Centrally managing my new Dell PCs BIOS

[steven_layton_sl]

We've just purchased a number of Dell 390 and 9010 PCs. One of the more annoying tasks is securing the BIOS and setting boot orders etc on all these stations.

 

Is there a central way I can do this with a console of some kind?

[FN-GM]

We've just purchased a number of Dell 390 and 9010 PCs. One of the more annoying tasks is securing the BIOS and setting boot orders etc on all these stations.

 

Is there a central way I can do this with a console of some kind?

 

There is using the Dell Client Configuration Toolkit. I just generate a .exe with all my bios settings using the software and push it out via SCCM. SCCM isnt needed though you can use a script.

[eddyc]

Does HP have a simular tool does anybody know?

[gshaw]

Always wondered why you can't do this through SCCM or other 3rd party management tools. I remember Lenovo going on about how the remote management was meant to be wonderful but their links to actually making it work have a habit of ending in 404 pages or marketing hot air

[6Foot2]

Link: Dell Command | Configure - Enterprise Client - Wiki - Client and Mobile Solutions - Dell Community

 

Dell Command | Configure replaces CCTK and is now a part of the Dell Client Command Suite.

 

Dell Command | Configure enables the IT Admin to create profiles and packages of hardware settings for Dell Enterprise client systems.

 

This product consists of a Command Line Interface (CLI) and Graphical User Interface (GUI) to configure various BIOS features. You can use Dell Command | Configure on Microsoft Windows Pre-installation Environment (Windows PE), Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1 operating systems, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux environments.

 

The latest version is 3.0 (Released September 2014).

Windows download

Red Hat Linux downloads

RHEL 5

RHEL 6 64 bit

RHEL 7 64 bit

Documentation Links

 

Enhancements included in the new version

 

- Support for the following BIOS options:

- backcamera

- fnlock

- fnlockmode

- unmanagednic

- rearusb

- sideusb

- keyboardbacklightonacpower

- gpsradio

- fanspeed

- Support for additional two values "medium_high" and "medium_low" in fanspeed option.

- Support for additional ASM 2.0 features

[Arthur]

Also worth a mention is Dell's Business Client BIOS Configuration PowerShell Provider.

 

The Dell Client PowerShell Provider (currently in Beta) provides native configuration capability of Dell Optiplex, Latitude, Precision and Venue 11 systems within PowerShell.

 

The following article has some examples of what you can do.

 

www.powershellmagazine.com/2014/05/12/dell-business-client-bios-configuration-powershell-provider

 

# Set BIOS Admin Password
Set-Item -Path Dellsmbios\Security\AdminPassword –Value dell123

# Change BIOS Admin Password
Set-Item -Path Dellsmbios\Security\AdminPassword –Value dell1234 –Password dell123

# Clear BIOS Admin Password
Set-Item -Path Dellsmbios\Security\AdminPassword –Value “” –Password dell123

# Disable Chassis Intrusion alert
Set-Item -Path Dellsmbios\Security\ChassisIntrusion -Value Disabled

# Set Wake On LAN
Set-Item -Path Dellsmbios:\PowerManagement\WakeOnLANorWLAN -Value "LANorWLAN"

# Change Asset Tag
Set-Item –Path DellSmbios:\SystemInformation\AssetTag MyAssetTag -Password dell123

# Set WWAN Connection AutoSense
Set-Item -Path Dellsmbios:\PowerManagement\ControlWWANRadio -Value Enabled

# Get Service Tag
Get-ChildItem DellSmbios:\SystemInformation\ServiceTag

# Get Boot Sequence
Get-ChildItem DellSmbios:\BootSequence\Bootsequence