PowerEdge: iDRAC Connectivity Troubleshooting

This training video covers the basics of troubleshooting iDRAC connectivity issues.

Troubleshooting Step 1 – iDRAC Initialization

Questions to Ask:
    • Can you ping the iDRAC?
    • Do other remote protocols respond like SSH?
    • Are the fans spinning at 100% or do you get an error on POST about initialization?   
    • If questions lead to iDRAC Initialization errors, drain flea 5 minutes then replace the motherboard if the issue persists.

Troubleshooting Step 2 - iDRAC Configuration

Option 1: racadm getniccfg using SSH or local racadm

    • This is the best method since you can get a Link Detected status conveniently.
    • Check that the NIC is enabled and that the IP/Subnet/Gateway make sense.
    
    
    
    • Check Nic Selection, Link Detected, and Active NIC.
    
    
    
    • Also consider running Racadm get iDRAC.NIC.vlanenable, to see if a VLAN may have accidentally been assigned.
    

Option 2: F2 BIOS

    • Browse to iDRAC Settings > System Summary.
    • Check Current iDRAC Network Settings for NIC Selection, IPv4 Enabled, and Current IPv4 Address/Gateway.

    
    
    • Select Finish at the bottom, then browse to Network Settings.
    • Check Enable NIC and Active NIC Interface.

    
    
    • Scroll to the bottom and check the VLAN Settings.
    

    

Option 3: SupportAssist Collection/TSR

    • Open the Viewer Report for the TSR.
    • Open the Raw output.
    • CTRL+F for IPv4
    • Check the Static or Non-Static depending on if DHCP was used for Address, Gateway, Netmask, and DNS.

        

    • CTRL+F for NIC.1 and check for ActiveNIC and Enable, as well as scroll down a little to check VLAN.
    
    
    
If the configuration looks good or the Active Nic does not match the Nic Selection, reboot the iDRAC using one of the follows two methods:

    • Racadm Racreset
    • Hold i button for 15 s. 
    

Troubleshooting Step 3 - Network Troubleshooting

Key steps to narrow down the issue:
    • Can the iDRAC ping the Gateway - racadm ping GATEWAY.
    • Does the iDRAC work from a second system?
    • Are the link lights active on the iDRAC port?
    • What happens if you change the iDRAC port(Dedicated vs LOM)?
    • Does iDRAC Direct or plugging in directly with a laptop work? 
    
We know the iDRAC has been initialized, it is configured correctly, and the link light works. Troubleshooting Step 4 - One-Offs and Nuke and Pave Current one-offs to check for:
    • Check that the Webserver is Enabled - racadm get idrac.webserver

    
    
    • If Enable=Disabled, run racadm set iDRAC.webserver.enable Enabled

If the iDRAC has initialized, the Configuration is good, the iDRAC can ping the gateway, the link lights are good but the web interface still does not work using any method.

Reset iDRAC to Factory defaults with a following method:

 
    • racadm racresetcfg

    
    • F10 Retire and Repurpose Wizard.
    • F2 iDRAC Settings Reset to Defaults.
    • LC Wipe method.
 

> winrm i LCWipe http://schemas.dmtf.org/wbem/wscim/1/cim-schema/2/root/dcim/DCIM_LCService?SystemCreationClassName=DCIM_ComputerSystem+CreationClassName=DCIM_LCService+SystemName=DCIM:ComputerSystem+Name=DCIM:LCService -u:[idrac username] -p:[password] -r:https://[idrac ip]/wsman -SkipCNcheck -SkipCAcheck -encoding:utf-8 -a:basic