Using iDRAC NIC as third NIC?

Question

I have an R420 and was trying to configure NICs in ESXI, i was able to add the 3 physical ones without any real issue. The integrated adapters #1 and #2 work without an issue and my VMs are able to connect to the network and outside web with no issue at all, the third removable NIC which appears to be for iDRAC will add to ESXI but won't allow my VMs to access the internet at all. Is this NIC a dedicated NIC for IDRAC and unable to be used as a third NIC? It would be nice to have certain VMs be able to access different networks than others VIA the NICs.

If so is there any settings i should change in IRAC or the boot menu to be able to use this NIC as a third adapter?

ckordas · Answer

For reference the Yellow #2 and Blue #1 work fine with the VMs, the iDRAC port with the yellow ethernet cable is the port in question.

DELL-Shine K · Answer

iDRAC port is dedicated for iDRAC network. That network port can not be exposed to the host operating system.

Can you give more details on how you are doing "the third removable NIC which appears to be for iDRAC will add to ESXI"

Origin3k · Answer

No you cant use the dedicated iDRAC NIC for VM traffic.

Yes this NIC is dedicated for the iDRAC.

But i will shed some light into this

If you install the ISM into the Host OS (ESXi and Windows as well) you will get a USB like NIC within ESXi nic device manager. Maybe thats is whats is confuseing you. The ISM VIB can install manually or maybe comes with the Dell Custom ESXi ISO(not sure about that). With propper configuration the iDRAC and the ESXi Host OS can communicate and share informations each other for a better "view" from one site to the other when it comes to maintenance and trouble shooting
Your VMs can as reach as much networks you want to and all whats needed is one NIC and the understanding of L2 <-> L3 and whats VLANs and routing is good for ESXi have vlan on port group level which makes it very easy because you havent to mess around with VLAN IDs within the different GuestOS VMs

Regards,
Joerg

Origin3k · Answer

If you dont want see the vUSB0 nic disable the OS to iDRAC Passtrough within the iDRAC.

PowerEdge Hardware General

Using iDRAC NIC as third NIC?

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