Dell T330 has no display and can't update idrac or BIOS

Question

Got a T330 server that's been on line up to a couple days ago. When I shut it down, I did so through the VMWare console, so i can't say if the VGA / dispaly was working before shutdown, but it was a few weeks ago.

I moved it after shutdown and when I connected it again to repurpose it, I have no display. I tried it on a separate dedicated monitor and cable that I know are good. Still no luck.

When the server is on the monitor power goes orange and it reports 'no signal' and the monitor goes to sleep. As soon as the server is shut down, the monitor recognizes it, power button goes green it switches on and goes to the Dell self test (with the RGB block moving on the screen).

It seems like the display is disabled, but we don't have an enterprise idrac license so there's no 'virtual console' option in idrac to disable it, and I don't see anything else in idrac to enable or disable.

After starting it the first time, the virtual server on it actually came on line, so it's not the memory mis-seated or something like that actually preventing the server hardware from starting up / initializing. The server is initializing, loading VMware adn starting the VM on it successfully, just no display no matter what I do.

Given that, I decided to try updating the firmware for idrac, I downloaded iDRAC-with-Lifecycle-Controller_Firmware_VWF72_LN64_2.86.86.86_A00.BIN which was said to be the update for this server, but when I try to update it from the 'update and rollback' tab, it tells me: "RAC0613: The uploaded file is invalid. Make sure to upload the required file in the correct format and retry the operation.".

Any advice on getting either of these working would be much appreciated.

DELL-Joey C · Accepted Answer

Hi,

If you manage to check in BIOS and video is enabled, but there is no display still on the monitor, you may have a faulty VGA port. The VGA and Serial are joined by a pair of metal plates for securing the Serial port as it is located higher. The connections point on the mainboard might have been damaged as you mentioned it is loose.

A workaround that I can think of is to try to find a low budget VGA card, but I don't have any recommendation of a card that is compatible with the server.

DELL-Joey C · Answer

Hi,

If you're using the iDRAC interface page to update the iDRAC firmware, you will need to check what is the current firmware version. If the version is lower, you will need to use the firmimg.d7 extracted from the .exe file.

229Mick · Answer

That worked, Thanks! Any Ideas on the video?

DELL-Erman O · Answer

Hi,

If the iDRAC virtual console is active, it may disable the local VGA output.

Log into iDRAC
Navigate to:
Overview > Server > Console Redirection > Configuration
Ensure Local Server Video is enabled

229Mick · Answer

Thanks, no sign of 'console redirection' in my idrac. As I mentioned we don't have an enterprise license so no virtual console option either..?:

DELL-Chris H · Answer

Are you using the video connection on the front or the back of the server, and have you tried the other port from the one you are using? Also, do you have a known good monitor connected to another server you could also try?

229Mick · Answer

Thanks again!

The connector is on the back. It doesn't have the optional front connector.

I've tried both my regular setup (with KVM switch in line) and a separate monitor that I tested on another device. Both work for other systems, neither works for this one.

DELL-Chris H · Answer

Do you happen to have any GPUs installed or any other video card, if so if you remove them does that change anything?

Another option we can try is to take te server to its minimum to post configuration, while I know you said everything is operational (other than video), this can eliminate everything else in the server as the cause. Minimum to post for the R330 is removing everything internally and externally but the following;

One processor (CPU) in socket processor 1
One memory module (DIMM) in socket A1
One power supply unit
Left control panel with cable (for power button functionality)
System board

After removing everything else I would also reseat the control panel cable as well, then power the server.

If the server then is displaying video I would power down and individually add the removed back and see what part replicates the no video.

Now if that doesn't work, then the other possibility is that there is an issue with the video connection for the server, do you see any damage or anything on the port?

DELL-Joey C · Answer

Hi,

I have a thought. Since you have iDRAC 8 basic, have you tried downloading the enterprise trial license and use console redirect to check if the video is actually faulty or it's just disabled in BIOS.

https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-my/000176472/idrac-cmc-openmanage-enterprise-openmanage-integration-with-microsoft-windows-admin-center-openmanage-integration-with-servicenow-and-dpat-trial-licenses

229Mick · Answer

Great Idea. I tried that and found it already enabled. I tried enabling legacy video roms, but no luch there either.

I did notice as I tried plugging and unplugging the monitor that the video and serial move independent of the other ports. Is that a module plugged into the motherboard? If so I'm thinking it might have 'shaken loose' in transport..?

Just trying to come up with something at this point! :)

Thanks again for all your help!

229Mick · Answer

Thought it might come down to that, but wanted to be sure I wasn't missing anything.

In the meantime, I found you can get enterprise licenses for idrac for $15 on ebay, so I'm good one way or another!

Thanks again.

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Dell T330 has no display and can't update idrac or BIOS

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