Dell DRAC

Last updated

The Dell Remote Access Controller (DRAC) is an out-of-band management platform on certain Dell servers. The platform may be provided on a separate expansion card, or integrated into the main board; when integrated, the platform is referred to as iDRAC.

Contents

It mostly uses separate resources to the main server resources, and provides a browser-based and/or command-line interface (CLI) for managing and monitoring the server hardware.

Features

The controller has its own processor, memory, network connection, and access to the system bus. Key features include power management, virtual media access and remote console capabilities, all available through a supported web browser or command-line interface. This gives system administrators the ability to configure a machine as if they were sitting at the local console (terminal).

The DRAC interfaces with baseboard management controller (BMC) chips, and is based on the Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) 2.0 standard, which allows the use of IPMI out-of-band interfaces such as IPMI Over LAN. [1]

Versions

The Dell Remote Access Controllers (DRAC) and the Integrated Dell Remote Access Controllers (iDRAC) come in different versions, where a new (i)DRAC version is often linked to a new generation of Poweredge servers.

The hardware is often integrated on the motherboard of the server, and the combined product is termed iDRAC, where the "i" is for integrated. When iDRAC Express is used, the software and hardware systems management functions are shared with one of the server's on-board network interfaces using a unique IP address. By contrast, iDRAC Enterprise version features a dedicated physical network interface.

iDRAC version 7 was introduced in conjunction with the release of Dell PowerEdge generation 12 servers in March 2012, and is only available on 12th generation models. [2] Unlike previous versions the functionality of iDRAC 7 is the same for rack, tower and blade-servers.

An overview of the different versions: [3]

TypeFamilyYearServerComments
DRAC II [4] 21999—Extra card
DRAC III [5] 32002
DRAC iV [6] 42005 Generation 8
DRAC 5 [7] 52006 Generation 9 Extra card, virtual console requires Firefox 1.5
iDRAC 6 embedded62008First version for blade serversIntegrated on motherboard on all servers
iDRAC 6 Express62008Standard on all midrange systems
iDRAC 6 Express62008Blade servers [8]
iDRAC 6 Enterprise [9] 62008Additional software features in combination with express; vFlash SD card slot
iDRAC 6 Enterprise [10] 62008BladeAdditional software features in combination with express
iDRAC 7 [2] 72012 Generation 12 New licensing model, hardware based, NTP support, Redfish management
iDRAC 8 [11] 82014 Generation 13 Quick sync, NFC configuration, UEFI secure boot, HTML5 virtual console, Storage configuration on Supported PERC Cards
iDRAC 992017 Generation 14 Quick sync 2.0, iDRAC Direct using front Mini-USB Port, New User Interface.

Power management

With the DRAC enabled and using its own separate network connection, a user may login and reboot the system even if the core operating system has crashed. If the operating system has loaded the correct drivers, the DRAC will attempt to shut down the system gracefully. Without this feature and with the system running, administrators can use the remote console to access the operating system too.

Remote console

The remote console features of the DRAC allow an administrator to interface with the computer as if sitting in front of it, and one can share the local inputs from keyboard and mouse as well as video output (DRAC does not support remote sound). Remote-console capability relies on either an Active X or Java plug-in, or HTML5 in the later models, which displays a window showing the video output on the local terminal and which takes mouse and keyboard input. This behavior closely resembles that of other remote access solutions such as VNC or RDP but also works if the operating system of the server doesn't work anymore (unlike VNC or RDP). It is used to take the server console remotely.

Virtual media

The DRAC enables a user to mount remotely shared disk-images as if they were connected to the system. In combination with the remote console, this gives administrators the ability to completely re-install an operating system, a task which traditionally required local console access to the physical machine. Administrators can control virtual media through the browser or through the OpenManage tools provided by Dell, though specific versions of browsers restrict some functionality. [12]

Access

The main DRAC management takes place via a web interface. All generations of the DRAC use the default user name root and the default password calvin. Starting with the DRAC 3, Microsoft Active Directory can also provide authentication either with Dell AD Schema Extensions or Standard Schema. [13] [14] [15] [16] [17]

Implementation

The DRAC5 and iDRAC6 and higher are embedded platforms running Linux and Busybox. The firmware source code is available on the Dell website, [18] but it is not possible to compile the source into a replacement firmware as Dell does not include a build environment. [19]

The DRAC provides remote access to the system console (keyboard and screen) allowing the system BIOS to be accessed over the Internet when the server is rebooted. This is done by configuring the system BIOS to send its output to a serial port (as a stream of text using VT100-compatible control codes). The chosen serial port is then redirected to the DRAC's serial port. Users can then log into the DRAC via SSH and run a command to connect the SSH session to the serial port, thus allowing the console to be accessed over the Internet.

Earlier versions of the DRAC used ActiveX in Internet Explorer to provide a remote-console interface in a web browser; however, this was unpopular with non-Windows users who did not have access to Internet Explorer. The latest revision of the DRAC6 uses a Java application instead (launched from within the browser), though both the DRAC5 and iDRAC6 also provided the aforementioned platform-independent SSH access.

iDRAC6

iDRAC6 is available in two levels: iDRAC6 Express and iDRAC6 Enterprise. iDRAC6 Express (which integrates features previously charged for in DRAC5) became a standard offering on Dell's servers. Certain features are not available for the Express version, including the remote console functionality and the vFlash SD card slot. As with iDRAC, iDRAC6 Enterprise is a standard offering on blade servers

iDRAC7

On 6 March 2012, software version 1.00.00 for the iDRAC7 was released for generation 12 servers. iDRAC 7 does not work on earlier generation servers although some of the new functions introduced with iDRAC 7 might be offered in iDRAC 6 releases. [8] [9] As of May 2019, the current version was 2.63.60.62. [20]

With the introduction of iDRAC 7, the licensing model has changed. iDRAC 7 now supports lifecycle controller. Some features of Lifecycle controller are licensed and to access those features via iDRAC the correct licenses for those functions need to be enabled.

Supported hardware platforms

iDRAC 7 runs on generation 12 PowerEdge servers. Per introduction in March 2012 the following servers use iDRAC7: [2]

Supported operating systems

iDRAC 7 is supported by the following operating systems

Supported web browsers

The GUI for iDRAC7 uses a Web browser and Java. Internet Explorer 7, 8 and 9, as well as Firefox 6 + 7 were tested for different operating systems. [2]

Limitations

To take advantage of storage greater than 256 MB on the iDRAC6 enterprise, Dell requires that a vFlash SD card be procured through Dell channels. As of December 2011, Dell vFlash SD cards differ from consumer SD cards by being over-provisioned by 100% for increased write endurance and performance. [21]

While there are no other known functional differences between a Dell-branded vFlash SD card and a class 2 or greater SDHC card, the use of non-Dell media prevents the use of extended capacities and functions.

On a Linux client system the standard arrow and print screen keys cannot be used in the iDRAC6 Java virtual console application because of some incompatible key event IDs; [22] however, the arrow keys on the numeric keypad can still be used.

Some combinations of DRAC firmware, web browser, and Java runtime do not support virtual media via the Java applet or the plugin in DRAC5 and iDRAC6.

Related Research Articles

Microsoft Windows was announced by Bill Gates on November 10, 1983. Microsoft introduced Windows as a graphical user interface for MS-DOS, which had been introduced two years earlier. The product line evolved in the 1990s from an operating environment into a fully complete, modern operating system over two lines of development, each with their own separate codebase.

Microsoft Windows is a group of several proprietary graphical operating system families developed and marketed by Microsoft. Each family caters to a certain sector of the computing industry. For instance, Windows NT for consumers, Windows Server for servers, and Windows IoT for embedded systems. Defunct Windows families include Windows 9x, Windows Mobile, and Windows Phone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Windows 2000</span> Fifth major release of Windows NT, released in 2000

Windows 2000 is a major release of the Windows NT operating system developed by Microsoft and designed for businesses. It was the direct successor to Windows NT 4.0, and was released to manufacturing on December 15, 1999, and was officially released to retail on February 17, 2000 and September 26, 2000 for Windows 2000 Datacenter Server. It was Microsoft's business operating system until the introduction of Windows XP Professional in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Server (computing)</span> Computer to access a central resource or service on a network

In computing, a server is a piece of computer hardware or software that provides functionality for other programs or devices, called "clients". This architecture is called the client–server model. Servers can provide various functionalities, often called "services", such as sharing data or resources among multiple clients or performing computations for a client. A single server can serve multiple clients, and a single client can use multiple servers. A client process may run on the same device or may connect over a network to a server on a different device. Typical servers are database servers, file servers, mail servers, print servers, web servers, game servers, and application servers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Windows Server 2003</span> Third version of Windows Server, released in 2003

Windows Server 2003, codenamed "Whistler Server", is the second version of the Windows Server operating system produced by Microsoft. It is part of the Windows NT family of operating systems and was released to manufacturing on March 28, 2003 and generally available on April 24, 2003. Windows Server 2003 is the successor to the Server editions of Windows 2000 and the predecessor to Windows Server 2008. An updated version, Windows Server 2003 R2, was released to manufacturing on December 6, 2005. Windows Server 2003 is based on Windows 2000.

Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) is a proprietary protocol developed by Microsoft Corporation which provides a user with a graphical interface to connect to another computer over a network connection. The user employs RDP client software for this purpose, while the other computer must run RDP server software.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Group Policy</span> Feature of the Microsoft Windows NT family of operating systems

Group Policy is a feature of the Microsoft Windows NT family of operating systems that controls the working environment of user accounts and computer accounts. Group Policy provides centralized management and configuration of operating systems, applications, and users' settings in an Active Directory environment. A set of Group Policy configurations is called a Group Policy Object (GPO). A version of Group Policy called Local Group Policy allows Group Policy Object management without Active Directory on standalone computers.

The Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) is a set of computer interface specifications for an autonomous computer subsystem that provides management and monitoring capabilities independently of the host system's CPU, firmware and operating system. IPMI defines a set of interfaces used by system administrators for out-of-band management of computer systems and monitoring of their operation. For example, IPMI provides a way to manage a computer that may be powered off or otherwise unresponsive by using a network connection to the hardware rather than to an operating system or login shell. Another use case may be installing a custom operating system remotely. Without IPMI, installing a custom operating system may require an administrator to be physically present near the computer, insert a DVD or a USB flash drive containing the OS installer and complete the installation process using a monitor and a keyboard. Using IPMI, an administrator can mount an ISO image, simulate an installer DVD, and perform the installation remotely.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">PowerEdge</span> Server computer platform

The PowerEdge (PE) line is Dell's server computer product line. PowerEdge machines come configured as tower, rack-mounted, or blade servers. Dell uses a consistent chip-set across servers in the same generation regardless of packaging, allowing for a common set of drivers and system-images.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Out-of-band management</span> Management of networking equipment

In systems management, out-of-band management is a process for accessing and managing devices and infrastructure at remote locations through a separate management plane from the production network. OOB allows a system administrator to monitor and manage servers and other network-attached equipment by remote control regardless of whether the machine is powered on or whether an OS is installed or functional. It is contrasted to in-band management which requires the managed systems to be powered on and available over their operating system's networking facilities.

The IBM Remote Supervisor Adapter is a full-length ISA or PCI adapter produced by the IBM corporation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Windows Home Server</span> Home server operating system by Microsoft released in 2007

Windows Home Server is a home server operating system from Microsoft. It was announced on 7 January 2007 at the Consumer Electronics Show by Bill Gates, released to manufacturing on 16 July 2007 and officially released on 4 November 2007.

The current portfolio of PowerConnect switches are now being offered as part of the Dell Networking brand: information on this page is an overview of all current and past PowerConnect switches as per August 2013, but any updates on current portfolio will be detailed on the Dell Networking page.

Oracle Secure Global Desktop (SGD) software provides secure access to both published applications and published desktops running on Microsoft Windows, Unix, mainframe and IBM i systems via a variety of clients ranging from fat PCs to thin clients such as Sun Rays.

Microsoft Application Virtualization is an application virtualization and application streaming solution from Microsoft. It was originally developed by Softricity, a company based in Boston, Massachusetts, acquired by Microsoft on July 17, 2006. App-V represents Microsoft's entry to the application virtualization market, alongside their other virtualization technologies such as Hyper-V, Microsoft User Environment Virtualization (UE-V), Remote Desktop Services, and System Center Virtual Machine Manager.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Intel Active Management Technology</span> Out-of-band management platform by Intel

Intel Active Management Technology (AMT) is hardware and firmware for remote out-of-band management of select business computers, running on the Intel Management Engine, a microprocessor subsystem not exposed to the user, intended for monitoring, maintenance, updating, and repairing systems. Out-of-band (OOB) or hardware-based management is different from software-based management and software management agents.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dell M1000e</span> Server computer

The Dell blade server products are built around their M1000e enclosure that can hold their server blades, an embedded EqualLogic iSCSI storage area network and I/O modules including Ethernet, Fibre Channel and InfiniBand switches.

Dell PowerEdge VRTX is a computer hardware product line from Dell. It is a mini-blade chassis with built-in storage system. The VRTX comes in two models: a 19" rack version that is 5 rack units high or as a stand-alone tower system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MSP360</span>

MSP360, formerly CloudBerry Lab, is a software and application service provider company that develops online backup, remote desktop and file management products integrated with more than 20 cloud storage providers.

References

  1. ↑ "Exploring the DRAC 5" (PDF). Dell Power Solutions, August 2006. Dell. p. 27.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Dell manuals for iDRAC 7 Archived 2012-03-14 at the Wayback Machine , version 1.0, 6 March 2012, visited 7 March 2012
  3. ↑ Dell support website Dell Remote Access Controllers manuals, visited 7 March 2012
  4. ↑ Manual for the Dell Open Manage Remote Assistant Card II Archived 2012-01-07 at the Wayback Machine , 14 December 1999. Visited 7 March 2012
  5. ↑ Dell support website DRAC 3 manuals Archived 2012-06-03 at the Wayback Machine , visited 7 March 2012
  6. ↑ Dell manuals for DRAC 4 Archived 2011-12-19 at the Wayback Machine , 9 August 2004, Visited 7 March 2012
  7. ↑ Dell manuals for DRAC 5 Archived 2012-02-28 at the Wayback Machine , 7 June 2006, Visited 7 March 2012
  8. 1 2 Dell manuals for iDRAC 6 for blade servers Archived 2012-01-06 at the Wayback Machine , visited 7 March 2012
  9. 1 2 Manual for iDRAC 6 for monolithic servers Archived 2012-02-26 at the Wayback Machine , visited 7 March 2012
  10. ↑ Manual for IDrac 6 for blade servers Archived 2012-04-16 at the Wayback Machine , visited 7 March 2012
  11. ↑ Dell manual for iDRAC 8, version 1.0, September 2014, visited 22 April 2015
  12. ↑ "Supported Web Browsers". Users Guide. Dell. Archived from the original on 2008-12-26.
  13. ↑ "Accessing the DRAC 5 Through a Network". Users Guide. Dell. Archived from the original on 2008-12-26.
  14. ↑ "Accessing the DRAC 4 Through a Network". Users Guide. Dell. Archived from the original on 2009-02-07.
  15. ↑ "Accessing the DRAC III Web-Based Interface". Users Guide. Dell. Archived from the original on 2008-06-20.
  16. ↑ "Accessing the CMC Through a Network". Users Guide. Dell. Archived from the original on 2010-09-25.
  17. ↑ "iDRAC, Configuring Networking Using the CMC Web Interface". Users Guide. Dell. Archived from the original on 2009-08-17.
  18. ↑ Dell Open Source repository
  19. ↑ Post on Dell Linux-PowerEdge mailing list, Dec 2010
  20. ↑ "Support for PowerEdge R220 | Drivers & Downloads | Dell US".
  21. ↑ Dell’s vFlash SDFlash Media Card – Better Endurance & Performance via Over-Provisioning
  22. ↑ Post on Dell Linux-PowerEdge mailing list, Jun 2011
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.