idrac7 failed to update firmware, console access doesn't work

On the front of your server there is an i button that is lit blue. You can do a soft reset on the idrac by pressing and holding it in for 20 seconds. If it continues to not allow access then you might contact Dell for further support and it could posssibly be a motherboard replacement since the idrac is no longer a seperate part and is intergrated into the motherboard.

Hello

If the steps in the article do not work then the system board will likely need to be replaced. You typically cannot perform a firmware update on a device that fails to initialize, but if it is partially initializing then an update may be possible.

Following Dell's support document did not help (it just suggests letting the aux power drain)

The document also states to update the firmware, I would give that a try.

Some have gotten console access and have the idrac tftp a firmware update from a local server but I am unable to get console access at all.

Try running it from an OS on the host system. Use our OMSA Live or some other live DVD if the host OS does not have a compatible installer.

Thanks

I see that the idrac's network card has some link light activity and I hope that is a sign that it is still somewhat operable. If this is the case is it possible to burn an OMSA life iso to a usb stick and boot from that? It's my understanding that the OMSA live iso has some firmware (idrac firmware) on it and a method for installing it. Is my understanding correct?

OMSA live has some tools in it, but I don't think it has firmware updates. You should be able to boot to OMSA live and then use one of the updates designed for Linux to run from within OMSA live.

If I understand what  you are saying I should be able to grab an idrac firmware update and run it from OMSA? If I am correct then what I'm finding out is the firmware update binary that I run from my OMSA live boot errors out indicating my update isn't for "this system". However I know I have the firmware update for my model as I've used it previously with success.

Are you referring to any other update besides the idrac update?

As I'm looking over the Dell website I'm finding different options for updating. Can SSU/Dell Repository Manager methods be used to push an update from a OMSA live (or similar) to the idrac?

Thanks for the help

I run from my OMSA live boot errors out indicating my update isn't for "this system".

This is why firmware updates do not usually work. If the device fails to initialize then communication with the device is not possible. Communication is necessary to upload the firmware. If no communication takes place then no valid device will be found and you will receive an error like the one you are receiving. You will likely need to replace the system board.

So if the idrac was in better shape using OMSA live + firmware_update_for_idrac.bin should work. But this is most likely a sad case where the idrac is broken.

The firmware update that put me in this scenario is the latest for the idrac7 and I found it a little strange that it is also the idrac8 firmware. Is there a special step needed for this upgrade? I am referring to:

http://en.community.dell.com/techcenter/systems-management/w/wiki/7526.idrac7-home

On that page the latest firmware update is a link to the idrac8 page, but I am running an idrac7. Is something wrong with the latest firmware?

On that page the latest firmware update is a link to the idrac8 page, but I am running an idrac7. Is something wrong with the latest firmware?

I am not aware of any issues with the firmware. It is rare but sometimes firmware updates fail and usually cause the affected hardware to no longer function.