Need help setting up new/used R710, cannot update IDrac

Hello

It sounds like the iDRAC or LCC are not loading properly. The system services is the LifeCycle Controller. If the iDRAC or LCC does not load properly then they cannot be updated. The LCC requires the iDRAC to function, so I would start with making sure the iDRAC is functional.

I would try loading the iDRAC embedded web server. If the iDRAC EWS is loading then make sure system services is enabled in the BIOS. You can try updating the LCC through the EWS update and rollback section using the image file. The two file types that you can use are .d7 and .usc, if I remember correctly. The .d7 is the iDRAC firmware and the .usc is the LCC firmware.

If you continue to have issues you can try reseating the iDRAC express module. It should be a rectangular black piece of plastic with a metal clasp holding it down. We don't consider the express module replaceable because we don't stock it separate from the system board on 11th generation systems. If the module is faulty you can try locating a replacement on the reseller market.

http://www.dell.com/support/

http://www.dell.com/idracmanuals/

Thanks

Daniel,

    Thank you for the detailed reply and your attempt to help me.

"The LCC requires the iDRAC to function, so I would start with making sure the iDRAC is functional."

I am assuming that since I am able to login to the iDRAC via a browser with the IP address and password, that I assigned, this means the iDRAC is functional?  

  As for loading any sort of files to it, i downloaded a .usc file from the Dell support downloads for this server, it's actually the LC_Repair_Package_1.7.5.4_A00.usc   This file would not load, so I also downloaded from that same location, 2 different ESM_Firmware files that are supposed to be firmware updates for the iDRAC, but these 2 files are both .exe files, which might explain why they would not load either?  

   I didn't try running these files, thinking they were just the way I needed to load them, via the remote portal on the iDRAC, but I could try seeing if they expand and perhaps that will lead me in the correct direction. 

    I have no idea if the LCC is enabled in the bios, as I cannot recall seeing anything in the bios that refers to it, but I willl look again.  If you can tell me where it might be and what to look for that would be helpful. 

    I will also shut the system down and look to see about reseating the iDRAC module, but think it may be working.  

   I will update and get back with you as soon as I've tried finding the proper firmware files. 

Thanks again for your help.

Update....

@DELL-Daniel My   I did some looking around inside the server, there does not seeem to be an enterprise iDRAC, and it seems to be using the one that shares Nic1 with the rest of the system.  Not sure if this is a problem, but it does seem to be working, as far as I can login via browser from another system. So there is no reseating possible.

I did go back thru the support site/downloads and did a little digging.  I was able to find a .bin file for the iDrac monolithic firmware update, but this one says it's not valid for iDrac firmware update when I tried to load it thru the remote. 

I also went thru the bios thoroughly and could not find where to enable/disable the LCC, but I do note that on startup it prompts for F2 to bios, F10 for system services, and F11 for boot.  Again, when I try to hit F10, it just sticks at "initializing UEFI please wait..."

I also attempted to run the firmware upgrade files, and they are windows installers, not sure if I should attempt to boot into server 2016 and run them from there or not?  

Any further suggestions or guidance? 

Thank you again

It looks like system services/LifeCycle Controller configuration is done through the CTL E BIOS menu:

https://www.dell.com/support/article/sln283524/

One the firmware download page for the iDRAC there should be a firmware image file. It will be a self-extracting executable. You will need to extract it out to the image file, .d7 I think. The web server will not accept .exe or .bin files, only specific image files. You can also update from within the OS if you can find a package that will run under 2016.

The iDRAC enterprise is not required for the LCC to function, that should not be the problem. If the LCC still fails to initialize after updating the iDRAC then try resetting the iDRAC to defaults.

racadm racresetcfg

That will reset the iDRAC configuration to default. I think there is also an option to restore the iDRAC to defaults in the CTL E interface.

@DELL-Daniel My 

I found the System Services enable/disable in the iDRAC bios. Thank you, it was enabled. 

  Your instructions on the firmware updates for the iDRAC were very helpful.  I didn't try running the exe's there for fear of causing a problem on my desktop, but the latest one that just got posted last month, actually has an extract button....   You would think it might be a good idea to update the 'installation instructions' on those files for Noobs like me, .

    it's currently in the process of updating the iDRAC firmware and I will update this post after that on how successful I am in accessing the LCC. 

Thank you again,

Jeff

You are probably going to have to replace hardware. A replacement system board should contain the iDRAC express module. That last thing I would try is changing the boot mode. If you are on UEFI then switch to BIOS or vice versa. If it starts working when you change the mode then update everything and try changing the mode back.

@DELL-Daniel My 

Update, ok, the new version of the firmware for the iDRAC went in, and I wasn't able to access it via the remote.... so I restarted the server and tried to access system services.... same issue, hangs at 'initializing UEFI, please wait..."     So I entered the iDRAC bios and reset the defaults.

    Now when I try to access it via remote, it starts to load the info up after login, but before it actually loads the system specs it boots back out to the login screen.....

Help... please.

@DELL-Daniel My 

Progress!  I had actually replaced that board previously purchased from a company called Velocity Tech Solutions. I contacted them to see if another was available and he explained the error of my thinking that they iDRAC is located underneath the raid card, and based upon my explanation of the problem, they suspected it might be the issue. 

   But.... during the course of attempting to contact them, I did as you suggested, changed the boot to bios, and still couldn't access it remotely, but when I rebooted the system and hit F10, i now have access to the LCC! 

   Of course, this is the first time I've been in there, and I know nothing about what I should or shouldn't do, are you willing to help me out with getting this thing updated and up and running here?  or do I need to create another post? 

    I have no idea where to begin, I went to the update page in the system services, and it asks me if I want to update via network share, ftp, or disk/usb etc.... 

     I'm completely green, like a guy who grew up in the dessert and is trying to get a job on a boat...

I can access the LCC thru F10, but not remotely yet, since I'm logged in there on the server itself, I didn't want to log out if I could update the LCC first.  Problem is, I'm not sure how to set it up for network access.  I have the usc file for the LCC update on my other server on the network,  typically the path to the correct directory is:  \\ServerName\shared\server_D      is this what I put in the share path for network share?   or do I need to include the name to the file I want to load? 

If there are directions somewhere which tell me how to update this way I'm more than happy to read up...

I don't think you can update from our online catalog with 11th generation systems any longer.

You can find instructions for installing updates on the download page. Now that the LCC is loading you should be able to update it. After you are able to update it you can see if it will load in UEFI.

@DELL-Daniel My 

Update, ok, in roaming around in LCC, I found the log and there are a bunch of messages which talk about new hardware that doesn't have a license....  I'm sure this is where we had to replace the system board, and I don't know if it's something that needs to be resolved?  or if I can just ignore them all.... they are messages about the ram, and several controllers, etc....