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PowerEdge: How to Use the iDRAC Direct Feature

Summary: This article explains how to use iDRAC9 Direct to manage your PowerEdge server.

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

The iDRAC direct feature allows you to directly connect your laptop to the iDRAC USB port. This article explains how to use iDRAC Direct function for advanced server management and maintenance.

Table of Content:

  1. Requirements

  2. Steps to access the iDRAC interface over the USB port

Requirements

To connect using the Direct iDRAC feature, you must locate the micro-USB port in front of the server. The location of the iDRAC direct port can usually be found here:
Front of an R740 
Figure1: R740 front (example)

Below is the figure of a USB to micro-USB cable (see figure 2), this cable is required to perform the operation:
USB-A to micro USB cable 
Figure 2: USB to micro-USB cable

 

Steps to access the iDRAC interface over the USB port

  1. Turn off any wireless networks and disconnect from any other hard wired network.
  2. Ensure that the USB port is enabled. 

 

Note: On the server, you can enable or disable the iDRAC Direct USB Port using the system BIOS. Navigate to System BIOS > Integrated Devices. 

 

Extract of the user guide showing the Internal USB port setting options.

Figure 3: Extract of the user guide showing the Internal USB port setting options.
 

  1. After you connect the USB cable, the laptop will download the "iDRAC Virtual NIC USB Device" driver automatically.

installing iDRAC virtual NIC USB  

Figure 4: Installing iDRAC Virtual NIC USB device


Then you see the Remote NDIS Compatible Device #2 appearing in Device Manager, Network Adapter.
Windows device manager showing the device needed 
 Figure 5: Windows device manager showing the device needed 

  1. Wait for the laptop to obtain the IP address 169.254.0.4. It is always the same IP address. It may take several seconds for the IP addresses to be acquired. iDRAC acquires the IP address 169.254.0.3.

To check if the iDRAC is responding, launch the ping command. 

Ping test 

Figure 6: Ping test
 

  1. Now, you can start using the iDRAC network interfaces such as the web interface, RACADM, Redfish, or WSMan. For example, to access the iDRAC web interface, open a supported browser, and type the address 169.254.0.3 and press enter. The iDRAC login screen is displayed. 


iDRAC9 web interface

Figure 7: iDRAC9 web interface 
 

  1. When iDRAC is using the USB port, the LED blinks indicating activity. The blink frequency is 4 per second. After completing the wanted actions, disconnect the USB cable from the system. The LED turns off.

 

  1. If the Micro USB cable cannot be recognized, navigate to iDRAC Settings > Media and USB Port Settings > iDRAC Direct Only.


iDRAC settings in System setup

Figure 8: iDRAC settings page in system setup 
 



For more information, see the latest documentation for the iDRAC9.
 

Affected Products

iDRAC9, PowerEdge XR2, Poweredge C4140, PowerEdge C6420, PowerEdge C6520, PowerEdge C6525, PowerEdge C6615, PowerEdge C6620, PowerEdge FC640, PowerEdge M640, PowerEdge M640 (for PE VRTX), PowerEdge MX740C, 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 R860, 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 XE7100, PowerEdge XE7420, PowerEdge XE7440, PowerEdge XE8545, PowerEdge XE8640, PowerEdge XE9640, PowerEdge XE9680, PowerEdge XR11, PowerEdge XR12 ...
Article Properties
Article Number: 000130077
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 30 Oct 2024
Version:  10
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