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Dell PowerEdge Server Start-up Guide

Summary: This is the start-up page for a new Dell PowerEdge Server with an Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller (iDRAC). The article details system installation, use of the iDRAC, LifeCycle Controller (LCC) configuration, and installing an operating system. ...

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Symptoms


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You have unboxed your brand-new PowerEdge server. It is now time to install in the relevant rack, get the iDRAC setup and install the operating system. This enables you to integrate the device into your infrastructure. This guide is here to help you through all the steps needed. It also provides best practices to ensure an optimal configuration and performance. The information here also simplifies maintenance and management.

This article is intended as a guide to system installation, use of the iDRAC, LifeCycle Controller (LCC) configuration, and installing an operating system. It also includes a segment to assist learning more about Systems Management options. It begins with the latest release of the PowerEdge which runs iDRAC9. For information about how to setup and manage previous versions of iDRAC, go to the bottom of this page. If you are not sure which version of iDRAC your server runs, you can check this article How to identify the iDRAC version embedded in a PowerEdge server and hardware leveraging PowerEdge server hardware.

Cause

Not required

Resolution

Steps to get started:

Features and Resources:

Getting Started Guides for older servers

Setting up the system

  1. Unpack the system
  2. Install the system into the rack. How to physically install a server in a rack or tower mode is explained in this article.
  3. Connect the peripheral devices to the system
  4. Connect the power and turn on the system. It can be done by pressing the power button or by using the iDRAC
     

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Configure the iDRAC

The Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller (iDRAC) is designed to improve productivity for system administrators and improve the overall availability of Dell systems. The iDRAC alerts administrators about system issues. This allows remote system management and reduces the need for physical access to the system. The initial configuration of the iDRAC9 and the LCC is explained step by step in this article.
 

Log in to iDRAC

To log in into the iDRAC Web User Interface, open a browser and enter the address IP. The address by default is 192.168.0.120. There are also other ways to connect to the iDRAC using command-line protocols (SSH, RACADM). For more information about this, see the latest Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller User's Guide under the title "Setting up iDRAC Communication." The login screen is displayed. The default username is "root."

If you have not opted for secure default access to iDRAC, then the default password is "calvin."
If you have opted for secure default access to iDRAC, the Secure Password is on a sticker on the underside of the Service Tag information.

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Figure 1: Sticker with a secure default password


Enter the Username and password to log in iDRAC.

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Figure 2: iDRAC9 web interface login screen.


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Figure 3: iDRAC9 dashboard.

  SLN285802_en_US__2icon Note: In the iDRAC settings, it is possible to enable directory login (Microsoft AD or LDAP).



For more information about logging in to the iDRAC and iDRAC licenses, see the latest Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller User's Guide.

Configure and Launch LifeCycle Controller (LCC)

Dell LCC is an advanced embedded systems management technology that enables remote server management using the iDRAC. Using LCC, you can update the firmware using a local or Dell-based firmware repository. The OS Deployment wizard available in LCC enables you to deploy an operating system. To access the LCC, press F10 during startup. The LCC shares an IP address with one of the server network cards. The IP address must be configured at least once to use the update and the operating system installation feature.

Installation of an Operating System

The embedded LCC simplifies the installation of the operating system with the "OS Deployment" feature. This feature preloads the necessary drivers before the installation process. This gives a smooth installation as the operating system recognizes all components.

Find all details in the dedicated article "How to install the operating system on a Dell PowerEdge Server?"
 

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Update Strategies

Dell PowerEdge servers offer a wide variety of options for keeping firmware and drivers up to date. Dell provides many useful tools to simplify the update process from updating a single driver on a single system to updating all systems at once. For more information, read the dedicated article Updating a PowerEdge.

Embedded Hardware Diagnostic

System Hardware Diagnostics are embedded in the LCC. The LCC has a physical (as opposed to logical) view of the attached hardware. This can identify hardware problems that the operating system and other online tools cannot identify. Find all details in the dedicated article How to Run Hardware Diagnostics on your PowerEdge Server.

Secure Connect Gateway

Secure connect gateway is an enterprise monitoring technology that is delivered as an appliance and a stand-alone application. It monitors your devices and proactively detects hardware issues that may occur. Depending on your service contract, it also automates support request creation for issues that are detected on the monitored devices.

The application edition can be installed on a server running a Windows or Linux operating system. For more information, see the Secure Connect Gateway product page.

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Previous generation servers

How to identify the generation of a server is explained in these articles:

Additional Information

Watch this video:

Affected Products

PowerEdge C6420, PowerEdge C6520, PowerEdge C6525, PowerEdge C6615, PowerEdge C6620, PowerEdge HS5610, PowerEdge HS5620, PowerEdge M640, PowerEdge M640 (for PE VRTX), PowerEdge MX740C

Products

PowerEdge MX750c, PowerEdge MX760c, PowerEdge MX840C, PowerEdge R240, PowerEdge R250, PowerEdge R260, PowerEdge R340, PowerEdge R350, PowerEdge R360, PowerEdge R440, PowerEdge R450, PowerEdge R540, PowerEdge R550, PowerEdge R640, PowerEdge R6415 , PowerEdge R650, PowerEdge R650xs, PowerEdge R6515, PowerEdge R6525, PowerEdge R660, PowerEdge R660xs, PowerEdge R6615, PowerEdge R6625, PowerEdge R740, PowerEdge R740XD, PowerEdge R740XD2, PowerEdge R7415, PowerEdge R7425, PowerEdge R750, PowerEdge R750XA, PowerEdge R750xs, PowerEdge R7515, PowerEdge R7525, PowerEdge R760, PowerEdge R760XA, PowerEdge R760xd2, PowerEdge R760xs, PowerEdge R7615, PowerEdge R7625, PowerEdge R840, PowerEdge R940, PowerEdge R940xa, PowerEdge R960, PowerEdge T140, PowerEdge T150, PowerEdge T160, PowerEdge T340, PowerEdge T350, PowerEdge T360, PowerEdge T440, PowerEdge T550, PowerEdge T560, PowerEdge T640, PowerEdge XE2420, PowerEdge XE7440, PowerEdge XE8545, PowerEdge XE8640, PowerEdge XE9640, PowerEdge XE9680, PowerEdge XR4510c, PowerEdge XR4520c, PowerEdge XR5610, PowerEdge XR7620, PowerEdge XR8610t, PowerEdge XR8620t ...