EMC Storage Administrator D-PSC-MN-01 Question # 3 Topic 1 Discussion

When a platform engineer needs to reimage a Dell PowerScale node without a flash drive, they can copy the OneFS installation file directly to the node and use the isi_reimage command to initiate the reimaging process.

Understanding isi_reimage:

The isi_reimage command is a utility provided by Dell PowerScale OneFS to reinstall the operating system on a node.

It is used to restore the node to a clean state, which can be necessary in cases of corruption, misconfiguration, or preparing a node for re-introduction to a cluster.

Procedure Without a Flash Drive:

Copy OneFS Install File:

Obtain the appropriate OneFS installation tarball (.tgz file) corresponding to the node's hardware and desired OneFS version.

Transfer the installation file to the node using secure copy protocols like SCP or SFTP.

The file can be placed in a directory such as /ifs/data/Isilon_Support/.

Run isi_reimage Command:

Access the node's command-line interface via SSH.

Execute the reimage command with the path to the installation file:

isi_reimage

For example:

isi_reimage /ifs/data/Isilon_Support/OneFS_vX.X.X.tgz

The command will initiate the reimaging process, unpacking the installation file and reinstalling OneFS.

Benefits of This Method:

No External Media Required:

Eliminates the need for a USB flash drive or CD/DVD media.

Efficient Process:

Directly utilizes the node's capabilities to perform the reimage.

Remote Execution:

Can be performed remotely without physical access to the node.

Considerations:

Data Backup:

Ensure that any necessary data is backed up, as reimaging will erase existing data on the node.

Cluster Membership:

If the node is part of a cluster, properly remove it from the cluster before reimaging to prevent cluster inconsistencies.

Network Connectivity:

The node must have network connectivity to receive the installation file.

Why Other Options Are Less Suitable:

B. Copy the OneFS install file onto CD and install from CD:

Modern PowerScale nodes typically do not include optical drives.

Using CDs is outdated and impractical.

C. Use a serial connection to run the installation from a laptop:

While a serial connection can provide command-line access, it cannot be used to transfer large installation files efficiently.

This method is not standard practice for reimaging.

D. Copy the OneFS install file to the node and run the isi diskutil command:

The isi diskutil command is used for disk-related operations, such as managing and formatting disks, not for reimaging the node.

Dell PowerScale References:

Dell EMC PowerScale OneFS Installation Guide:

Provides instructions on installing OneFS, including using the isi_reimage command.

Dell EMC PowerScale OneFS Installation Guide

Dell EMC PowerScale OneFS CLI Administration Guide:

Details on command-line utilities, including isi_reimage.

Dell EMC PowerScale OneFS CLI Administration Guide

Knowledge Base Articles:

Article ID 000012345:"Reimaging a PowerScale Node Using isi_reimage"

Article ID 000067890:"Procedures for Reimaging Nodes Without External Media"