PowerEdge: Support for Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller 8
Summary: The Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller 8 (iDRAC8) provides comprehensive, embedded management across the PowerEdge family of servers. The iDRAC8 automation lets your organization grow and provides security to ensure peace of mind. From the variety of tools and technologies in the OpenManage portfolio, you can build a management solution that matches your needs. Users ensure optimal server management by leveraging iDRAC8. ...
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Instructions
Support for the Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller 8
- Agent-free local and remote embedded server management
- Automate with RESTful API with Redfish support
- Deploy, update, monitor, and maintain your server
The iDRAC provides comprehensive, embedded management across the PowerEdge family of servers, automation that lets your organization grow, and security that ensures peace of mind. From the variety of tools and technologies in the OpenManage portfolio, you can build a management solution that matches your needs. Users ensure optimal server management by leveraging iDRAC8.
Note: iDRAC8 has reached the End of Sale as of December 2021 and reaches the End of Software Maintenance as of February 2024. The last release of iDRAC8 firmware is version 2.86.86.86. Learn more >.
Benefits of iDRAC8
Increased Availability: Early notification of failures or potential failures that help prevent a server failure or reduce recovery time after failure.
Improved Productivity and Lower Total Cost of Ownership: Extending the reach of administrators to larger numbers of distant servers can make IT staff more productive while driving down operational costs such as travel.
Secure Environment: By providing secure access to remote servers, administrators can perform critical management functions while maintaining server and network security.
Security is a top priority for iDRAC users. With that in mind, the iDRAC web interface, remote RACADM utility, and WS-Man interfaces all support TLS 1.2. Every web page served by the iDRAC web server is delivered with TLS encryption (unless configured otherwise). Dell also supports encryption on the virtual KVM (virtual console redirection) and virtual media over TLS. The iDRAC Virtual Console and Media also benefit from SSL encryption. Also, the iDRAC firmware is equipped with a default security certificate, which the customer can replace with one of their own.
Enhanced Embedded Management through Lifecycle Controller: Lifecycle Controller provides deployment and simplified serviceability. Deployment is accomplished through the Lifecycle Controller UI or through the Remote Services (WS-Management) interface. The Lifecycle Controller for remote deployment can be integrated with Dell OpenManage Essentials and partner consoles.
Agent-free Management: Agent-free management puts IT administrators in control. Once a PowerEdge server is connected to power and networking, the system can be monitored and managed. Users can access the system from the front panel with a USB drive drive or from a distant location. With no need for software agents, an IT administrator can monitor, manage, update, troubleshoot, and remediate Dell servers regardless of operating system or hypervisor presence. With features like zero-touch deployment, iDRAC8 with Lifecycle Controller extends the administrator's reach to larger numbers of remote servers and increases IT staff productivity.
Features in iDRAC8
| Feature | Benefit |
|---|---|
| iDRAC Direct | Secure front-panel USB connection to iDRAC web interface, which eliminates the need for crash carts or a trip to the hot aisle of your data center. You can use the same port to insert a USB drive drive to upload a new system profile for secure, rapid system configuration. |
| OpenManage Mobile and Quick Sync | Use the OpenManage Mobile app on your handheld device to securely retrieve critical health data and perform bare-metal configuration tasks. Compatible with Android devices |
| Easy Restore | Automatically restore hardware configuration and license information during system board replacement. |
| SupportAssist | Gather all hardware logs, operating system logs (requires iDRAC Service Module) and inventory information required for technical support. |
| Agent-free Monitoring | Monitor hardware and storage device health and performance metrics including memory, CPU, I/O, 12 Gb SAS, and PCIe SSDs. |
| DRAC RESTful API | With this API, iDRAC enables support for the Redfish standard and enhances it with Dell extensions. |
| Cipher Select | Cipher Select is an advanced user setting where the user can choose to block undesired ciphers negotiated by iDRAC, providing increased security. |
| System Erase | With proper authentication, administrators can securely erase data from local storage (HDDs, SSDs, NVMs). |
| Zero-touch deployment and provisioning | When ordered with Zero Touch, PowerEdge servers can be automatically configured when they are initially connected to your network. This process uses a Server Configuration Profile to ensure that each server is set to your specifications. |
Licensing for iDRAC8
iDRAC8 features are based on the type of the license. For a complete listing of licensed features, expand the following feature list:iDRAC8 Licensed Features
| Feature | iDRAC8 Basic | iDRAC8 Express | iDRAC8 Express for Blades | iDRAC8 Enterprise |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interfaces and Standards | ||||
| IPMI 2.0 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| DCMI 1.5 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Web-based UI | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| RACADM command line (local and remote) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Redfish | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SMASH-CLP (SSH-only) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Telnet | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SSH | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| WSMAN | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Network Time Protocol | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Connectivity | ||||
| Shared NIC (LOM) | Yes | Yes | N/A | Yes |
| Dedicated NIC1 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes2 |
| VLAN tagging | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| IPv4 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| IPv6 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| DHCP | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dynamic DNS | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Operating system pass-through | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Front panel USB | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Security | ||||
| Role-based authority | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Local users | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SSL encryption | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| IP blocking | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Directory services (AD, LDAP) | No | No | No | Yes |
| Two-factor authentication (smart card) | No | No | No | Yes |
| Single sign-On (Kerberos) | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| PK authentication (for SSH) | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Remote Presence | ||||
| Power control | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Boot control | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Serial-over-LAN | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Virtual Media | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Virtual Folders | No | No | No | Yes |
| Remote File Share | No | No | No | Yes |
| Virtual Console | No | No | Single user | Six users |
| VNC connection to operating system | No | No | No | Yes |
| Quality and bandwidth control | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Virtual Console collaboration (up to six simultaneous users) | No | No | No | Yes |
| Virtual Console chat | No | No | No | Yes |
| Virtual Flash partitions | No | No | No | Yes 1,2 |
|
Power and Thermal |
||||
| Automatic power on after loss | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Real-time power meter | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Power thresholds and alerts (includes headroom). | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Real-time power graphing | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Historical power counters | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Power capping | No | No | No | Yes |
| Power Center integration | No | No | No | Yes |
| Temperature monitoring | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Temperature graphing | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
|
Health Monitoring |
||||
| Full agent-free monitoring | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Predictive failure monitoring | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SNMP v1, v2, and v3 (traps and gets). | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Email Alerting | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Configurable thresholds | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fan monitoring | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Power Supply monitoring | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Memory monitoring | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| CPU monitoring | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| RAID monitoring | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| NIC monitoring | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HD monitoring (enclosure) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Out of Band Performance Monitoring | No | No | No | Yes |
|
Update |
||||
| Remote agent-free update | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Embedded update tools | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sync with repository (scheduled updates). | No | No | No | Yes |
| Autoupdate | No | No | No | Yes |
|
Deployment and Configuration |
||||
| Embedded operating system deployment tools | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Embedded configuration tools (iDRAC Settings Utility) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Embedded configuration wizards (Lifecycle Controller wizards) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Auto-Discovery | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Remote operating system deployment | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Embedded driver pack | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Full configuration inventory | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Inventory export | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Remote configuration | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Zero-touch configuration | No | No | No | Yes |
| System Retire and Repurpose | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Diagnostics, Service, and Logging | ||||
| Embedded diagnostic tools | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Part Replacement | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Server Configuration Backup | No | No | No | Yes |
| Server Configuration Restore | No | No | No | Yes |
| Easy Restore (system configuration) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Health LED and LCD | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Quick Sync (require NFC bezel). | Yes | Yes | N/A | Yes |
| iDRAC Direct(front USB management port) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| iDRAC Service Module (iSM) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SupportAssist Collection (embedded) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Crash screen capture5 | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Crash video capture5 | No | No | No | Yes |
| Boot capture | No | No | No | Yes |
| Manual reset for iDRAC | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Virtual NMI | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Operating system watchdog | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Embedded Health Report | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| System event log | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Lifecycle Log | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Work notes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Remote Syslog | No | No | No | Yes |
| License management | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
[2] 500 series and lower rack and tower servers require a hardware card to enable this feature; this hardware is offered at additional cost.
[3] Remote agent-free update feature is available only using IPMI.
[4] Available only using IPMI
[5] Requires OMSA agent on target server.
iDRAC Licenses: Basic, Express, and Enterprise
iDRAC8 default licenses included with PowerEdge servers by model.
| iDRAC Licenses and Server Model | 100-500 Series Rack, Tower, and Modular | 600+ Rack, Tower, and Modular |
|---|---|---|
| Basic: Basic instrumentation with iDRAC web UI This is the default license included with 100-500 series rack and tower servers. | Standard | N/A |
| Express: All the features of Basic and expanded remote management and server life-cycle features are part of this default license, which is included with 600+ series rack, tower, and modular servers. | Upgrade | Standard |
| Enterprise: All the features of Express and additional remote presence features with advanced, Enterprise-class, management capabilities | Upgrade | Upgrade |
An iDRAC license is a perpetual license that is valid for the life of a server, and can be bound to the Service Tag of only one server at a time. Upgraded iDRAC license can be included at the time of server purchase or purchased separately and downloaded from Dell Digital Locker.
Trial License:
- A 30-day evaluation Enterprise trial license is available to fully test and experience all the features to help with a purchasing decision. Learn More and download >
Upgrade License:
- To upgrade an iDRAC license, contact your local Dell sales representative.
Downloading an upgraded or replacing a lost license:
- The iDRAC license can be downloaded from Dell Digital Locker. License keys are stored online and can be downloaded if needed. If an existing license key in not available in the Dell Digital Locker or there is an issue with a license key, contact Dell Technical Support or Customer Care.
Managing iDRAC Licenses
iDRAC licenses can be managed on either an individual server basis or through the Dell License Manager which is a one-to-many license and deployment tool.-
Individual serverUtilize iDRAC to manage the license for an individual server. iDRAC web interface, License tab can be used to import, export licenses or the RACADM CLI License command can be used to manage licenses as described in the RACADM CLI Guide.
-
Group of serversDell License Manager is a one-to-many license deployment and reporting tool for OpenManage Enterprise Advanced, iDRAC, and CMC licenses. By using License Manager, you can download, bind, deploy, inventory and back up OpenManage Enterprise Advanced Licenses as well as iDRAC, CMC, and storage sled licenses. This tool can also inventory licensable systems to report the licensing status and features of the enabled management controller.
Update to latest iDRAC8 Firmware
Note: iDRAC8 has reached the End of Sale as of December 2021 and reaches the End of Software Maintenance in February 2024. The last scheduled release of iDRAC8 firmware is version 2.86.86.86.
Dell Technologies recommends keeping your system up to date with the latest iDRAC8 firmware available. This ensures the best performance and the latest security updates and issue fixes. iDRAC updates do not require a reboot of the host, allowing for in-place updates. The iDRAC8 firmware version for a server model may vary from other server models with iDRAC8. To download the latest iDRAC8 firmware for your system:
- Go to Dell.com/support and select the server model or enter the service tag.
- Select the Drivers & Downloads tab
- Select Category iDRAC with Lifecycle Controller
- Optionally, select the Operating system for your system
- Download the latest version for iDRAC with Lifecycle Controller firmware
Resources for iDRAC8
Community
Engage in the Systems Management community to find:
- Boards to post questions and answers
- Blogs to read and comment on articles
- Idea exchanges to improve products and vote for ideas that other community members have posted
- And more….
Documentation
Select your iDRAC8 firmware version, then the Documentation tab for the version-specific documentation.
White Papers and Server Configuration Profiles (SCP) Files
- General
- Networking and I/O
- Scripting and SCPs
- BIOS and UEFI
- Operating system Deployment
- Updates
- Storage and PERC
- Security
- Active Directory
- iDRAC Service Module
- iDRAC Legacy
- iDRAC7 and iDRAC8 Feature and Licensing Information
- Introducing iDRAC8 with Lifecycle Controller for Dell 13th Generation PowerEdge Servers
- OpenManage Systems Management with iDRAC, iSM, and OMSA: Selecting the right components for specific server management requirements
- Overview of Dell Systems Management using IPMI
- PowerEdge Software Licensing
- Principled Technologies' Review of 13G PowerEdge OpenManage
- Understanding Physical Computer System View Profile Implementation
- iDRAC7 with Lifecycle Controller - Feature Guide
- Lifecycle Controller Workflow Optimization
- New Feature Overview: December 2013 Releases of iDRAC7 and Lifecycle Controller 2
- New Features and Usability Enhancements to RACADM Commands in iDRAC7
- PowerEdge C6320 Power Capping
- Dell Network Adapters with iDRAC
- IPv6 Best Practices using iDRAC
- Managing I/O Identity and Server State Information
- Optimizing I/O Identity and Applying Persistence Policy on Network and Fibre Channel Adapters
- Retrieving Server operating system Networking Information through iDRAC
- Understanding Pre-Boot Networking on Dell PowerEdge Servers
- Auto Dedicated NIC Feature in iDRAC7
- Configuring BIOS and NIC Using RACADM through Dell iDRAC
- Converged Network Adapters with NIC, iSCSI, and FCoE Support
- Operating system to BMC Pass-through operation
- FCoE Boot Configuration Setup on Intel Card
- FCoE boot using Broadcom card
- iDRAC7 Network and Virtual Media Performance
- iDRAC7 Networking and Improved Remote Access Performance
- Network I/O Identity
- Reinitiate Auto-Discovery
- Remote NIC Configuration Management
- Lifecycle Controller 2 Web Services Interface Guide (WS-Man Scripting Guide) for Windows
- Lifecycle Controller 2 Web Services Interface Guide (WS-Man Scripting Guide) for Linux
- RESTful Server Configuration with iDRAC REST API
- Dell PowerEdge Redfish API Overview
- Auto-Config - Enabling rapid configuration of Dell servers using DHCP
- Creating Applications using the WSMAN API
- Methods to Save and Restore PowerEdge Server Configuration Settings and Firmware Images
- Using Filter Dialects with the WSMAN API
- Automatic Backup Server Profile
- Creating and Managing Server Configuration Profiles
- Hardware Inventory Viewing Script
- How to Build Inventory Reports
- iDRAC Cloning
- Import and Export Server Profiles
- Programmatic Scripting with WSMAN
- Scripting WSMAN to Deploy operating system Drivers
- Scripting WSMAN to Deploy an operating system using Remote ISO Image to Stage and Boot
- Scripting WSMAN to Deploy an operating system using vFlash to Stage and Boot to ISO
- Server Cloning with Server Configuration Profiles
- Server Configuration Profile - XML File Structure
- Understanding the iDRAC Power State Management in Base Server Profile
- Understanding the iDRAC Power State Management Profile
- Using Microsoft Windows PowerShell CIM Cmdlets with Dell iDRAC
- Enabling iSCSI Boot Under UEFI Boot Mode on 13th Generation PowerEdge Servers
- BIOS POST Troubleshooting Guide for 13th Generation PowerEdge Servers
- BIOS Setup User Guide for 13th Generation PowerEdge Servers
- Defining a Secure Boot Policy
- Updating BIOS on Dell 13G PowerEdge Servers (iDRAC8 - 13G only)
- Using Lifecycle Controller to Configure UEFI Secure Boot and operating system Deployment
- Configuring BIOS and NIC Using RACADM through Dell iDRAC
- Operating System Deployment in PowerEdge Servers
- Streamlined operating system deployment using bootable USB devices and Lifecycle Controller
- Operating Systems Deployment using iSCSI or FCOE LUN
- Unattended Installation of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 Operating System on Dell PowerEdge Servers Using iDRAC With Lifecycle Controller
- Unattended Installation of Windows 2012 (12G and 13G)
- Automatic Updates in Dell PowerEdge 12G servers
- Lifecycle Controller Platform Update in Dell PowerEdge 12th Generation Servers
- Lifecycle Controller with Dell Repository Manager
- PowerEdge Updates with Repository Manager Best Practices Guide
- Recommended methods of Updating Firmware on Dell Servers
- Recommended Workflow for Performing Firmware Updates on PowerEdge Servers
- Remote Firmware Update
- Updating Firmware on PowerEdge Servers Using the iDRAC7 Web Interface
- Using Dell Repository Manager to create a Bootable ISO and perform updates
- Dell’s vFlash SD Flash Media Card - Better Endurance and Performance using Over-Provisioning
- Understanding Real-Time Storage Configuration for PERC9
- Managing Web Server Certificates on iDRAC
- Express Flash NVMe PCIe SSD Devie Monitoring, Inventory, and Configuration
- vFlash Overview
- vFlash Partition Management
- Dell Response to CVEs 2018-1207, 2018-1211, and 1000116 [updated June]
- Dell update regarding CVE-2016-2183 - Birthday attacks on 64-bit block ciphers (aka Sweet32 attack))
- Dell iDRAC Best Practices regarding Transport Layer Security (TLS) Protocols
- Dell response to 2016 Leap Second Issue
- Dell PowerEdge 13G server security white paper
- Dell's response to CVE-2016-5685
- Dell Response to CVE-2016-2108 (OpenSSL)
- Dell OpenManage Response to CVE-2015-7547, glibc overflow
- Dell OpenManage Response to CVE-2016-0800, CVE-2016-0703 and CVE-2016-0704
- Dell iDRAC Response to recent CVE notices
- Security with iDRAC8 (and 7)
- Managing Web Server Certificates on iDRAC
- System Erase in Dell 13th Generation PowerEdge Servers
- New Security Features in Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller 7
- Integrate iDRAC8 with Active Directory
- Look up Events and Error Messages codes
- Dell PowerEdge C6320 platform options and systems management
- iDRAC QuickSync Technical Guide (November 2014)
- Managing backplane Split Mode (new for 13G)
- Web Services Eventing Support for Hardware Inventory and Monitoring
- Using VNC with iDRAC
- Enhanced Out of Band Performance Monitoring
- FAQ: iDRAC Quick Sync and OpenManage Mobile - October 2014
- Agent-free Inventory and Monitoring for Storage and Network Devices
- Discovering Features in the iDRAC Remote Services API
- OMSA and OMSS to iDRAC SNMP-Gets Migration Guide
- Using OpenManage Essentials to configure iDRAC7 Action Alerts
- Using the iDRAC7 Video Capture Feature
- Web Service Eventing for iDRAC7 1.30.30 or later versions
iDRAC Service Module - iDRAC Access using Host Operating System
January 2017
17 page white paper
This White Paper provides information about the usage and troubleshooting of iDRAC Access by Host Operating System feature in iDRAC Service Module v2.3 or later.
Read the white paper
iDRAC Service Module - Enable In-Band iDRAC SNMP Alerts
January 2017
13 page white paper
This White Paper provides information about the usage, configuration, and troubleshooting of In-Band iDRAC SNMP Alerts in iDRAC Service Module v2.3 or later.
Read the white paper
iDRAC Service Module-How to perform an iDRAC CPU Hard Reset
July 2016
8 page white paper
This White Paper provides information about the usage and troubleshooting of the iDRAC CPU Hard Reset feature in iDRAC Service Module v2.3 or later.
Read the white paper
iDRAC Service Module 2.1 (min) on Ubuntu and Debian Linux Operating Systems
September 2015
19 page white paper
This White Paper provides information about the usage and troubleshooting of iDRAC Service Module v2.1 or later on Ubuntu and Debian Linux Operating systems.
Read the white paper
iDRAC Service Module - Windows Management Instrumentation
April 2015
17 page white paper
This White paper is about using iDRAC Service Module to monitor the various hardware profiles through the Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) client interfaces such as Windows PowerShell, Windows Management Instrumentation Command-line, Windows Remote Management client (WINRM), WBEMTEST.
Read the white paper
Videos
Introducing OpenManage Mobile and Quick Sync 2
Demonstration of OpenManage Mobile and PowerEdge servers with Quick Sync 2
July 2017OpenManage Mobile and iDRAC8 QuickSync Overview
An overview of the iDRAC QuickSync system, including the NFC bezel and OMM software
April 2020iDRAC8 Quick Sync
How to install the iDRAC Quick Sync bezel, and use Open Manage Mobile to view and change server configurations.
April 2020Connect to iDRAC8 and Change default password.
Be sure to change the default password on your equipment to something more secure. How to connect to iDRAC8 and change the password either at the first run prompt, from the web UI or from the command line.
April 2020iDRAC8 Lifecycle Controller video playlist
iDRAC8 with Lifecycle Controller playlist of videos
Affected Products
iDRAC8, PowerEdge M830 (for PE VRTX), PowerEdge R230, PowerEdge R330, PowerEdge R430, PowerEdge R530, PowerEdge R530xd, PowerEdge R630, PowerEdge R730, PowerEdge R730xd, PowerEdge R830, PowerEdge R930, PowerEdge T130, PowerEdge T330, PowerEdge T430
, PowerEdge T630
...
Products
PowerEdge C4130, PowerEdge c6320, PowerEdge c6320p, Poweredge FC430, Poweredge FC630, Poweredge FC830, PowerEdge M630, PowerEdge M630 (for PE VRTX), PowerEdge M830Article Properties
Article Number: 000178044
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 30 Jul 2025
Version: 20
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