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Article Number: 000179517

Dell PowerEdge: How to configure the iDRAC & System Management Options on servers

Summary: The iDRAC provides a web interface and a command line interface that allows administrators to perform remote management tasks.

This article may have been automatically translated. If you have any feedback regarding its quality, please let us know using the form at the bottom of this page.

Article Content

Symptoms

This article explains the different options to manage Dell PowerEdge servers.
Installation guides and advanced configuration are provided in the interactive users guides.

The basic level of management is provided by the iDRAC, a controller card embedded in the motherboard. Advanced mangement options are provided at an operating system level with the OpenManage suite. This suite is a collection of software that helps you discover, monitor, manage, and deploy Dell servers.

 

NOTE: Refer to Dell Knowledge Base article How to identify which generation your Dell PowerEdge server belongs to for information on how to identify the generation of a Dell PowerEdge.

 

Overview of the Management System

This table describes the 3 levels of management, clicking on a menu will display more information. 

 

Name Type Interface Supported OS
iDRAC Physically installed.
Manage local device.
Can be access remotely.		 HTTPS Independent of OS.
OpenManage Server Administrator
(OMSA)
 		 Software installation.
Manage one server
Can be access remotely.		 HTTPS Windows.
Linux.
VMware.
OpenManage Enterprise
(OME)
 		 Software installation.
Console to manage infrastructure.
Can be access remotely.		 HTTPS Installation under Windows.
All Dell devices supported.
 

Dell Remote Access Controller (iDRAC)

The iDRAC is a piece of hardware that sits on the server motherboard that allows Systems Administrators to update and manage Dell systems, even when the server is turned off.

The iDRAC also provides both a web interface and command line interface that allows administrators to perform remote management tasks. Almost all current Dell servers have the option for an iDRAC.
 

 

NOTE: IDRAC functionalities are depending of the license level. More information about licensing are available in the iDRAC User's Guide. 

 

NOTE: An advantage of the iDRAC include being able to launch a remote console session (similar to Remote Desktop but works even when the OS is not booted up), remote reboot or power on/off your system, and map a virtual disk drive to a remote file share or OS deployment.

 

The Virtual Console is a very powerfull to all support maintenance operation. For more information, refer to the Dell Knowledge Base article Using the Virtual Media function on iDRAC6, iDRAC7, iDRAC8 and iDRAC9.

The Dell Lifecycle Controller, which is a component of the iDRAC, is another useful tool that allows for advanced functionality around updating, backing up and restoring firmware updates on your Dell Server either through a GUI or command-line interface.
Lifecycle Controller is the tool to use to deploy operating system, more information about OS Deployment. For more information, refer to the Dell Knowledge Base article How to install the operating system on a Dell PowerEdge Server? (OS deployment).

iDRAC Manuals are available on the Remote Enterprise Systems Management site.

 

NOTE: For the iDRAC 8 and previous versions, the default login is user: root password: calvin. For more information, refer to the Dell Knowledge Base articleDell PowerEdge - What is the default username and password for iDRAC?.

 

 

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OpenManage Server Administrator (OMSA)


OpenManage Server Administrator (OMSA) provides a comprehensive, one-to-one system management solution in two ways:
  • from an integrated, web browser-based graphical user interface (GUI)
  • from a command line interface (CLI) through the operating system.

Server Administrator is designed for system administrators to manage systems locally and remotely on a network.
To get the latest version, please visit the OMSA Download Page. OMSA is available in two types of file:
 
  • Managed node: Agents and web components are installed. (Windows, Linux)
  • VIB: Agents of OMSA without web components (VMware).


When OMSA is installed without web components, you have to access this OMSA from another device where web components are installed.
User Guides are available on the OpenManage Server Administrator site for more information about installation process.

Once OMSA is installed, to access the interface please enter the following URL in a navigator.
 

https://ServerIP:1311/

 

NOTE: If you have troubles to connect, try locally using https://localhost:1311/ . It will remove most of firewall issues.

 


A login page will appear asking to fill the username and the password.  


 
NOTE: Use the operating system administrator credentials.


 

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OpenManage Enterprise

OpenManage Enterprise is an intuitive infrastructure management console. OpenManage Enterprise is a systems management and monitoring application that provides a comprehensive view of the Dell EMC servers, chassis, storage, and network switches on the enterprise network.

Cause

 

Resolution

 

Article Properties

Affected Product
Servers, PowerEdge, PowerEdge M420, PowerEdge M520, PowerEdge M620, PowerEdge M620 (for PE VRTX), PowerEdge M820, PowerEdge R320, PowerEdge R420, PowerEdge R520, PowerEdge R620, PowerEdge R720, PowerEdge R720XD, PowerEdge R820, PowerEdge T320 , PowerEdge T420, PowerEdge T620 ...
Last Published Date

07 Sept 2022

Version

9

Article Type

Solution

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