Dell PowerEdge Server Setup Guide for iDRAC Configuration and OS Installation

Summary: Learn how to set up a Dell PowerEdge server by configuring iDRAC, launching the Lifecycle Controller, updating firmware, and installing a supported OS.

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Instructions

Rack Server Front

You have unboxed your brand-new PowerEdge server. It is now time to install in the relevant rack, get the iDRAC setup and install the operating system. 

Use this guide to set up a new Dell PowerEdge server, configure iDRAC, launch the Lifecycle Controller, and install a supported operating system.

Follow the Dell PowerEdge server startup process to configure iDRAC, set up the Lifecycle Controller, and install a supported operating system.

This guide enables you to integrate the device into your infrastructure. This guide is here to help you through all the steps needed. It also provides best practices to ensure an optimal configuration and performance. The information here also simplifies maintenance and management.

This article is intended as a guide to system installation, use of the iDRAC, LifeCycle Controller (LCC) configuration, and installing an operating system. It also includes a segment to help in learning more about Systems Management options. It begins with the latest release of the PowerEdge which runs iDRAC9.

For information about how to setup and manage previous versions of iDRAC, go to the bottom of this page. If you are not sure which version of iDRAC your server runs, you can check this article How to identify the iDRAC version embedded in a PowerEdge server and hardware leveraging PowerEdge server hardware.

Steps to get started:

Features and Resources:

Setting up the system

How to set up a Dell PowerEdge server?
  1. Unpack the system
  2. Install the system into the rack. How to physically install a server in a rack or tower mode is explained in article PowerEdge: Rack Rail Types for Installation, Static Rails vs. Sliding Rails
  3. Connect the peripheral devices to the system
  4. Connect the power and turn on the system. It can be done by pressing the power button or by using the iDRAC

Configure the iDRAC

How to configure iDRAC on a new PowerEdge server?​​​​
The Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller (iDRAC) is designed to improve productivity for system administrators and improve the overall availability of Dell systems. The iDRAC alerts administrators about system issues. This allows remote system management and reduces the need for physical access to the system.

The initial configuration of the iDRAC9 and the LCC is explained step by step in article PowerEdge: How to configure iDRAC9 and Lifecycle Controller network settings.

Log in to iDRAC

To log in to the iDRAC Web User Interface:

  1. Open a browser and enter the IP address. The address by default is 192.168.0.120.
 
Note: There are other ways to connect to the iDRAC using command-line protocols (SSH, RACADM). For more information about this, see the latest Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller User's Guide under the title "Setting up iDRAC Communication."
 
  1. The login screen is displayed. The default username is "root<"
  2. If you have not opted for secure default access to iDRAC, then the default password is "calvin"
  3. If you have opted for secure default access to iDRAC, the Secure Password is on a sticker on the underside of the Service Tag information.
    iDRAC password sticker
    Figure 1: Sticker with a secure default password
  4. Enter the Username and password to log in iDRAC.
    iDRAC9 Login Page
    Figure 2: iDRAC9 login screen for web interface
    iDRAC9 Dashboard
    Figure 3: iDRAC9 dashboard
 
Note: In the iDRAC settings, it is possible to enable directory login (Microsoft AD or LDAP).
 

For more information about logging in to the iDRAC and iDRAC licenses, see the latest Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller User's Guide.

Configure and Launch LifeCycle Controller (LCC)

What is the Lifecycle Controller on a Dell PowerEdge server?
Dell LCC is an advanced embedded systems management technology that enables remote server management using the iDRAC. Using LCC, you can update the firmware using a local or Dell-based firmware repository.

The OS Deployment wizard available in LCC enables you to deploy an operating system. To access the LCC, press F10 during startup. The LCC shares an IP address with one of the server network cards. The IP address must be configured at least once to use the update and the operating system installation feature.

Installation of an Operating System

How to install Windows Server on a Dell PowerEdge server?​​​​​​
The embedded LCC simplifies the installation of the operating system with the "OS Deployment" feature. This feature preloads the necessary drivers before the installation process. This gives a smooth installation as the operating system recognizes all components.

Find all the details for installing Windows or Linux based operating systems in article How to install the operating system on a Dell PowerEdge Server?

Update Strategies

Dell PowerEdge servers offer a wide variety of options for keeping firmware and drivers up to date. Dell provides many useful tools to simplify the update process from updating a single driver on a single system to updating all systems at once.

For more information, read the dedicated article Updating a PowerEdge.

Embedded Hardware Diagnostic

System Hardware Diagnostics are embedded in the LCC. The LCC has a physical (as opposed to logical) view of the attached hardware. This can identify hardware problems that the operating system and other online tools cannot identify.

Find all details in the dedicated article How to Run Hardware Diagnostics on your PowerEdge Server.

Secure Connect Gateway

Secure connect gateway is an enterprise monitoring technology that is delivered as an appliance and a standalone application. It monitors your devices and proactively detects hardware issues that may occur. Depending on your service contract, it also automates support request creation for issues that are detected on the monitored devices.

The application edition can be installed on a server running a Windows or Linux operating system.

For more information, see the Secure Connect Gateway product page.

Previous generation servers

How to identify the generation of a server is explained in the article Dell PowerEdge servers by generation

 

Additional Information

Watch this video:

 

Affected Products

C Series, Rack Servers, Tower Servers, XE Servers, XR Servers, iDRAC9
Article Properties
Article Number: 000123958
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 29 Jun 2026
Version:  18
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