Using GUI Virtual Console DRAC6

This section provides information about using the iDRAC6 Virtual Console feature.

Overview

You do not have to sit in front of each server to perform all the routine maintenance. You can instead manage the servers from wherever you are, from your desktop or laptop computer. You can also share the information with others—remotely and instantly.

Using Virtual Console
 

The following rules apply to a Virtual Console session:
 

• A maximum of four simultaneous Virtual Console sessions are supported. All sessions view the same managed server console simultaneously.
   
• From 1.5 release version onwards, multiple sessions to multiple remote servers is possible from the same client, based on the order in which they are opened. If a Virtual Console session using Java plug-in is open, you can open another Virtual Console session using ActiveX plug-in. However, if a ActiveX based Virtual Console session is open, then another Virtual Console session using Java plug-in cannot be opened. You must close the first Virtual Console session to open a second Virtual Console session.
   
• A Virtual Console session should not be launched from a Web browser on the managed system.
• A minimum available network bandwidth of 1 MB/sec is required.
• The first Virtual Console session to the iDRAC6 is a full access session. If a second user requests a Virtual Console session, the first user is notified and is given the option (approve, reject, or allow as read-only) to send a sharing request to the second user. The second user is notified that another user has control. When the first user has not responded for each subsequent user’s sharing request within a timeout of 30 seconds, Virtual Console access is granted based on the value set for the cfgRacTuneVirtualConsoleAuthorizeMultipleSessions object. This object is irrespective of the plug-in type (ActiveX or Java) set to be used in the second/third/fourth session.
   
  NOTE: This rule is applicable only with the remote or firmware (SSH or Telnet) RACADM and not with local RACADM.

  
  Configuring Your Management Station
  
  To use Virtual Console on your management station, perform the following procedures:

   

  1. Install and configure a supported Web browser.
      
  2. If you are using Firefox or want to use the Java Viewer with Internet Explorer, install a Java Runtime Environment (JRE). If you use the Internet Explorer browser, an ActiveX control is provided for the console viewer. You can also use the Java console viewer with Firefox if you install a JRE and configure the console viewer in iDRAC6 Web interface before you launch the viewer.
      
  3. If you are using Internet Explorer (IE), ensure that the browser is enabled to download encrypted content as follows:
      
  4. Go to Internet Explorer Options or Settings and select Tools® Internet Options® Advanced.
  5. Scroll to Security and clear this option: Do not save encrypted pages to disk
      
  6. If you are using Internet Explorer to launch a Virtual Console session with Active-X plug-in, ensure that you have added the iDRAC6 IP or hostname to the Trusted Sites list. You should also reset the custom settings to Medium-low or change the settings to allow installation of signed Active-X plug-ins.
     NOTE: 64-bit ActiveX plug-in is not supported to launch a Virtual Console session using Internet Explorer.
  7. It is recommended that you configure your monitor display resolution to 1280x1024 pixels or higher.
     NOTE: If your system is running a Linux operating system, an X11 console may not be viewable on the local monitor. Press at the iDRAC6 Virtual Console to switch Linux to a text console.
     NOTE: Occasionally, you may encounter the following Java Script Compilation Error: "Expected: ;". To resolve this issue, adjust the network settings to use Direct connection in JavaWebStart: Edit® Preferences® General® Network Settings and choose Direct Connection instead of Use browser settings.

  Clear Your Browser’s Cache 
  
  If you have issues when operating the Virtual Console, (out of range errors, synchronization issues, and so on) clear the browser’s cache to remove or delete any old versions of the viewer that may be stored on the system and try again.
   

  NOTE: You must have administrator privilege to clear the browser’s cache.

  
  To clear older versions of Active-X viewer for IE7, do the following:

   

  1. Close the Video Viewer and Internet Explorer browser.
  2. Open the Internet Explorer browser again and go to Internet Explorer® Tools® Manage Add-ons and click Enable or Disable Add-ons. The Manage Add-ons window is displayed.
      
  3. Select Add-ons that have been used by Internet Explorer from the Show drop-down menu.
      
  4. Delete the Video Viewer add-on.

  To clear older versions of Active-X viewer for IE8, do the following:

  1. Close the Video Viewer and Internet Explorer browser.
  2. Open the Internet Explorer browser again and go to Internet Explorer® Tools® Manage Add-ons and click Enable or Disable Add-ons. The Manage Add-ons window is displayed.
  3. Select All Add-ons from the Show drop-down menu.
  4. Select the Video Viewer add-on and click the More Information link.
  5. Select Remove from the More Information window.
  6. Close the More Information and the Manage Add-ons windows.

  To clear older versions of Java viewer in Windows or Linux, do the following:

  1. At the command prompt, run javaws-viewer or javaws-uninstall
  2. The Java Cache viewer is displayed.
  3. Delete the items titled iDRAC6 Virtual Console Client.

  
   

  Internet Explorer Browser Configurations for ActiveX based Virtual Console and Virtual Media ApplicationsThis section provides information about the Internet Explorer browser settings required to launch and run ActiveX based Virtual Console and Virtual Media applications.
   

  NOTE: Clear the browser’s cache and then perform the browser configuration settings.

  
  Common Settings for Microsoft Windows Operating Systems

   

  1. In Internet Explorer, go to Tools® Internet Options® Security tab.
  2. Select the Zone you want to use to run the application.
  3. Click Custom. If you are using Internet Explorer 8, click Custom level.
     The Security Settings window is displayed.
  4. Under ActiveX controls and plug-ins:
  5. Select the Prompt option for Download signed ActiveX controls
  6. Select the Enable or Prompt option for Run ActiveX controls and plugins
  7. Select the Enable or Prompt option for Script ActiveX controls marked safe for scripting
  8. Click OK and again click OK.

  
   

  Additional Settings for Windows Vista or Newer Microsoft Operating SystemsThe Internet Explorer browsers in Windows Vista or newer operating systems have an additional security feature called ‘Protected Mode’. You can launch and run ActiveX applications in Internet Explorer browsers with ‘Protected Mode’ in one of the following ways:
   

• Go to Program Files® Internet Explorer. Right-click iexplore.exe and click Run as administrator.
• Add the iDRAC IP address to the Trusted Sites. To do this:

   

  1. In Internet Explorer, go to Tools® Internet Options® Security® Trusted Sites.
      
  2. Ensure that the Enable Protected Mode option is not selected for Trusted Sites zone. Alternatively, you can add the iDRAC address to sites in the Intranet zone. By default, protected mode is turned off for sites in Intranet Zone and Trusted Sites zone.
      
  3. Click Sites.
      
  4. In the Add this website to the zone field, add the address of your iDRAC and click Add.
      
  5. Click Close and then click OK.
      
  6. Close and restart the browser for the settings to take effect.

  
   

  Supported Screen Resolutions and Refresh RatesScreen Resolution / Refresh Rate (Hz)
  
  720x400 / 70
  640x480 / 60, 72, 75, 85
  800x600 / 60, 70, 72, 75, 85
  1024x768 / 60, 70, 72, 75, 85
  1280x1024 / 60
  
  Configuring Virtual Console in the iDRAC6 Web Interface
  
  To configure Virtual Console in the iDRAC6 Web interface, perform the following steps:

   

  1. Click System® Console/Media® Configuration to configure iDRAC6 Virtual Console settings.
      
  2. Configure the Virtual Console properties. Table 9-2 describes the settings for Virtual Console.
      
  3. When completed, click Apply to save the new settings. Opening a Virtual Console Session

  Opening a Virtual Console Session
  
  When you open a Virtual Console session, the Dell Virtual Console Viewer Application starts and the remote system’s desktop is displayed in the viewer. Using the Virtual Console Viewer Application, you can control the remote system’s mouse and keyboard functions from your local management station.
   

  NOTE: Virtual Console launch from a Windows Vista management station may lead to Virtual Console restart messages. To avoid this, set the appropriate timeout values in the following locations: Control PanelPower OptionsPower Saver® Advanced Settings® Hard Disk® Turnoff Hard Disk After and in the Control Panel® Power Options® High–Performance® Advanced Settings® Hard Disk® Turnoff Hard Disk After .

  
  To open a Virtual Console session in the Web interface, perform the following steps:

   

  1. Click System® Console/Media® Virtual Console and Virtual Media.
  2. Use the information in Table 9-3 to ensure that a Virtual Console session is available.
  3. If a Virtual Console session is available, click Launch Virtual Console on the Virtual Console and Virtual Media page.
     NOTE: Multiple message boxes may appear after you launch the application. To prevent unauthorized access to the application, navigate through these message boxes within three minutes. Otherwise, you will be prompted to relaunch the application.
     NOTE: If one or more Security Alert windows appear in the following steps, read the information in the window and click Yes to continue. The management station connects to the iDRAC6 and the remote system’s desktop is displayed in the iDRAC6 Virtual Console Viewer Application.
     
      
  4. Two mouse pointers appear in the viewer window: one for the remote system and one for your local system. You can change to a single cursor by selecting the Single Cursor option under Tools in the iDRAC6 Virtual