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PowerEdge: How to Create a Virtual Disk Using iDRAC9

Summary: This article explains how to create a virtual disk using the iDRAC9 web management interface with PERC 9 and PERC 10.

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.
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Instructions

Create a Virtual Disk Using iDRAC9.

Duration: 00:00:53
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Connection to the iDRAC web interface

To start, connect to the iDRAC web interface using the defined IP Address with the admin credentials.
Note: If the iDRAC is not yet configured, reference. How to configure the Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller 9 (iDRAC9) with Lifecycle Controller network settings? For information about how to proceed.

Virtual disk creation:

  1. In the iDRAC Web Interface, go to Configuration and then click Storage Configuration.

Storage Configuration
Figure 1: Storage Configuration
 

The Storage Configuration tab is no longer available from iDRAC firmware version 5.10.00.00 and later versions, use the Storage menu to perform configuration actions.

Go to Storage and then click Physical Disks.
Physical Disks
Figure 2: Physical Disks
 
  1. Select the RAID controller for which you want to create the virtual disk from the Controller drop-down menu (Only for versions before 5.10.00.00).
Selecting a RAID controller
Figure 3: Selecting a RAID controller
 
  1. Check that available disks are listed in the Physical Disk Configuration section.

Before 5.10.00.00 Physical Disk Configuration
Figure 4: Before 5.10.00.00 Physical Disk Configuration
 

5.10.00.00 and later Physical Disk Selection
Figure 5: 5.10.00.00 and later Physical Disk Selection
 

  1. Open the Virtual Disk Configuration menu and click the button Create Virtual Disk.

Before 5.10.00.00 Create Virtual Disk button
Figure 6: Before 5.10.00.00 Create Virtual Disk button.
 

For version 5.10.00.00 and later only, click the Create Virtual Disk button from the Physical Disks menu.

5.10.00.00 and later Create Virtual Disk button
Figure 7: 5.10.00.00 and later Create Virtual Disk button.
 

  1. The creator wizard appears to configure the Virtual Disk properties.

In the Capacity field, enter the size of the virtual disk. The maximum size is displayed and then updated as disks are selected. Click Add to Pending Operations when ready.
You can use alphanumeric characters, spaces, dashes, and underscores in the disk name. Any other special characters that you enter are removed while creating the virtual disk.

Before 5.10.00.00 Create Virtual Disk Properties
Figure 8: Before 5.10.00.00 Create Virtual Disk Properties.
 

For version 5.10.00.00 and later only, if there are multiple controllers, select the controller where the disk to be added resides. Select the physical disk to be added with Next and complete the four steps.

5.10.00.00 and later Create Virtual Disk Properties
Figure 9: 5.10.00.00 and later Create Virtual Disk Properties.
 

  1. The message "RAC0685: A pending operation has been created for this Create Virtual Disk operation" appears to confirm the task creation.
  1. To perform this creation task, go to the bottom of the page and select Apply Now. If needed, the task can be scheduled.

Before 5.10.00.00 Apply Now button
Figure 10: Before 5.10.00.00 Apply Now button.
 

5.10.00.00 and later Apply Now button
Figure 11: 5.10.00.00 and later Apply Now button.
 

  1. The raid configuration task starts. It is possible to monitor the status by selecting the menu Maintenance and then clicking Job Queue.
  1. When the task is completed, the Virtual Disk is listed by selecting the menu Storage and then clicking Virtual Disks.

Storage Virtual Disks
Figure 12: Storage Virtual Disks
 

The virtual disk is now ready for use and must be formatted by your operating system.

For older legacy systems with iDRAC6, iDRAC7, and iDRAC8, this option is not available. Create a virtual disk in the RAID BIOS or using Dell Open Manage Server Administrator.
 

Note: If your system is in the BIOS or pre-POST state, your system must be restated. It must pass the BIOS screen in order for the LifeCycle Controller to complete the task.
 

Additional Information

Alternatively, the Virtual Disk can also be created from the System Settings menu. For more information, reference How to Create a Virtual Disk on a Dell RAID Controller Series 10 and 11.

Affected Products

iDRAC9, PowerEdge XR2, Poweredge C4140, PowerEdge C6420, PowerEdge C6520, PowerEdge C6525, PowerEdge C6615, PowerEdge C6620, PowerEdge FC640, PowerEdge HS5610, PowerEdge HS5620, PowerEdge M640, PowerEdge M640 (for PE VRTX), PowerEdge MX740C , PowerEdge MX750c, PowerEdge MX760c, PowerEdge MX840C, PowerEdge R240, PowerEdge R250, PowerEdge R340, PowerEdge R350, 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 R860, PowerEdge R940, PowerEdge R940xa, PowerEdge R960, PowerEdge T140, PowerEdge T150, PowerEdge T340, PowerEdge T350, PowerEdge T440, PowerEdge T550, PowerEdge T560, PowerEdge T640, PowerEdge XE2420, PowerEdge XE7420, PowerEdge XE7440, PowerEdge XE8545, PowerEdge XE8640, PowerEdge XE9680, PowerEdge XR11, PowerEdge XR12, PowerEdge XR4510c, PowerEdge XR4520c, PowerEdge XR5610, PowerEdge XR7620, PowerEdge XR8620t ...
Article Properties
Article Number: 000129249
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 26 Aug 2024
Version:  15
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