You can use SOL (Serial Over Lan) feature using SSH. SOL will do a serial redirection through network. This have limited functionality and need BIOS and OS configuration to work. For more details refer section "Communicating with iDRAC using IPMI SOL" on iDRAC User Guide

iDRAC User Guide is available at below link

http://topics-cdn.dell.com/pdf/idrac7-8-with-lc-v2.10.10.10_User's%20Guide_en-us.pdf

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Communicating with iDRAC using IPMI SOL

what is the command to access the virtual console?  do I need to connect to COM2? 

After login in to SSH you can run below command to access SOL

console com2

To come back to iDRAC prompt you can run below command

Ctrl + \

Note : This will be a limited console where you can see system POST and OS command prompt (If serial console is enabled on OS)

If this isn't possible, can I pass idrac username and idrac password to http://idracip/console?

I can do that, but how do I launch the actual Virtual Console windows console from this prompt?

You can not launch iDRAC Virtual console from SSH. For http://idracip/console to work without login you need to configure Single Sign On on clinet and iDRAC.

for iDRAC9,

how I can run from shell :  connect com2

I tried:   racadm serveraction connect com2

Hello,

I would refer you to the iDRAC9 CLI guide for the documentation on what parameters this command will accept. Page 41 of the guide below covers the connect command.

https://dell.to/3w7nabf

it said in the manual:

Connect:

Description Allows you to connect to the switch or blade serial console.
NOTE: This subcommand is only supported on the firmware interface.

then the example is:

To connect to server 1 serial console:
racadm connect -m server-1

how I can run from shell, I tried it and it said - incorrect option

Thank you.

To connect SOL from SSH you can run the command "console com2". There is no need to for racadm prefix.