How to access iDRAC via KVM

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Hey, you can’t use a KVM to access the IDRAC GUI as it can only be accessed over a network

 

A KVM will only give access to the local video along with keyboard and mouse access. This can be done when local at the rack by pressing prnt screen or remotely by assigning an IP address to the KVM switch and accessing it via a web browser on a remote management station. Any connected servers that are connected to the KVM will appear in the KVM GUI and you can then choose to display the local video remotely using the KVM interface.

 

The image below shows a rough diagram of the SIP cable connected to the KVM and to the server.

 

 

 

Depending on which version of the iDRAC you have will determine if you can set the IP address via a dedicated management port which is only available with the iDRAC enterprise card or through one of the LAN ports that can be shared for LAN and Management traffic for the iDRAC Express card. You can then access the iDRAC GUI by opening a web browser on the management station and typing in the IP address assigned to the card.

 

The image below shows the GUI of the iDRAC 6. If you have the enterprise card you could open the virtual console which will display the local video without the need of going through the KVM, but this feature is only available with the Enterprise card. If you have the express card the GUI will appear, but you won't have an option for the virtual console

 

 

 

To access the iDRAC remotely. You need to first set an IP address on the card itself. There’s two ways of doing this, either through the iDRAC bios or via OMSA which is a software agent installed in the operating system of the physical server that has the iDRAC card.

 

The image below shows how to access the iDRAC bios on post. You would need to press the CTRL + E key once the IDRAC Bios appears. Once in the bios navigate to the networking option

 

 

 

Use the arrow keys to select LAN Parameters and press enter . NIC Selection is displayed. Use the arrow keys to select one of the following NIC modes:

 

• Dedicated — Select this option to enable the remote access device to utilize the dedicated network interface available on the iDRAC6 Enterprise. This interface is not shared with the host operating system and routes the management traffic to a separate physical network, enabling it to be separated from the application traffic. This option is available only if an iDRAC6 Enterprise is installed in the system. After you install the iDRAC6 Enterprise card, ensure that you change the NIC Selection to Dedicated.

 

• Shared — Select this option to share the network interface with the host operating system. The remote access device network interface is fully functional when the host operating system is configured for NIC teaming. The remote access device receives data through NIC 1 and NIC 2, but transmits data only through NIC 1. If NIC 1 fails, the remote access device will not be accessible.