Dell OpenManage Server Administrator Version 8.5 User's Guide

Working with remote access controller

The systems baseboard management controller (BMC)/Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller (iDRAC) monitors the system for critical events by communicating with various sensors on the system board and sends alerts and log events when certain parameters exceed their preset thresholds. The BMC/iDRAC supports the industry-standard Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) specification, enabling you to configure, monitor, and recover systems remotely.

The DRAC is a systems management hardware and software solution designed to provide remote management capabilities, crashed system recovery, and power control functions for the systems.

By communicating with the system’s baseboard management controller (BMC)/Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller (iDRAC), the DRAC can be configured to send you email alerts for warnings or errors related to voltages, temperatures, and fan speeds. The DRAC also logs event data and the most recent failure screen (available only on systems running Microsoft Windows operating system) to help you diagnose the probable cause of a system failure.

The Remote Access Controller provides remote access to an inoperable system, allowing you to get the system up and running as quickly as possible. The Remote Access Controller also provides alert notification when a system is down and allows you to remotely restart a system. Also, the Remote Access Controller logs the probable cause of system fails and saves the most recent crash screen.

You can log in to the Remote Access Controller through the Server Administrator home page or by directly accessing the controller's IP address using a supported browser.

When using the Remote Access Controller, you can click Help for more detailed information about the specific window you are viewing. Remote Access Controller help is available for all windows accessible to the user based on the user privilege level and the specific hardware and software groups that Server Administrator discovers on the managed system.

The following table lists the graphical user interface (GUI) field names and the applicable system, when Server Administrator is installed on the system.

For more information on the systems support for remote access devices, see the Dell EMC Systems Software Support Matrix available at dell.com/openmanagemanuals.

Server Administrator allows remote, in-band access to event logs, power control, and sensor status information and provides the ability to configure the BMC/iDRAC. To manage BMC/iDRAC and DRAC through the Server Administrator graphical user interface (GUI), click the Remote Access object, which is a subcomponent of the Main System Chassis/Main System group.

You can view BMC/iDRAC or DRAC information based on which hardware is providing the remote access capabilities for the system.

The reporting and configuration of BMC/iDRAC and DRAC can also be managed using the omreport/omconfig chassis remoteaccess command-line interface (CLI) command.

In addition, the Server Administrator Instrumentation Service allows you to manage the Platform Event Filters (PEF) parameters and alert destinations.