 Configuring and Applying Bios settings using GUI Using GUI you can configure BIOS settings and export the configured setting to a file to apply

on Target platform.

1. Launch the GUI from Start Menu or Desktop shortcut. It shows the Home screen as shown

below:

CCTK Introduction

8

2. Click the Create Package, it shows the below screen

As shown in the above screen CCTK GUI allows you to configure BIOS settings in three different Ways.

1. Mult-Platform File

If you want to Deploy bios settings on all Platforms without caring about Host machine settings

then choose this option.

2. This Systems File

If you want to replicate your host machine bios settings in all other systems (OR) if you want to

consider all the host settings and want to modify or add more bios settings then choose this option.

3. A Saved File

If you have any saved .ini or .cctk file and want to modify or add more bios settings then choose

this option and browse to select the file.

4.1 On Same system / Host machine

This section explains how can you easily configure and apply bios settings in Host machine. This

section helps to know the applicable settings in Host machine and the present values of those

settings.

1. Follow the steps mentioned in section /Configuring and Applying Bios settings using GUI/ before

proceeding with next step.

2. Select the This Systems File button and then click Next Button , it shows the below

screen

CCTK Introduction

9

3. In the above screen the Green colored rectangle shows the settings of Host machine, hence

the Present Value column shows their current values. The Red color rectangle shows the

values, which are not present (or) not available in this machine. Hence Value to Set column

shows Not Specified and Present value column is empty.

a. If you want to replicate this machine settings to other machines then you can directly

export these options (How to export is explained in session (4.4 Export the Configured

Settings))

b. If you want to modify these settings and want to add more Bios Options then click

Edit Button, which is present in right corner of the GUI (you can observe the red

color marked ellipse)

i. After clicking the Edit button all the bios options will be opened for editing.

Please see the below picture.

CCTK Introduction

10

ii. Select the appropriate value from the combo box as shown in the screen (red

color)

iii. In Addition to Current System Bios setting, if you want to add more options

then click the Options, where the Value to Set column says Not specifiedand

Apply Setting column check box is unchecked. Change the values as show

below

Note: In the above picture if you change the asfmode value to on then

automatically Apply Setting column will be checked.

CCTK Introduction

11

4. Miscellaneous Features

To configure easily some friendly features are added in GUI. Please read the section

3.3 Miscellaneous Features.

5. Export the Configured settings

After completing the steps 1, 2 and 3 for all desired settings you need to export these

configured Bios settings to a file. This file will contain all Bios settings configured by

you, which you can use to Deploy on target client systems. To know how to export

please read the session 3.4 Export the Configured Settings.

6. Deploy the configured file.

After exporting the file (as mentioned in above step), you have to deploy this file to

the desired platforms. To know how to deploy please read the session 3.5 Deploy the

configured file (exe - self-contained executable)

4.2 On all platforms

This section explains how can you configure and apply bios settings in all target platforms. In this page, Value to Set column shows as Not Specified for every Option and you cant find the Present Value column, which shows present values of Host settings as specified in Section 4.1 On Same system. This page mainly targeted to multiplatforms so you can configure all the desired settings, which may applicable in all or most of the target platforms.

Note: if you want to know the applicable Options in host machine use Validate feature.

1. Follow the steps mentioned in section Configuring and Applying Bios Settings using GUI

before proceeding with next step.

2. Select the Multi-platform File button and then click Next Button , it shows the below

screen

CCTK Introduction

12

3. To modify these settings click Edit Button, which is present in right corner of the GUI (you

can observe the red color marked ellipse)

i. After clicking the Edit button all below bios options will be opened for editing.

Please see the below picture.

ii. Select the appropriate value from the combo box as showed in the screen (red

color)

CCTK Introduction

13

Note: In the above picture if you change the forcepxe value to disable then

Value to Set column shows disable instead of Not Specified and automatically

Apply setting column will be checked.

4. Miscellaneous Features

To configure easily some friendly features are added in GUI. Please read the section

4.3 Miscellaneous Features.

5. Export the Configured settings

After completing the steps 1, 2 and 3 for all desired settings you need to export these

configured Bios settings to a file. This file will contain all Bios settings configured by

you, which you can use to Deploy on desired platforms. To know how to export please

read the section 4.4 Export the Configured Settings.

6. Deploy the configured file.

After exporting the file (as mentioned in above step), you have to deploy this file to

the desired platforms. To know how to deploy please read the section 4.5 Deploy the

configured file (exe - self-contained executable)

4.3 Miscellaneous Features

4.3.1 Validate

This feature allows to compare All CCTK supported Bios Options (listed in GUI) with Host Bios

Options and Values. As show in below picture click the Validate button (red color circled). The

result will be shown in the GUI as follows..

If the Option is not supported in Host machine, that option will be greyed out in GUI. The Value

to Set combo box will show all the applicable values with green tick mark and all the values not

applicable in the Host machine will be shown with red cross mark. Please see the below picture for

more information.

CCTK Introduction

14

In this above image the first option (flashcachemodule) is greyed out because this option is not

supported in host machine. The second option camera is supported and the value enable also

supported so you can see green tick mark in Value to set column and Status column. The third

option embnic1 at present had a value onwithiscisi, which is not applicable so it is showing red

cross mark on both Status and Value to Set columns. The fourth option embsataraid has so many

values in which ata , off, ahci, raid are applicable in the host machine hence green tick mark but

remaining values are not supported and hence appears with red cross mark.

4.3.2 Category Filter

If you want to filter categories (or) if you want to configure some particular categories settings (or)

if you want to configure category wise one after the other then you can filter categories by clicking

category column as shown in below picture.

CCTK Introduction

15

In the above picture if you select Category column (showed in red rectangle) it lists all the

available categories. All categories will be listed with checkbox in front of it. You can select the

categories you want by clicking the checkbox. In the above picture I selected four categories so if

you click outside category column then your view will be filtered and you can see only selected

categories and their bios options.

4.3.3 Search

This feature is helpful to search a particular option in the GUI. In the below picture we are trying

to find mediacard option as entered in search box. If you press enter it shows other options with

the same word. You can keep on pressing the enter button till you find the desired option. The

searched option will be shown in yellow shaded color as shown in below picture.

CCTK Introduction

16

4.3.4 Sort

You can sort any column by clicking that column header. It helps to find the options easily because

all options are in sorted order. You can sort the Apply Settings column so you can get all the

selected settings in one place. In the below picture on column header has an upward pointing

arrow head, which tells that values are sorted in ascending order.

CCTK Introduction

17

4.4 Export the Configured Settings

After configuring the settings you have to export to a file to apply those settings in host machine

or in other platforms. You can do this in two ways one is exporting to a .ini/.cctk file and other

is exporting to .exe (SCE - self-contained executable). The first button as shown below Export

Configuration will export the configured settings to a .ini/.cctk file. This you can run using

cctk i command on the target machine. The second button Export Configuration .exe will

export the settings in an executable format. While exporting using this Option, it will ask for

Target Platforms password information. If you have set any password (setuppwd/syspwd) on

Target Platforms, provide the password here else click OK button (Note: if you want to provide

password while running the exe, just click OK button). This exe can be used to run on one or

more target platforms. How to deploy this exe can be learned in the section 4.5 Deploy the

configured file (exe self-contained executable). The third button is Export Report, which

will save your configured settings in an html format.

CCTK Introduction

18

Click the desired export button and save the file in desired location. Export Configuration .exe Option will save two files, one is exe for windows and shell file for linux.

4.5 Deploy the configured file (exe Self Contained executable).

We are going to use the below softwares to deploy CCTK SCE (exported exe in above sections).

SCCM (System Center Configuration Manager)

System Center Configuration Manager is system management software product by Microsoft for

managing large groups of Windows based computer systems. For more information please follow the

link below.

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg682041.aspx

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_Center_Configuration_Manager

DCIP(Dell Client Integration Pack)

Dell Client Integration Pack (DCIP) is an easy to use GUI based tool to configure and deploy your Dell

client systems. The DCIP integrated directly into the Configuration Manager console. It eliminates the

need for command line tools and scripts normally used. It also adds new functionality for remote

management using AMT, Intels out-of-band technology. The features include:

Importing Dell Client Driver-Packages.

OMCI and CCTK Integration.

Dell Warranty Tracking.

CCTK Introduction

19

Intel AMT out-of-band management features.

For more information please follow the link below.

DCIP 2.0 for SCCM 2007:

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/SOFTWARE/smdcip/2_0/index.htm

DCIP 3.0 for SCCM 2012:

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/SOFTWARE/smdcip/3_0/index.htm

Active Directory (AD)

Active Directory is a database that keeps track of all the user accounts and passwords in your organization. It allows you to store your user accounts and passwords in one protected location, improving your organization's security.

Active Directory is subdivided into one or more domains. A domain is a security boundary. Each domain is hosted by a server computer called a domain controller (DC). A domain controller manages all of the user accounts and passwords for a domain.

You can deploy applications using Group Policies. Group Policy is a feature of the Microsoft Windows

NT family of operating systems that control the working environment of user accounts and computer

accounts. Group Policy provides the centralized management and configuration of operating systems,

applications, and users' settings in an Active Directory environment.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Active_Directory

http://www.doecirc.energy.gov/documents/MS_Active_Directory_Design_Guide.pdf

http://www.softwareshelf.com/news/printmanager/tips/Deploying_Applications_with_Group_Policy

.pdf

4.5.1 Deploying Using SCCM

To Deploy the CCTK SCE using Configuration Manager (SCCM), follow the below steps:

I. Create a Pacakage

II. Create a Program

III. Advertisement to run CCTK SCE program

IV. Create and update distribution points

V. Initiate Client Action Using the Configuration Manager

I. Create a Pacakage

CCTK Introduction

20

1. Launch the Microsoft Configuration Manager Console.

2. Navigate to component Management > Software Distribution > packages.

3. Right-click Packages and click New, then Package.

4. In the New Package Wizard, specify the Package name (example CCTK SCE)

5. In Data Source Page, Specify the Source directory where the CCTK SCE files are stored.

6. In Data Access Page, select Access the distribution folder through common ConfigMgr package Share

7. In Distribution Settings Page, select the Sending Priority as High

8. In Reporting Page, select Use the package properites for status MIF matching

9. In Security Page, Specify the Security rights

10. Verify the selected settings in Summary page and Click on Next

11. The new package was created successfully screen will be shown.

II. Create a Program

1. In the Configuration Manager console, navigate to System Center Configuration Manager Site Database Computer Management Software Distribution Package .

2. Right-click Programs, point to New, and then click Program.

3. In the New Program Wizard, specify the Program name. Browse and specify the command line as SCE file name followed by /nolog option. For example: cctk_sce /nolog

4. In the Requirements Page, select This program can run on any platform option.

5. In the Environment Page, select the desired Options

6. In Advance Page, retain the default selections.

7. In Windows Installer Page, retain the default selections

8. In MOM Maintenance Page, retain the default selections.

9. In Summary page, verify the settings given.

10. Next The New Program Wizard completed successfully screen will be shown.

III. Advertisement to run CCTK SCE program

1. In the Configuration Manager console, navigate to System Center Configuration Manager > Site Database > Computer Management > Software Distribution.

2. Right-click Advertisements, point to New, and then click Advertisement.

3. Specify an Advertisement name , Package Name , Program Name ( for CCTK SCE) and Collection.

4. When you click Next, Configuration Manager Warning Dialog will be shown because of no distribution points. Click Yes to proceed.

5. In Schedule page, provide the schedule information.

CCTK Introduction

21

6. In Distribution Points, Spefify the distribution points.

7. In Security Page, Specify the security rights.

8. Verify the selected settings in Summary page

9. Next The New Advertisement Wizard completed successfully screen will be shown.

IV. Create and update distribution points Creating distribution points

1. In the Configuration Manager console, navigate to System Center Configuration Manager > Site Database > Computer Management > Software Distribution > Package > CCTK SCE > .

2. Right-click Distribution Points, and then click New Distribution Points.

3. In Copy Package, select the site Server

Update Distribution Points

1. In the Configuration Manager console, navigate to System Center Configuration Manager > Site Database > Computer Management > Software Distribution > Package > CCTK SCE > .

2. Right-click Distribution Points, and then click Update Distribution Points.

3. Confirm Update Distribution Points Dilaog will be shown. Click Yes to continue. Distribution Points are updated.

V. Initiate Client Action Using the Configuration Manager

Next initiate the Client action on the target client systems to see the advertised programs. For initiating the Client actions on clients, use the following steps:

For Windows 7 /Vista Operating systems:

1. Go to Control Panel.

2. Select View by Large icons.

3. Select Configuration Manager , Right click and select Properties 4. On the Configuration Manager Properties window, select Actions tab. 5. Select Machine Policy Retrieval & Evaluation Cycle and click Initiate Actions. 6. The below dialog will be shown.

CCTK Introduction

22

7. Click OK

8. Select Software Inventory Cycle and Click Initiate Action

9. The below dialog will be shown

10. Click OK

11. Select Software Update Deployment Evaluation Cycle and Click Initiate Action

12. The below dialog will be shown

13. Click OK

14. The above cycles initiate the actions on the target systems and display the pop-up.

15. Click Run

4.5.2 Deploying Using SCCM & DCIP

To Deploy the CCTK SCE using DCIP & Configuration Manager 2007, follow the below steps:

1. Launch Configuration Manager 2007 console.

CCTK Introduction

23

2. On the Configuration Manager console, navigate to Site Database -> Computer Management ->

Software Distribution-> Packages.

3. Right Click on Packages, and then click Dell -> Import Dell CCTK Package.

4. Click Browse on the Import Wizard and navigate to the location of the CCTK SCE file and select

it.

5. Click OK and then Click Close to create the package.

After the package is created, distribute the package.

To Deploy the CCTK SCE using DCIP & Configuration Manager 2012, follow the below steps:

1. Launch Configuration Manager 2012.

2. On the Configuration Manager console, navigate to Software Library -> Overview ->

Application Management -> Packages.

3. Right Click on Packages, and then click Dell Client Integration Pack -> Import Dell CCTK SCE

Package.

4. Click Browse on the Import Wizard and navigate to the location of the CCTK SCE file and select

it.

5. Select your distribution point from the list available under Select the Distribution Points to

Distribute Content to distribute the package automatically once it is created.

6. Click OK and follow the onscreen instructions to create a CCTK SCE Package.

After the wizard completes, the CCTK SCE Software Package is created under Packages -> Dell Client

Packages.

You can associate these packages with task sequences for pre-OS Deployment or use them as software

package during post-OS configuration.

4.5.3 Deploying Using ACTIVE DIRECTORY

1. Get the exe (Self-contained executable - SCE)

2. Copy the exe (SCE) to a UNC share.

a) Make sure that the share is accessible by the members of the OU you are

going to assign it to.

b) If you deploy by computers, make sure that everyone or authenticated users

have read permissions to the share.

3. Create Group Policy.

a) Create a Group Policy Object to the OU you are deploying it to.

b) Right-click, select New Package. Navigate to the UNC location where the MSI

is stored.

c) Use Assigned.

4. Testing

You need to wait until replication has taken place and test on the computers that

are a part of the OU you assigned it to. Check the log generated by exe (SCE).

CCTK Introduction

24

5 Additional resources

1. Download latest version of CCTK from Support.dell.com or ftp.dell.com

2. CCTK on Dell Tech Center (you can find all documents, whitepapers and videos here)

http://en.community.dell.com/techcenter/systems-management/w/wiki/1952.dell-client-configuration-toolkit.aspx

3. CCTK Documentation

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/SOFTWARE/smcctk/

4. Enabling the TPM with ConfigMgr (SCCM) and CCTK

http://en.community.dell.com/techcenter/extras/m/white_papers/20209083.aspx

5. CCTK Videos

http://en.community.dell.com/techcenter/m/videos/20105740.aspx

http://en.community.dell.com/techcenter/m/videos/20105105.aspx