PowerEdge: iDRAC Virtual Console Troubleshooting

Training Video

This training video covers the basics of troubleshooting iDRAC Virtual Console issues.

Duration: 00:06:35 (hh:mm:ss)
When available, closed caption (subtitles) language settings can be chosen using the CC icon on this video player.

Scenario 1: Port 5900 or Cannot Access the Virtual Console

Steps to perform:

• Open the browser and go to https://iDRAC_ip:5900.
• It should present a white screen indicating there is a certificate on that port.
  
• If this screen does not appear, port 5900 is being blocked. This is a network or firewall issue.
• Test from a system in the same subnet to help confirm the issue further.
• The iDRAC can be cycled by running the command: racadm racreset

Scenario 2: Plugins

Plugin 1: HTML5

Steps to perform:

• On launch, does a message box appear for certificate validation?
• The timeout on the certificate message box is short. Latency in the environment can have an impact.
• If using Internet Explorer, iDRAC cannot be in the Compatibility View Settings.
• Try a different browser or clear the cache, since it is all browser-side.

Plugin 2: Java

Java leverages the installed Java Runtime Environment for a plugin downloaded at launch.

Steps to perform:

• Ensure that Java is installed.
• Check the installed Java version for compatibility. iDRAC6 only supports Java 8 update 121 and older.
• Try HTML5 to confirm whether it is a Java plugin issue.
• Add the iDRAC IP address to the Exception Site List in Control Panel > Java > Security.
• Sometimes Java is blocked by a Group Policy Object (GPO).

Plugin 3: ActiveX

ActiveX installs a plugin for Internet Explorer to use in that browser only.

Troubleshooting steps:

• Ensure ActiveX is not blocked by GPO or the browser.
• Delete the ActiveX plugin from Internet Explorer by clicking Tools > Manage Add-ons > Toolbars and Extensions.

• Relaunch ActiveX.
• Since ActiveX requires both a message box and a download, it is the most commonly blocked plugin.

Scenario 3: iDRAC Configuration

In the iDRAC user interface, navigate to Configuration > Virtual Console and ensure it is Enabled and configured as expected.

Scenario 4: Keyboard and Mouse Redirection Is Failing

Troubleshooting steps — iDRAC configuration:

• In the iDRAC user interface, navigate to Configuration > Virtual Console and ensure Keyboard/Mouse Attach State is set to Auto-Attach.
• Sometimes switching the setting off and then back on again restores functionality.
• Does keyboard and mouse redirection work during POST? If yes, this is likely an operating system issue, most likely driver related.
• Does a physical keyboard and mouse work? If no, this is a hardware issue.
• If a physical keyboard works but Virtual Console keyboard and mouse redirection does not work in POST or the operating system, run racadm racresetcfg to rebuild the iDRAC configuration from scratch.

Additional Resources

• iDRAC6 vConsole Errors with Java Plugin 8 Update 131 — Detailed information about Java 8 update 131 compatibility issues with iDRAC6 Virtual Console.