The Dell PowerEdge embedded server management solution,
Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller (iDRAC) with Lifecycle Controller,
helps IT administrators to speed up the essential management tasks,
it increases the availability of your servers, and reduces your IT
operational expenses.
With powerful, easy-to-use, remote management and configuration
options, iDRAC with Lifecycle Controller alerts IT administrators
when an issue occurs, enables streamlined local and remote server
management, and reduces or eliminates the need for administrators
to physically visit the server even if the server is not operational.
iDRAC comprises:
- Graphical User Interface(GUI), Command Line Interface(CLI),
and WS-MAN
- Server instrumentation
- OS Integration
- Manage storage devices
Overview
All versions of iDRAC8 – Basic, Express, and Enterprise
– ship from the factory with a default static IP address, this is
a preferred and a known method. However, Dell also offers two options
to better fit into a customer’s existing environment.
Auto-discovery or
DHCP can be set from the factory to allow you to access
iDRAC and remotely configure your server.
iDRAC version naming convention
- iDRAC7
- 1.xx.yy
- xx is the iDRAC firmware version
- yy is the power & thermal table version
- iDRAC8
- 2.xx.yy.zz
- xx is the iDRAC firmware version
- yy is the power & thermal table version
- zz is the Lifecycle Controller version
For 13
th generation of Dell PowerEdge servers, the
iDRAC and Lifecycle Controller firmware is a single image.
-
NOTE: A single iDRAC firmware
is used across Dell’s 12th and 13th generation PowerEdge servers.
iDRAC ships from the factory with a default, static
IP address, with either Express or Enterprise licenses. This is a
preferred and known method. However, Dell also offers two additional
options to better fit into a certain customer IT environments:
DHCP or
Provisioning Server. Either of which can be set
from the factory to allow you to access the iDRAC and remotely configure
your server. Only one setting is possible There is no charge for any
of these options.
- Static
iDRAC will ship with the factory default static IP address 192.168.0.120
- DHCP
This option is for customers who have a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server already installed in their data
center environment. The DHCP server can automatically assign the IP address, gateway, and subnet mask to a server’s iDRAC
. DHCP should also be selected if using iDRAC Auto Config or OpenManage Essentials Configuration Manager to automate server
provisioning. Please select this option if you would like to ensure that this feature is enabled at the Dell factory. Again,
there is no charge to enable the “DHCP” option at time of order.
- Provisioning Server
The Provisioning Server option is for customers that have some type of provisioning server already installed in their data
center environment. A provisioning server manages and automates the deployment or upgrade of an operating system and applications
to a Dell PowerEdge server. By enabling the “Provisioning Server” option, the servers will — upon first boot — search for
a provisioning server to take control and begin the automated deployment or update process. Please select this option if you
would like to ensure that this feature is enabled at the Dell factory. Again, there is no charge to enable the “Provisioning
Server” option at time of order.
iDRAC8 Management Traffic – Dedicated NIC or Shared LOM
For certain 13th generation of Dell’s PowerEdge servers, you have
the option to choose the network interface they wish to route iDRAC
traffic – either the default
Dedicated NIC for the iDRAC itself
or through the
Shared LOM that is also used by the server.
Dell recommends to place the iDRAC’s on a separate management network
for best iDRAC security. However, you can also route iDRAC management
traffic over the shared LOM. Select the
shared LOM option if
you may want to ensure that this feature is enabled at the Dell factory.
There is no additional charge to enable shared LOM at the time of
order. The servers which support the option of selecting shared LOM
for iDRAC management traffic are:
- R730
- R730xd
- T630
- R630
- FC630
- FC830
DRAC also logs event data and the most recent crash
screen (for systems running the Microsoft Windows operating system
only) to help diagnose the probable cause of a system crash.
For more information, see the
Dell Remote Access
Controller User's Guide
or the
Integrated Dell Remote Access
Controller User's Guide
at
dell.com/support/manuals.
Table below “Remote Access Controllers and Solutions
for Blade Servers” and Table “For Rack and Tower Servers” list the
following:
- Supported Remote Access Controller versions and firmware
for iDRAC8
- Supported Chassis Management Controller versions and
firmware
- Supported BMC firmware versions
- Supported IPMI protocol versions