iDRAC: Using Virtual Console iDRAC7

You can use the Virtual Console to manage a remote system using the keyboard, video, and mouse on your management station to control the corresponding devices on a managed system.
Note: The Virtual Console feature is available on Monolithic (Rack or Tower) systems with Enterprise Licenses or Modular (Blade) systems with Express or Enterprise Licenses only.

To launch the Virtual Console from the iDRAC7 Web interface:

1. Go to Overview → Server → Properties → Summary and under the Virtual Console Preview section, click Launch.
   Note: If you are using Internet Explorer, you may be prompted to install an ActiveX control. Other browsers require Java. If you prefer to use Java with Internet Explorer, go to Overview → Server → Console, change the Plug-in Type from Native to Java, and then click Apply. When launching Virtual Console, browsers such as Firefox and Chrome may ask for the program to use. Choose Java Web Start Launcher and click OK.
   　
2. If a certificate warning message is displayed, click Run. Acknowledge any other certificate warnings that may be displayed.
   
   The Virtual Console opens and the managed system's console appears regardless of the state or presence of the operating system.
   Use the Macros menu at the top of the Virtual Console for the <Ctrl> + <Alt> + <Del> key combination.

Virtual Console - Using Virtual Media Menu
The devices located on the management station such as CD/DVD drives, USB flash drives, folders, and .iso images can be mounted as virtual media for use by the managed system.
The following example uses a USB flash drive:

1. Connect the USB flash drive to the management station.
2. Launch the Virtual Console.
3. At the top of the Virtual Console Viewer window, select Virtual Media → Launch Virtual Media.
4. If a certificate warning is displayed, click Run.
   The Virtual Media Client View window is displayed that provides a list of devices available for mapping.
5. In the Mapped column, select the box next to the drive letter (Windows management stations), or /dev name (Linux management stations) assigned to the USB flash drive on the management station as shown
   The USB Flash Drive is now mapped, and it can be accessed from the operating system of the managed system.
   Note: On Windows-based managed systems, the drive is auto-mounted and assigned the next available drive letter. On Linux-based managed systems, the device is auto-mounted if the system is in run level 5. If the flash drive is bootable, the managed system can be booted from the flash drive. An example is provided in the Virtual Console - Using Next Boot Menu section.
6. To end the session, click Exit, and then click Yes when prompted.　

Virtual Console - Using the Power Menu
You can use the Power menu available in the Virtual Console Viewer to perform power operations on the managed system. To do this:

1. Launch the Virtual Console.
2. At the top of the Virtual Console Viewer, click Power and select the required option:
   
   Power On System - Turns on the managed system (the equivalent of pressing the physical power switch when the server power is off). This option is disabled if the system is already turned on.

Using Virtual Console — Next Boot Menu
You can use the Next Boot menu available in the Virtual Console Viewer to select the device to boot from as the managed system is being viewed. This feature sets a one-time boot option that overrides the BIOS boot order on the managed system. In addition to the standard local and virtual boot devices, this menu includes options to launch BIOS Setup or the Lifecycle Controller interface on the next boot.
For example, consider a bootable USB flash drive:

• Power Off System - Turns off the managed system.
  
  Graceful Shutdown — Shuts down the operating system and turns off the managed system. Graceful shutdown requires an Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI)-aware operating system, which allows system-directed power management. Ensure that the shutdown option is configured for the operating system before you perform a graceful shutdown using this option. If you use this option without configuring it on the operating system, it reboots the managed system instead of performing a shutdown operation.
  Reset System (warm boot) — Reboots the system without turning it off.
  
  Power Cycle System (cold boot) — Turns off and then reboots the system
   
• When prompted to confirm the action, click OK. The managed system performs the selected power operation.
  1. Launch the Virtual Console from the management station.
  2. Insert a bootable USB flash drive in the management station and map the drive using Virtual Media.
  3. Select Next Boot → Virtual Floppy (the USB flash drive emulates a floppy drive in BIOS in this case)
  4. Click OK when prompted to confirm the selection.
  5. Reboot the managed system using the Power menu.
     The managed system boots into the USB flash drive installed on the management station.
  6. When complete, click Exit, and then click Yes in the Virtual Media Viewer window and close this window.　

Videos related to this topic:

Tutorial on mounting the virtual media using the iDRAC7

Duration: 00:00:54 (hh:mm:ss)
When available, closed caption (subtitles) language settings can be chosen using the CC icon on this video player.

How to deploy an OS using iDRAC7

Duration: 00:01:52 (hh:mm:ss)
When available, closed caption (subtitles) language settings can be chosen using the CC icon on this video player.