Remote-access Guide

dell remote access controller software

by Dr. Colton Green Sr. Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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What is iDRAC used for?

iDRAC (Integrated Dell Remote Access Card) configuration utility is accessed at boot time, and is useful when installing a new PowerEdge server. iDRAC alerts you when an issue occurs, enables streamlined local and remote server management, and reduces or eliminates the need for administrators to physically visit the server. Modifying iDRAC Settings

How to setup Dell iDRAC?

Symptoms

  • Turn on or reboot the managed system.
  • During Power-On Self-Test (POST), press <F2> when F2 = System Setup is displayed in the upper right corner of the screen as shown in the following figure.
  • On the System Setup Main Menu page, click iDRAC Settings, and then click Network. ...

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How to access iDRAC from Windows?

  • Start Internet Explorer
  • Add your DRAC to the Compatibility View - this solves the 'undefined' menu display problem and should allow access to everything other than the Console.
  • Remove any newer versions of Java by uninstalling.

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How to get iDRAC IP?

Using localcli or esxcli

  • Open the SSH service of the VMware ESXI system.
  • Log in SSH with the root account and password.
  • Run the command lines shown below to get the idrac IP address:

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How do I access Dell Remote Access Controller?

Access the System menu, click on the Console/Media tab and select the Virtual Console and Virtual Media option. Click on the Launch Virtual Console Button to start a remote console session. You can now use the remote console feature. Congratulations!

Is iDRAC a software?

The basic level of management is provided by the iDRAC, a controller card embedded in the motherboard. Advanced mangement options are provided at an operating system level with the OpenManage suite. This suite is a collection of software that helps you discover, monitor, manage, and deploy Dell servers.

What is Dell iDRAC used for?

The Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller (iDRAC) is designed for secure local and remote server management and helps IT administrators deploy, update and monitor Dell EMC PowerEdge servers anywhere, anytime.

Is iDRAC free?

Because Dell EMC believes that none of our customers should be without the advanced remote management and automation capabilities during this difficult time, we have decided to offer a free iDRAC Enterprise 240-day Trial License*.

How do I download iDRAC?

Downloading iDRAC firmware installation fileGo to www.dell.com/support.In the Enter a Service Tag, Serial Number... ... On the product support page, click Drivers & downloads.Select the appropriate operating system.From the list, locate the iDRAC entry and click the download icon.

What is the difference between iLO and iDRAC?

The difference between the Both- Dell iDRAC and HP iLO: Both iLO and iDRAC support Java-based and ActiveX remote consoles. The iLO supports CLP, which is a text-based command-line interface from the DMTF while iDRAC supports skeletal command (control power, view log, exit).

How do I connect to Dell iDRAC?

Turn on the managed system.Press during Power-on Self-test (POST).In the System Setup Main Menu page, click iDRAC Settings. The iDRAC Settings page is displayed.Click Network. The Network page is displayed.Specify the network settings.Click Back, click Finish, and then click Yes.

What is a remote access controller?

Remote access control refers to the ability to monitor and control access to a computer or network (such as a home computer or office network computer) anywhere and anytime. Employees can leverage this ability to work remotely away from the office while retaining access to a distant computer or network.

How do I know if I have iDRAC?

Identify iDRAC version using the iDRAC Web Interface Log in to the iDRAC interface. The default iDRAC IP address 192.168. 0.120. Upon login, the version is displayed at the upper left of the iDRAC along with the iDRAC license level.

Do I need a license for iDRAC?

No, iDRAC7 with Lifecycle Controller licenses are installed in the factory. By default, Dell PowerEdge server models 200 – 500 ship standard with basic management features.

How do I get an iDRAC license?

Access The Dell website and download a trial license. You will receive a ZIP file containing the iDrac license. Extract the XML from the ZIP file to get your 30 days trial Enterprise License file. Open a browser software, enter the IP address of your iDRAC interface and access the administrative web interface.

What is an iDRAC license?

The Enterprise license enables additional features like Virtual Console, Virtual Media, and Out of Band Performance Monitoring. The Datacenter license enables all the features of Enterprise and additional features such as server data telemetry streaming and advanced thermal controls.

What is iDRAC console?

The iDRAC's virtual console manages a remote system using the keyboard, video, and mouse of the management station to control the corresponding devices on a managed server. This is a licensed feature for rack and tower servers. It is available by default in blade servers.

How do I know if I have iDRAC?

Identify iDRAC version using the iDRAC Web Interface Log in to the iDRAC interface. The default iDRAC IP address 192.168. 0.120. Upon login, the version is displayed at the upper left of the iDRAC along with the iDRAC license level.

What is iDRAC module?

iDRAC Service Module (iSM) is a lightweight software OS service that better integrates operating system (OS) features with iDRAC and can be installed on Dell's 12th generation and newer PowerEdge servers.

How do I access iDRAC?

Log in to iDRAC The login screen is displayed. If you have opted for secure default access to iDRAC, the iDRAC secure default password is available on the back of the system Information tag. If you have not opted for secure default access to iDRAC, then the default username and password are "root" and "calvin".

Find the best download for your system

We're sorry, the driver you are looking for is no longer available. Please enter your product details to view the latest driver information for your system.

Fixes & Enhancements

1) VKVM Plugin backward compatibility and multiple user privileges feature addition.

Importance

Dell Technologies recommends applying this update during your next scheduled update cycle. The update contains changes to maintain overall system health. It ensures that the system software remains current and compatible with other system modules (firmware, BIOS, drivers, and software) and may include other new features.

Additional details

A portion of this software may contain or consist of open source software, which you can use under the terms and conditions of the specific license under which the open source software is distributed. Under certain open source software licenses, you are also entitled to obtain the corresponding source files.

Drivers help and tutorials

For more downloads go to the Drivers and downloads. For help on using the information on this page, please visit Driver Help and Tutorials.

What is remote console?

The remote console features of the DRAC allow an administrator to interface with the computer as if sitting in front of it, and one can share the local inputs from keyboard and mouse as well as video output (DRAC does not support remote sound). Remote-console capability relies on either an Active X or Java plug-in, or HTML5 in the later models, which displays a window showing the video output on the local terminal and which takes mouse and keyboard input. This behavior closely resembles that of other remote access solutions such as VNC or RDP but also works if the operating system of the server doesn't work any more (unlike VNC or RDP). It is used to take the server console remotely.

What is Dell DRAC?

The Dell Remote Access Controllers (DRAC) and the Integrated Dell Remote Access Controllers (iDRAC) come in different versions, where a new (i)DRAC version is often linked to a new generation of Poweredge servers.

What is idrac in server?

The hardware is often integrated on the motherboard of the server, and the combined product is termed iDRAC, where the "i" is for integrated. When iDRAC Express is used, the software and hardware systems management functions are shared with one of the server's on-board network interfaces using a unique IP address. By contrast, iDRAC Enterprise version features a dedicated physical network interface.

What is the difference between a Dell vFlash SD card and a class 2 SDHC card?

While there are no other known functional differences between a Dell-branded vFlash SD card and a class 2 or greater SDHC card, the use of non-Dell media prevents the use of extended capacities and functions.

How does DRAC work?

The main DRAC management takes place via a web interface. All generations of the DRAC use the default user name root and the default password calvin. Starting with the DRAC 3, Microsoft Active Directory can also provide authentication either with Dell AD Schema Extensions or Standard Schema.

What is a DRAC?

The DRAC enables a user to mount remotely shared disk-images as if they were connected to the system. In combination with the remote console, this gives administrators the ability to completely re-install an operating system, a task which traditionally required local console access to the physical machine. Administrators can control virtual media through the browser or through the OpenManage tools provided by Dell, though specific versions of browsers restrict some functionality.

What is a controller?

The controller has its own processor, memory, network connection, and access to the system bus. Key features include power management, virtual media access and remote console capabilities, all available through a supported web browser or command-line interface. This gives system administrators the ability to configure a machine as if they were sitting at the local console ( terminal ).

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Overview

The Dell Remote Access Controller, or DRAC, is an out-of-band management platform on certain Dell servers. The platform may be provided on a separate expansion card, or integrated into the main board; when integrated, the platform is referred to as iDRAC.
It mostly uses separate resources to the main server resources, and provides a browser-based or command-line interface (or both) for managing and monitoring the server hardware.

Features

The controller has its own processor, memory, network connection, and access to the system bus. Key features include power management, virtual media access and remote console capabilities, all available through a supported web browser or command-line interface. This gives system administrators the ability to configure a machine as if they were sitting at the local console (terminal).

Versions

The Dell Remote Access Controllers (DRAC) and the Integrated Dell Remote Access Controllers (iDRAC) come in different versions, where a new (i)DRAC version is often linked to a new generation of Poweredge servers.
The hardware is often integrated on the motherboard of the server, and the combined product is termed iDRAC, where the "i" is for integrated. When iDRAC Express is used, the software and har…

Power management

With the DRAC enabled and using its own separate network connection, a user may login and reboot the system even if the core operating system has crashed. If the operating system has loaded the correct drivers, the DRAC will attempt to shut down the system gracefully. Without this feature and with the system running, administrators can use the remote console to access the operating system too.

Remote console

The remote console features of the DRAC allow an administrator to interface with the computer as if sitting in front of it, and one can share the local inputs from keyboard and mouse as well as video output (DRAC does not support remote sound). Remote-console capability relies on either an Active X or Java plug-in, or HTML5 in the later models, which displays a window showing the video output on the local terminal and which takes mouse and keyboard input. This behavior clo…

Virtual media

The DRAC enables a user to mount remotely shared disk-images as if they were connected to the system. In combination with the remote console, this gives administrators the ability to completely re-install an operating system, a task which traditionally required local console access to the physical machine. Administrators can control virtual media through the browser or through the OpenManage tools provided by Dell, though specific versions of browsers restrict some funct…

Access

The main DRAC management takes place via a web interface. All generations of the DRAC use the default user name root and the default password calvin. Starting with the DRAC 3, Microsoft Active Directory can also provide authentication either with Dell AD Schema Extensions or Standard Schema.

Implementation

The DRAC5 and iDRAC6 and higher are embedded platforms running Linux and Busybox. The firmware source code is available on the Dell website, but it is not possible to compile the source into a replacement firmware as Dell does not include a build environment.
The DRAC provides remote access to the system console (keyboard and screen) allowing the system BIOS to be accessed over the Internet when the server is rebooted. This is done by confi…

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