Article Summary: | This article provides information on the "Out of The Box Setup" information for the Dell™ PowerEdge 9G and 10G Servers. |
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DRAC Default:
Username = root
Password = calvin
DRAC 5 Overview:
Dell Remote Access Controller 5 Firmware Version 1.45 User's Guide
- Before You Begin
- Installing the DRAC 5 Hardware
- Configuring Your System to Use a DRAC 5
- Software Installation and Configuration Overview
- Installing the Software on the Managed System
- Installing the Software on the Management Station
- Updating the DRAC 5 Firmware
- Configuring a Supported Web Browser
Using the DRAC 5 virtual media feature for the remote installation of Microsoft Windows Server 2008
Using the Dell Remote Access Controller 5 (DRAC 5) virtual media combined with the Dell Systems Management Utility allows users to remotely install operating systems with the latest out-of-box drivers. This installation method is a very good alternative for users who need to install an OS remotely without having to implement a complicated software deployment infrastructure. This method is also very useful for deploying OS-to-target systems that do not have a DVD or CD-ROM device. For more information, see this article: DRAC 5 VirtualMedia Remote Windows 2008 Server Install
RACADM Command Line Interface for DRAC:
The command functionality of RACADM provides almost the functionality that you can get through the iDRAC Graphical User Interface (GUI). The Dell RACADM (Remote Access Controller Admin) utility is a command line tool that allows for remote management of Dell Servers via the iDRAC / DRAC (Dell Remote Access Controller). For more information see this article RACADM Command Line Interface for DRAC
Keep your DRAC 5 up to date.
The current version of the Dell Remote Access Controller is 1.45:
Troubleshooting general DRAC Issues
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The latest generation of Dell PowerEdge servers including the recently released PowerEdge 1950 and PowerEdge 2950 is equipped with an on-board microcontroller called the baseboard management controller (BMC), which is compliant with the Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) 1.5 specification.1 The IPMI specification defines standardized, abstracted interfaces to the platform management subsystem. The BMC is the heart of the IPMI architecture and provides the intelligence behind intelligent platform management the autonomous monitoring and recovery features implemented directly in platform management hardware and firmware. IPMI defines a set of common interfaces to the hardware and firmware that is used to monitor system health and manage the system. Because operating, administering,and maintaining servers can represent a significant portion of total cost of ownership (TCO), any reduction in these processes through automation can help reduce TCO. The BMC provides management capabilities that are designed to reduce TCO through asset tracking; automatic alerting,shutdown, and restart; and manual remote restart and power control. Because the BMC is IPMI 1.5 compliant,IPMI reference documents present a thorough supplement to this article. (Remote Management with the Baseboard Management Controller)
Decoding The Baseboard Management Controller SEL Log
Did you ever notice a bunch of entries in the Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) System Event Log (SEL) that seem to be coming from Windows? Not the Windows system event log, but the SEL that is accessible from the Baseboard Management Controller (BMC). It may seem that this log is only intended for hardware events and errors, but there is an OS driver that also logs events to it. Starting with Windows Server 2003 R2, Microsoft began shipping the Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) driver. One of its functions is to log certain OS events to the SEL. The IPMI driver writes multiple records to the SEL for these three types of events: boot up, shutdown and bugcheck events.
The BMC SEL log is accessible via the sideband BMC interface using tools like ipmitool or impish. It is also accessible from OpenManage Server Assistant (OMSA), the Dell Remote Access Controller (DRAC) console, and <CTRL-E> during boot. Many different types of events, which can be useful in troubleshooting, are logged in the SEL. Each SEL record packs a lot of information in only 16 bytes, and given their limited size, they can be hard to decode. For more information on reading SEL logs, see this article: (BMC SEL Log) Dell Repository Manager? Dell Repository Manager (DRM) is an application that allows IT Admins to more easily manage system updates. Repository Manager provides a searchable interface used to create custom collections known as bundles and repositories of Dell Update Packages (DUPs). These bundles and repositories allow for the deployment of multiple firmware updates at once.
Dell Repository Manager
Dell Repository Manager (DRM) is an application that allows IT Admins to more easily manage system updates. Repository Manager provides a searchable interface used to create custom collections known as bundles and repositories of Dell Update Packages (DUPs). These bundles and repositories allow for the deployment of multiple firmware updates at once. Get more installation information, white papers, videos and more Dell Repository Manager.
Repository Manager How To Videos
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Microsoft OS Matrix
Click here to get a list of supported Microsoft Operating Systems on the 10G server range.
Additional Windows Server 2003, 2008 and 2012 Troubleshooting
Linux OS Matrix
Techcenter information matrix for "Linux OS Support" on Dell PowerEdge Servers
Please click here to view Red Hat Hardware Compatibility List for Dell PowerEdge servers
Please click here to view SUSE Hardware Compatibility List for Dell PowerEdge servers
Please click here to view Oracle's Hardware Compatibility List for Dell PowerEdge servers
Please click here to view Canonical Ubuntu's Hardware Compatibility List for Dell PowerEdge servers
Please click here to view Asianux's Hardware Compatibility List for Dell PowerEdge servers
VMWare
Dedicated VMware versions can be downloaded directly from Support.Dell.com, select your product, Under the Operating System Tab, select your desired VMWare Hypervisor Version (ESX and ESXi): Downloadable ISO's are available under the "Enterprise Solutions" category. If your system shipped with internal SD card support, and you want to install an embedded version of ESX(i), please read the following article for detailed instructions: Installing Your VMware ESXi Software on Flash Media.
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What is Dell OpenManage?
Dell OpenManage is a collection of software developed by Dell that helps you discover, monitor, manage, patch, and deploy to Dell server (OpenManage can also monitor networking and storage as well). OpenManage is useful to administrators that need to manage multiple servers because it allows them to easily view the status of all of their servers and manage them from a single workstation.
For those new to OMSA and OpenManage systems management products, please check out this primer on Dell OpenManage 101.
To get the latest version of OMSA, please visit The OpenManage Download Page.
Other Server Administrator Resources
More OMSA Downloads
Inventory DRAC IP Information Using Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007
Dell Troubleshooting Tool - used in several of the videos below to test SNMP connections
OpenManage Server Administrator (OMSA) Videos Introducing OpenManage Essentials
This eight-minute video is an introduction to the Dell OpenManage Server Administrator (OMSA) tool.
Linux SNMP Configuration + OMSA Installation for use with OpenManage Essentials
Windows 2008 SNMP Configuration + OMSA Installation for use with OpenManage Essentials
ESXi4 SNMP Configuration + OMSA Installation for use with OpenManage Essentials
Note: To learn about the full suite of Dell Systems Management products including the more advanced Dell Management Console, systems management appliances, and other Dell Cloud systems management offerings please visit the main Dell Systems Management page on TechCenter (HERE).
Support for VMWare
Issue 5. | A Simple Way to Centrally Manage Multiple "Dell Devices" |
OpenManage Essentials is available as a free download from the Dell Support Site. The OME console's inventory function integrates with the Dell Repository Manager to automatically facilitate the creation of custom repositories of new updates for your systems. If you are new to the product, take the Quick Tour or watch the OME Overview Video below:
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General Rules for updating drivers and Firmware:
Compare the Driver and Firmware revisions installed on your server against the latest version on "Support.Dell.Com" a large jump in revisions may not be possible without going through some intermediary updates (Check the README).
Some updates can take considerable time to complete.
The SBUU is a simple way to update a single server or get a snapshot of current revisions.
In most cases Firmware can be rolled back.
Updates rarely fail, there are a number of checks performed prior to writing a new firmware image to a component.
If you are unsure about the components that shipped with your system and you don't have "OpenManage Server Administrator" installed. An easy way to determine the original configuration is to go to Support.Dell.com, enter your service TAG in the Troubleshooting section.
Under the "System Configuration Tab" you will see a list of components that shipped with your server.
The drivers and downloads TAB contains a full list of Firmware and Drivers and their criticality. Click (Dell Driver Download Manager FAQ's) to see more.
Altiris Deployment Solution for Dell Servers centrally manage the provisioning of bare metal Dell servers, including configuration of the BIOS, baseboard management controller (BMC), Integrated Dell Remote Access Controllers (iDRACs) and RAID components.
Dell Systems Management Consoles work the way you want to work. Dell is committed to helping you apply your own approach to systems management. You can choose from our consoles, services and a variety of tools and utilities, many of which come free of charge.
Deployment Tools
Update Tools
Dell Server Updates DVD Dell Systems Build and Update Utility
Dell Systems Management Tools and Documentation DVD
Partner Deployment and Management Tools
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Check out the Diagnostics Tool repository: A central tools location for PowerEdge Servers.
Before Calling Technical Support: Its always a good idea to collect system logs before calling tech support. Dell System E-Support Tool (DSET) provides the ability to collect hardware, storage and operating system information from a Dell PowerEdgeTM server. You can download a copy from here: Dell System E-Support Tool.
This information is consolidated into a single System Configuration Report that can be used for troubleshooting or inventory collection of a system. The browser user interface provides a convenient means to view specific data through hierarchal menu trees. Please note- As part of the troubleshooting process you may be asked to provide a DSET log when you contact Dell Technical Support.
Article ID: SLN156450
Last Date Modified: 03/26/2018 10:21 AM
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