WilliamsMex

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11 months ago

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WilliamsMex

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September 2nd, 2020 16:00

Error "Initializing iDRAC"

Hi everyone

 

I have a server T620 PowerEdge iwth vmware vsphere, I didn't did nothing yesterday only power on the server to practice with some linux servers, then power off the server.

Today I power off the server, I heard the fans running very fast, and the screen on the monitor is "Initializing iDRAC", this happened in 3 times then  that I restart the server, but nothing, then I received this message "iDRAC initialization error"

 

Can someone help me please? I dont know what do or where start.

 

thumbnail_20200902_174640.jpg

  • DELL-Chris H

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    Posted September 3rd, 2020 13:00

    1. You clear the NVRam by powering down and then locating and moving the NVRAM_CLR jumper on the motherboard, seen below, then you power up to clear the NVRAM. After doing so then power back down and restore the jumper to its original location.

     

    2. Minimum to Post for the T620  •System Board  •CPU1 with heat sink (minimum for troubleshooting)  •Single DIMM configuration with DIMM in socket A1  •Control Panel with cable (to power system on) • PSU (and for redundant PSU also the PDB/PIB) Remove everything else internally and externally other than those devices.

     

     

    Let me know how it goes.

    DELL-Chris H

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    Dell Technologies | Enterprise Support Services

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  • Dell-DylanJ

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    Posted September 3rd, 2020 15:00

    My expectation is that nothing short of a motherboard replacement will resolve the error.

     

    If a firmware update will resolve the issue, it will be the iDRAC firmware. The .ISO I linked to is scripted to update the whole platform. If you only want to try flashing the iDRAC, I would follow the article in the second link.

  • WilliamsMex

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    Posted September 3rd, 2020 15:00

     
    The change of motherboard would complicate me a lot, could you tell me the step by step of how to update, when you mean to update you mean the BIOS or iDRAC? which do i do first?
    where can I find a step by step manual to do it?
  • WilliamsMex

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    Posted September 3rd, 2020 15:00

    Hello dear

    I did the jumper as shown in the image,

    1.png

    after turning on I got a message "Caution the jumper is installed", after that I turned off the server, reconnected the power and turned it on.
    The message still of "Initializing iDRAC", this time I collapse a little more in showing me the POST message,
    Get to the same page previously shown

    ResultResult

     


    I want to add that currently the server only has 1 power cable connected.
    Please how can I continue to solve this?

  • Dell-DylanJ

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    Posted September 3rd, 2020 15:00

    It looks to me that you will need to replace the system board to resolve this error. However, you can try running a firmware update to see if it will complete. You can do this using the bootable firmware .ISO linked below.

     

    https://dell.to/2Dxa0yI

     

    You can also try following this article to recover using the .d7 firmware file.

     

    https://dell.to/2DsbV7D

  • WilliamsMex

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    Posted September 3rd, 2020 16:00

    The equipment is not guaranteed, could you please help me?
    I already have the .ISO downloaded, is there a manual to perform the update?
    in the case of firmimg.d7 what type of SD is connected to the computer? is a T620, any conventional SD can be placed?
    Thank you

  • WilliamsMex

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    Posted September 3rd, 2020 19:00

    Very grateful friend for your time.
    This is what I did with the .ISO (PET620 weighs 3GB), I burned it to a DVD, I put it on the server DVD-ROM, but it couldn't boot, I even changed the options in the Boot Setting, but nothing could not boot .
    I'm going to try a USB, should this change? I hope so, since with the above I am disappointed.
    Through the server guide I could see that the internal SD slot is next to the battery, is this correct?


    thumbnail_20200903_213754.jpg


    I thought that the SD was put on the front of the server that there is an icon of a wrench.

    2020-09-03_21-51-16.png
    Another thing is that I do not see any iDRAC Chip read there what is BMC? attached a picture of that.

    thumbnail_20200903_213733.jpg
    Yes, dear, I installed what you told me in the ESXi 6.5 the .VIB file, but I don't know what else to do after this, what I did was turn on a windows server 2012R2 of the same ESXi and the same network, I downloaded a software that is supposedly to manage but I I get an error message, am I doing it right? Or how do I agree?

    2020-09-03_13-55-40.png2020-09-03_13-55-51.png

    Sorry for the inconvenience and thank you very much

  • DELL-Joey C

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    Posted September 3rd, 2020 19:00

    Hi,

     

    I'm unsure if you have the SD card slot for the iDRAC, it's an internal slot near the iDRAC port. If yes, follow the instruction to format the SD card to FAT and copy the file. Insert the SD into the slot. Power on the server, and leave it to try update itself. 

     

    The ISO that you have downloaded, you can refer to this link to make it a bootable ISO: https://dell.to/2DvKuK8 using RUFUS. Just follow step.1 How to use the bootable media/ISO?. Skip the Download the image corresponding to your system from the list, since you already have the ISO downloaded. 

     

    If you have install OMSA, follow the link that I gave you before on the installation of OMSA, and try login to OMSA using your ESXi login credentials. Use the option "Manage Web Server" or "Manage Local Node" at the bottom of the OMSA login page. Refer to the page that I gave you previously. Once you have logged in, go to OMSA > System > Properties > Summary tab. It would list the iDRAC IP address. With the iDRAC IP address, you can do the RACADM reset command by referring to the link I gave you on the 1st reply.

    DELL-Joey C

    Social Media and Communities Professional

    Dell Technologies | Enterprise Support Services

    #IWork4Dell

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  • DELL-Joey C

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    Posted September 3rd, 2020 21:00

    Hi,

     

    You can try using the front vFlash SD slot to try loading the firmware .d7, though you have to access to BIOS to enable vFlash. 

     

    BMC is the Baseboard Management Controller, it's the basic hardware for iDRAc communication, there shouldn't be any hardware, it's just a label. The SD slot next to the battery is the IDSM; Internal Dual SD Module slot. It's not the SD slot that you are suppose to use for firmware updates. 

     

    In ESXi, you have already a OMSA host running, after the installation? If yes, install https://dell.to/3lOICxh on your management/PC/laptop and login to the host using "Manage Remote Node" option.

    DELL-Joey C

    Social Media and Communities Professional

    Dell Technologies | Enterprise Support Services

    #IWork4Dell

    Did I answer your query? Please click on ‘Mark as Accepted Answer’ if I did. 

  • WilliamsMex

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    Posted September 3rd, 2020 21:00

    Dear

    From what I understand my server does not have the conventional SD slot? This link is used to restore iDRAC to what "SD" actually refers to?
    https://www.dell.com/support/article/en-us/how12633/poweredge-idrac-recovery-procedure-with-firmimg-d7?lang=en
    SD vFlash card is any card? or is it a Dell special? I say because I don't have one.
    I'm going to first try to rufus burn the ISO and boot it.
    If it does not work I will try to enter through Dell OpenManage Server Administraton to the ESXI that already has the VIB file,
    Please tell me if these steps are ok
    Very thankful