PowerEdge: How to install ISM on ESXI server to enable TSR collection

Summary: Use this how-to article when the system cannot be restarted and the support log file (TSR) must be collected, but the iDRAC is not configured.

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Instructions

  1. Download the ISM from the Support website. Add the version of the vSphere ESXi to the search and use the latest version for the current build on the server.
  2. Upload the file to a datastore. This example uses the local datastore and creates a directory called "DELL" to copy the file to:
    • Go to Storage > datastore1 > Datastore browser
      Storage > datastore1 > Datastore browser
    • Create Directory > name is set here to DELL > create directory
      Create Directory > name is set here to DELL > create directory
    • Open the new directory > Upload > search for the file > Open
      Open the new directory > Upload > search for the file > Open 
  3. The Installation must be run using the command line. The SSH service must be enabled to do this. 
    • Manage > Services >  SSH > Start
      Manage > Services >  SSH > Start
    • Ensure that the SSH service is running:
      Ensure that the SSH service is running
  4. Connect to the host using SSH and run the command to install (change the command to fit the file name for the file downloaded earlier): 
    • ESXI 6.7 example:  esxcli software vib install -d /vmfs/volumes/datastore1/DELL/ISM-Dell-Web-4.2.0.0-2581.VIB-ESX6i-Live_A00.zip
    • ESXI 7.0 example:  esxcli software vib install -d /vmfs/volumes/datastore1/DELL/ISM-Dell-Web-4.3.0.0-2781.VIB-ESX7i-Live_A00.zipConnect to the host using SSH and run the command to install 
    • ISM Successful installation process
      ISM Successful installation process
  5. To check the installed version run:  esxcli software vib list |grep ism
    • ESXI 6.7 example:
      esxcli software vib list |grep ism > ESXi 6.7 example
    • ESXI 7.0 example:
      esxcli software vib list |grep ism > ESXi 7.0 example
  6. After ISM has been installed successfully, a virtual switch is automatically created with the name: vSwitchiDRACvusb:
    After ISM has installed successfully, a virtual switch is automatically created with the name: vSwitchiDRACvusb 
  7. Create a port group to give access to a windows virtual machine. 
    • Go to Port Groups > Add port group > enter the name for the port group (example "VM IDRAC access") and select the virtual switch vSwitchiDRACvusb > click Add to complete
      Go to Port Groups > Add port group > enter the name for the port group (example "VM IDRAC access") and select the virtual switch vSwitchiDRACvusb > click Add to complete 
    • Example port group created:
      example port group created
  8. To give access > go to the Virtual Machine (VM) > click Edit > add a Network adapter > Select the port group added on the previous step > tick Connect > click Save.
    To give access > go to the Virtual Machine (VM) > click Edit > add a Network adapter > Select the port group added on previous step > tick Connect > click Save
  9. Once the VM has the new network card added, configure it. The ISM network address is configured as 169.254.0.x/24 automatically, which is why the network card must be configured with an IP address on the same subnet. In this example, the configuration is 169.254.0.5/24. 
    • Once the VM has the new network card added, configure it. The ISM network address is configured as 169.254.0.x/24 automatically, that is why we must configure the network card with an IP address on the same network
  10. Now access to IDRAC using the web interface on IP 169.254.0.1 is possible (from within the VM).
    Now access to IDRAC using the web interface on IP 169.254.0.1 is possible 
    Accessing the iDRAC web interface worked from inside the VM as seen here 
 

Affected Products

iDRAC9, iDRAC7/8 with Lifecycle Controller version 2.65.65.65, iDRAC8 with Lifecycle Controller version 2.70.70.70, iDRAC8 with Lifecycle Controller version 2.75.75.75, iDRAC8 with Lifecycle Controller version 2.80.80.80 , iDRAC8 with Lifecycle Controller version 2.81.81.81, iDRAC8 with Lifecycle Controller version 2.82.82.82, iDRAC8 with Lifecycle Controller version 2.83.83.83, iDRAC8 with Lifecycle Controller version 2.84.84.84, iDRAC8 with Lifecycle Controller version 2.85.85.85, iDRAC8 with Lifecycle Controller version 2.86.86.86, OEMR R240, OEMR R250, OEMR XE R250, OEMR R260, OEMR XE R260, OEMR R340, OEMR R350, OEMR XE R350, OEMR R360, OEMR XE R360, OEMR R440, PowerEdge XR2, OEMR R450, OEMR R540, OEMR R550, OEMR R5500, OEMR R640, OEMR XL R640, OEMR R6415, OEMR R650, OEMR R650xs, OEMR R6515, OEMR R6525, OEMR R660, OEMR XL R660, OEMR R660xs, OEMR R6615, OEMR R6625, OEMR R740, OEMR XL R740, OEMR R740xd, OEMR XL R740xd, OEMR R740xd2, OEMR R7415, OEMR R7425, OEMR R750, OEMR R750xa, OEMR R750xs, OEMR R7515, OEMR R7525, OEMR R760, OEMR R760xa, OEMR R760XD2, OEMR XL R760, OEMR R760xs, OEMR R7615, OEMR R7625, OEMR R840, OEMR R860, OEMR R940, OEMR R940xa, OEMR R960, OEMR T140, OEMR T150, OEMR T340, OEMR T350, OEMR T360, OEMR T440, OEMR T550, OEMR T560, OEMR T640, OEMR XL T640, OEMR XL R240, OEMR XL R340, OEMR XL R660xs, OEMR XL R6615, OEMR XL R6625, OEMR XL R760xs, OEMR XL R7615, OEMR XL R7625, OEMR XR11, OEMR XR12, OEMR XR4510c, OEMR XR4520c, OEMR XR5610, OEMR XR7620, OEMR XR8610t, OEMR XR8620t, Poweredge C4140, PowerEdge C6420, PowerEdge C6520, PowerEdge C6525, PowerEdge C6615, PowerEdge C6620, PowerEdge FC640, PowerEdge HS5610, PowerEdge HS5620, PowerEdge M640, PowerEdge M640 (for PE VRTX), PowerEdge MX740C, PowerEdge MX750c, PowerEdge MX760c, PowerEdge MX840C, PowerEdge R240, PowerEdge R250, PowerEdge R260, PowerEdge R340, PowerEdge R350, PowerEdge R360, PowerEdge R440, PowerEdge R450, PowerEdge R540, PowerEdge R550, PowerEdge R640, PowerEdge R6415, PowerEdge R650, PowerEdge R650xs, PowerEdge R6515, PowerEdge R6525, PowerEdge R660, PowerEdge R660xs, PowerEdge R6615, PowerEdge R6625, PowerEdge R740, PowerEdge R740XD, PowerEdge R740XD2, PowerEdge R7415, PowerEdge R7425, PowerEdge R750, PowerEdge R750XA, PowerEdge R750xs, PowerEdge R7515, PowerEdge R7525, PowerEdge R760, PowerEdge R760XA, PowerEdge R760xd2, PowerEdge R760xs, PowerEdge R7615, PowerEdge R7625, PowerEdge R840, PowerEdge R860, PowerEdge R940, PowerEdge R940xa, PowerEdge R960, PowerEdge T140, PowerEdge T150, PowerEdge T160, PowerEdge T340, PowerEdge T350, PowerEdge T360, PowerEdge T40, PowerEdge T440, PowerEdge T550, PowerEdge T560, PowerEdge T640, PowerEdge XE2420, PowerEdge XE7420, PowerEdge XE7440, PowerEdge XE8545, PowerEdge XE8640, PowerEdge XE9640, PowerEdge XE9680, PowerEdge XR11, PowerEdge XR12, PowerEdge XR4510c, PowerEdge XR4520c, PowerEdge XR5610, PowerEdge XR7620, PowerEdge XR8610t, PowerEdge XR8620t, PowerFlex appliance R650, PowerFlex appliance R6525, PowerFlex appliance R660, PowerFlex appliance R6625, Powerflex appliance R750, PowerFlex appliance R760, PowerFlex appliance R7625, PowerFlex custom node R650, PowerFlex custom node R6525, PowerFlex custom node R660, PowerFlex custom node R6625, PowerFlex custom node R750, PowerFlex custom node R760, PowerFlex custom node R7625, PowerFlex custom node R860, VxFlex Ready Node R640, VxFlex Ready Node R740xd, VMware ESXi 6.7.X, VMware ESXi 7.x, VMware ESXi 8.x, Dell EMC vSAN C6420 Ready Node, Dell EMC vSAN MX740c Ready Node, Dell EMC vSAN MX750c Ready Node, Dell vSAN Ready Node MX760c, Dell EMC vSAN R440 Ready Node, Dell EMC vSAN R640 Ready Node, Dell EMC vSAN R6415 Ready Node, Dell EMC vSAN R650 Ready Node, Dell EMC vSAN R6515 Ready Node, vSAN Ready Node R660, Dell vSAN R6615 Ready Node, Dell EMC vSAN R740 Ready Node, Dell EMC vSAN R740xd Ready Node, Dell EMC vSAN R750 Ready Node, Dell EMC vSAN R7515 Ready Node, Dell EMC vSAN R760 Ready Node, Dell vSAN R7615 Ready Node, Dell vSAN Ready Node R7625, Dell EMC vSAN R840 Ready Node, Dell EMC vSAN T350 Ready Node, PowerFlex appliance R640, PowerFlex appliance R740XD, PowerFlex appliance R7525, PowerFlex appliance R840, VxFlex Ready Node R840 ...
Article Properties
Article Number: 000209913
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 13 Mar 2025
Version:  2
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