Dell R730 console access to installed ESXi6.5

You can try the same remotely, if your server have iDRAC enterprise and you have access to iDRAC IP address.

You can try powering on the VM from host console. Below link have the details and commands for the same

https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/1038043 

I can't take my Host ESXI console as well because the remote connection to the host itself managed by the Firewall which is down now. This is a single point of failure in our network. So if an engineer have access to the physical server, how can we access the host console from the dell server console?

We don't have information whether the iDRAC is configured, only knows the ESXi IP address(Will that be same as iDRAC IP?). Also the ESXi is managed using localhost only, not a public ip is given

Then you can connect monitor and keyboard to the server and try to power on the virtual machine using the link I given in my previous post.

Yes. If its not possible to gain network access or trough iDRAC a tech need to hook up a monitor and keybord(no mouse needed).

If the ESXi is already booted he needs to verify if "Shell access" is already enabled (its not the default!) in the Troubleshooting Option menu and when not he need to enable it. After that he can access the shell by pressing ALT-F1.

vim-cmd vmsvc/getallvms | grep -i 
 

will return some infos and in the first field there will be a ID.

vim-cmd vmsvc/power.on 
 

will be power on the VM.

Another solution will be the following. If you are sure that the needed VM is in the list of VMs which are enabled for autom. start/shutdown and the whole option is enabled you can powered down the ESXi Host by pressing the power button or simply pull the cables.
ESXi Host will be restart and all VMs from the list will be startup.

Regards,
Joerg

Can we use a Laptop instead of Monitor and Keyboard? If yes , do you have any idea which port we can connect? We used to ssh to the ESXi host normally, but From the server how we will navigate to ESXi shell? The ESXi is up and running only, one of the VM(Firewall is powered off, which we have to power on). How to navigate to Troubleshooting Option in Dell server?.

Really sorry for the bundle of querries, actually this is the first time we are troubleshooting from server infra.

Thanks,
Linu

If you have Enterprise license on iDRAC, You can access the iDRAC using from USB (iDRAC Direct) port and use it to access the console of the server

You can refer below link to get details on iDRAC Direct port. there will be wrench symbol on this port.

https://www.dell.com/support/manuals/en-us/poweredge-r730/r730_ompublication/3.5-inch-hard-drive-chassis?guid=guid-cf7676b4-eb53-47a8-8ffb-34a74ca4f4a4&lang=en-us 

You can refer below link on details on how to access iDRAC using this USB port

https://www.dell.com/support/manuals/en-us/idrac9-lifecycle-controller-v5.x-series/idrac9_5.00.00.00_ug/accessing-idrac-interface-over-direct-usb-connection?guid=guid-2c43a175-3dd3-4a12-b747-d17c08e5bef6&lang=en-us

Refer below link on accessing ESXi shell from host. From console you can press Alt+F1 to access ESXi shell

https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/2004746 

I agree with Shine’s answer. iDRAC virtual console would be helpful.

If you do not have iDRAC enterprise license, then connecting monitor and keyboard to the server is the best option available. 

Note : For connecting iDRAC from front USB does not need iDRAC to be configured (Until unless this feature is disabled on iDRAC). Once USB cable is connected to the laptop, your laptop will get 169.254.0.4 and you can access iDRAC from laptop using 169.254.0.3. 

We don't have the Enterprise license for iDRAC, Also not sure iDRAC is configured. Is there any possible way to connect my laptop into the server and get into the ESXi shell?

We don't have iDRAC configured or license, in this case how can we get into Troubleshooting Option in Dell server and then to ESXi console? which port  .

Thanks 
Linu

Thank you for this.
Now we can access iDRAC web GUI using 169.254.0.3(username:root/Password:calvin). Could you direct me how to get into ESXi shell from the iDRAC home page.

Thanks,
Linu

Can you check what iDRAC license you have on iDRAC. Is it express or enterprise. If it is enterprise then you can launch virtual console from iDRAC and get access to console of the server.