- Flash the firmware on the DRAC and BMC

 - Reseat the DRAC; be careful with the cable connections

 - Reset the DRAC to the factory defaults and reconfigure

 - Remove the DRAC and reset the BMC to factory default; reinstall the DRAC

 - Replace the DRAC

Thank you for the prompt reply Thomas.

I'm not sure how to proceed with your suggestion though.

Is there a utility to reflash? If you wouldn't mind please post a link to this tool (if exists)?

Thanks.

Arjuna

 

As a matter of fact, I did indeed try to install these first. BMC firmware upgrade was successful. However, when I ran the DRAC firmware upgrade, the program quits saying it cannot find a compatible hardware package for this firmware.

The BIOS was also upgraded to the latest.

Thanks!

Arjuna

Run the firmware update for the DRAC and BMC from the Dell website:

 

ESM: Dell BMC Firmware, Firmware, English, PowerEdge 2950, PowerVault DP500/NF500, v.1.97, A09

http://ftp.us.dell.com/esm/ESM_FRMW_WIN_R180629.EXE

 

Systems Management: Dell Remote Access Controller - DRAC 5, Firmware, English, Multi System, v.1.32, A00

http://ftp.us.dell.com/sysman/RAC_FRMW_WIN_R175502.EXE

Hi there,

 

I also posted regarding this issue with PE2900's. Have seen this on quite a lot of systems now, and the only way i have found around the issue is to reseat the connectors on the card!!

 

Not ideal at all. i have tried all the other suggetions regarding running esm update and then trying, but i don't think this is relates at all. it's the kind of issue you would expect from bad transit, with loose connections.

 

In my case, the connections appear to be fine, but a reseat solves the problem. can't help thinking Dell need to get onto this problem and come up with a better fix, esepecially as my servers are dotted all round the country. 

Out of approximately 15 2950 or 1950 servers, we have had this same exact failure in three. In each case they initially worked. Pretty bad rate of failure. BTW, out of about 50 PE2650 servers, we never once had a DRAC failure.

I had the same problem with a DRAC5 in a PE2900.  If it won't initialize, then you can't get to it to flash the firmware.  I ended up disconnecting and reattaching the two cables several times (on the  PE 2900, that's the only connections to the motherboard, the DRAC itself does not plug directly into anything).  Voila.  On the next reboot the DRAC5 initialized successfully.