iDRAC Console for Dell PowerEdge Servers

Dell PowerEdge servers come equipped with an iDRAC, or Dell Remote Access Controller. This hardware device has its own processor, memory, and network interface; providing power management features as well as virtual media access capabilities and remote console capabilities.

ActiveX/HTML5 software enables users to login remotely and take control of a server, even in cases where its operating system has become inoperable.

What is iDRAC?

iDRAC (Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller) is an integrated motherboard option from Dell that offers virtual media console, power management and remote hardware monitoring features. Available on tower, rack and blade servers from Dell, this software solution simplifies server deployment, configuration and updates as well as downtime reduction thereby improving overall server performance and efficiency.

iDrac is installed into servers and accessible over the network through web browsers, remote management tools, Telnet/SSH connections to its IP address or Telnet/SSH connections. IT administrators can connect remotely using iDRAC to perform key server management functions like virtual console access, KVM management, reboot/power cycle controls, OS installation/recovery processes or mapping drives – an essential tool for server administrators who prefer not having physical hardware access but still require remote server administration functions such as KVM remote control or power cycle controls iDRAC is essential!

iDRAC features numerous settings and options that administrators can configure, such as multi-factor authentication, password security, thermal management features and email alerting & monitoring to quickly identify issues & solve them quickly; additionally it can detect potential hardware failures to avoid downtime & increase productivity.

Administrators need to access the iDRAC interface via its IP address, which can be found either within a server BIOS or through its Web interface. After knowing this address, they can log in using either their Web browser or third-party remote management tool and gain access to virtual console settings and more settings – the iDRAC Web interface was designed for Internet Explorer but can be used on Chrome as well.

Dell provides users with the option to upgrade the iDRAC firmware to its most up-to-date version through their website, with different iDRAC versions supporting different features and capabilities that can be enabled depending on which iDRAC version it is running on. FrameFlow, for instance, monitors chassis status for potential failures while simultaneously protecting datacenter infrastructure against insider threats. Other features that can be enabled include USB port updates for firmware updates as well as graphical boot menu and new user interface features.

iDRAC Installation

iDRAC stands for “Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller,” a piece of hardware installed onto Dell servers to act as an out-of-band management platform. It provides remote power cycling, virtual console access with keyboard, video and mouse to manage system operations as well as hardware monitoring and boot logs – it even supports various methods for rolling out operating systems and VMware virtualization! In order to utilize its features you will require Java installed on your workstation as well as knowledge of how to connect using browser connection methods to reach iDRAC.

To gain access to the iDRAC Web user interface from your workstation, open a browser and type in its IP address in the URL field of a browser. When pressing enter on this URL field, the iDRAC settings page will appear with its default username of root and password of calvin as its credentials – however you can change these by going into User Configuration within settings, changing them then selecting Save and Exit once done so.

An administrator can use iDRAC virtual media to mount remotely shared disk images as though they were connected physically to a server, making software installations and firmware updates possible without visiting its location in a data center or server room.

To maximize the iDRAC virtual media function, it is recommended that your server be equipped with RAID and have a compatible boot mode in BIOS or UEFI. Press F2 or F3 during Power-on Self-Test (POST) if an OS deployment option appears; otherwise use manual installation and follow its wizard.

If you are installing a Dell OS on the machine, bypassing BIOS and directly installing from ISO file with iDRAC virtual media feature may be easier than using installer to complete setup and configuration process. In such instances, use web user interface of iDRAC instead if your NIC can ping its IP address for easier configuration process.

iDRAC Configuration

iDRAC is an out-of-band management tool designed for remote access of Dell PowerEdge servers, providing an out-of-band management tool used for installing operating systems and remotely managing them. Proper configuration of iDRAC ensures its features can improve system performance and availability – to get started, you should understand what iDRAC is, how its configuration is completed, as well as its security features.

Once configured, iDRAC configuration is easy. Once set up, you can use it to easily manage your Dell PowerEdge server over network connection or web browser. For accessing iDRAC via Internet Protocol Address or pullout tag at front of appliance. It can also be reached using Windows Remote Desktop Connection by selecting its icon from system tray.

Once installed, iDRAC utilizes dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP) to obtain its IP address. However, if your network doesn’t support DHCP then static IP addresses need to be configured on your iDRAC by going into its Settings page and selecting Static IP Address under IPv4 Settings menu – fill in your IP address, subnet mask address information as well as default gateway and DNS server information into the respective fields provided.

If your network allows it, iDRAC can communicate with other devices by choosing Failover Network in the LAN Settings menu. This option directs traffic over an alternative network if the primary one fails.

Select your duplex mode and network speed; or enable Auto Negotiation so iDRAC can automatically configure these values for you.

iDRAC can access a database of other devices on a network and use them as virtual consoles. The iDRAC connects to external databases using standard SQL interface, and stores results of its searches in a table called Devices which contains comprehensive details of all of its available devices.

iDRAC Logging

iDRAC (Dell Remote Access Controller) is an integrated management solution for Dell PowerEdge servers. It enables administrators to remotely power cycle and monitor hardware status; as well as providing virtual media streaming and access to remote consoles with keyboard, video, and mouse control capabilities. As an invaluable system management tool for system administrators worldwide, the iDRAC makes server management effortless from any location, at any time of day or night.

iDRAC uses a web interface accessible via any computer with access to either a DHCP or static IP address, or through SSH client connection over serial port. Logs generated from iDRAC can be forwarded directly into VMware vRealize Log Insight for monitoring purposes, with dashboards included with IDRAC Content Pack being displayed as tabs within this system for convenient and proactive infrastructure monitoring.

Before you can access an iDRAC, it must first be configured on your network. Make sure your DHCP server is set up to automatically accredit its domain name or enter one manually; additionally, be sure to set a password for local user account that defaults to root and Calvin (root calvin is fine).

Early versions of the iDRAC used ActiveX in Internet Explorer to provide its remote console interface, but its latest iteration (iDRAC6) uses a Java application compatible with most platforms and requires both an username and password for login security. When using it over the internet, SSL should always be enabled to protect your connection.

For log-in to an iDRAC, launch your web browser on either a workstation or desktop computer and type https://ip_address/ into the address bar. Authenticating with an SSL certificate may prompt a security warning; to continue browsing or accept click “Continue to this site” (I Accept). After you login the iDRAC Web User Interface will appear; use the arrow keys to navigate menus while Esc key allows exit from GUI mode.