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IDRAC

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By Muzammil Shaik 10 min read

Dell PowerEdge iDRAC Cheat Sheet

Connecting to iDRAC

Web Interface (GUI)

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# Open your browser and navigate to:
https://<iDRAC_IP_Address>

TIP Always use HTTPS for secure communication. If you encounter certificate warnings, it’s usually due to a self-signed certificate, which is common in homelabs.

SSH (Secure Shell)

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ssh root@<iDRAC_IP_Address>

RACADM Command Line Utility

RACADM (Remote Access Controller Admin) is Dell’s command-line interface for managing iDRAC. It can be run:

  • Remotely via SSH: As shown above, directly on the iDRAC
  • Locally (OS-RACADM): Installed on the server’s operating system to communicate with the iDRAC locally

Login & Help

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racadm -r <idrac-ip> -u root -p calvin getsysinfo      # iDRAC 7 remote login
racadm help                                            # Show RACADM commands
racadm help get                                        # Show get commands
racadm help set                                        # Show set commands

Updating iDRAC Firmware

  1. Download Firmware: Obtain the correct iDRAC firmware file (.d7, .d8, or .d9) from the Dell Support website
  2. Log into iDRAC: Access the iDRAC web interface
  3. Navigate: Go to Maintenance > System Update
  4. Upload: Browse and select the downloaded firmware file
  5. Install: Click “Upload” then “Install” (or “Install and Reboot”)

NOTE iDRAC firmware updates usually do not affect the host server’s operating system, but the iDRAC itself will reboot during the process, temporarily disconnecting your session.

Update via SSH (RACADM CLI)

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# Using a network share (HTTP/HTTPS/FTP/SCP - iDRAC fetches file)
racadm fwupdate -g -u -a <Share_IP> -d <Path_To_Firmware_File_On_Share> -t <Protocol>
# Example:
racadm fwupdate -g -u -a 192.168.1.200 -d /share/iDRAC/firmware/iDRAC_Firmware_3.30.30.30.d9 -t HTTPS

# Using a local file (if OS-RACADM is installed on server)
racadm fwupdate -f <full_path_to_firmware_file.d7>
# Example:
racadm fwupdate -f /tmp/iDRAC_Firmware_2.75.75.75.d7

Update via Lifecycle Controller (LCC)

  1. Reboot Server: During the server’s boot process, press F10 to enter the Lifecycle Controller
  2. Platform Update: Navigate to “Platform Update”
  3. Select Update Source: Choose your update source (e.g., FTP Server, Local Drive, Network Share)
  4. Apply Update: Follow the on-screen prompts to select the desired firmware updates and initiate the installation

Verification

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# Check iDRAC Firmware Version (after a firmware update)
racadm getversion

# Verify Network Settings (after changing network configuration)
racadm getniccfg
# Also, try to ping the iDRAC IP from your management workstation:
ping <iDRAC_IP_Address>

# Check System Health
racadm getsysinfo

# Test Remote Access
# Log in to the iDRAC web interface and establish an SSH session

System Information

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racadm getversion                                      # iDRAC firmware version
racadm getsysinfo                                      # Basic system status
racadm getsysinfo -m                                   # Model and service tag
racadm getled                                          # Get LED status
racadm gettracelog                                     # Get trace log
racadm getsensorinfo                                   # Sensor summary
racadm getsensors                                      # Sensor details
racadm hwinventory                                      # Full hardware inventory
racadm hwinventory NIC                                 # NIC inventory
racadm hwinventory CPU                                 # CPU inventory
racadm hwinventory Memory                              # Memory inventory
racadm get BIOS                                         # BIOS settings summary
racadm get BIOS.SysSecurity                             # BIOS security settings
racadm get iDRAC.IPv4                                   # IPv4 settings
racadm get iDRAC.IPv6                                   # IPv6 settings
racadm get iDRAC.SSH                                    # SSH settings
racadm get iDRAC.WebServer                              # Web server settings
racadm get iDRAC.VirtualConsole                         # Virtual console info
racadm get iDRAC.EmailAlert                             # Email alert settings
racadm get iDRAC.SNMP                                   # SNMP settings
racadm get iDRAC.Syslog                                 # Syslog settings
racadm get iDRAC.Redfish                                # Redfish settings
racadm get iDRAC.ActiveDirectory                        # AD integration settings
racadm set iDRAC.ActiveDirectory.Enable 1                # Enable AD integration
racadm get LifecycleController                          # Lifecycle Controller status
racadm set LifecycleController.LCAttributes.CollectSystemInventoryOnRestart Enabled  # Collect inventory on restart
racadm get System.PSU                                   # PSU status
racadm get System.ThermalSettings                       # Thermal settings
racadm get iDRAC.NTPConfigGroup                         # NTP settings
racadm get RemoteHosts                                  # Remote service hosts

Network

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racadm getniccfg                                       # View network settings
racadm setniccfg -s <IP_Address> <Subnet_Mask> <Gateway> # Configure static IP
racadm config -g cfgNicInfo -o cfgNicDhcpEnable 1      # Enable DHCP
racadm config -g cfgNicInfo -o cfgNicDhcpEnable 0      # Disable DHCP
racadm set iDRAC.IPv4.DNS1 8.8.8.8                     # Set DNS 1
racadm set iDRAC.IPv4.DNS2 8.8.4.4                     # Set DNS 2
racadm set iDRAC.IPv4.Address <ip>                      # Set IPv4 address
racadm set iDRAC.WebServer.HTTPSPort 443               # Set HTTPS port
racadm set iDRAC.SSH.Enable 1                          # Enable SSH
racadm set iDRAC.WebServer.Enable 1                     # Enable web server
racadm set iDRAC.NTPConfigGroup.NTPEnable 1             # Enable NTP

Power Control

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racadm serveraction powerup                             # Power on server
racadm serveraction powerdown                           # Graceful power off
racadm serveraction powercycle                          # Power cycle server
racadm serveraction hardreset                           # Hard reset / reboot
racadm serveraction gracefulshutdown                    # Graceful shutdown (iDRAC 7)
racadm serveraction powerstatus                         # Power state

Reset & Factory Defaults

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racadm racreset                                        # Restart iDRAC
racadm racreset soft                                   # Soft reset
racadm racreset hard                                   # Hard reset
racadm racresetcfg                                     # Factory reset iDRAC

User Management

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racadm get iDRAC.Users                                  # List users
racadm get iDRAC.Users.2                                # View user index 2
racadm set iDRAC.Users.2.UserName admin                 # Rename user
racadm set iDRAC.Users.2.Password Password123           # Set password
racadm config -g cfgUserAdmin -o cfgUserAdminIndex 2 -i 2
racadm config -g cfgUserAdmin -o cfgUserAdminName admin -i 2
racadm config -g cfgUserAdmin -o cfgUserAdminPassword Password123 -i 2
racadm config -g cfgUserAdmin -o cfgUserAdminEnable 1 -i 2
racadm config -g cfgUserAdmin -o cfgUserAdminPrivilege 0x1ff -i 2  # Full admin
racadm config -g cfgUserAdmin -o cfgUserAdminEnable 0 -i 2       # Disable user

Logs & Lifecycle Controller

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racadm getsel                                           # View SEL
racadm clrsel                                           # Clear SEL
racadm lclog view                                       # View Lifecycle Controller log
racadm lclog export                                     # Export Lifecycle Controller log
racadm lclog comment edit                               # Edit Lifecycle Controller comment
racadm techsupreport collect                            # Collect support report

Storage & RAID

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racadm storage get pdisks                               # Physical disks
racadm storage get vdisks                               # Virtual disks
racadm storage get controllers                          # Storage controllers
racadm storage get nvmedrives                           # NVMe drives
racadm raid get controllers                             # RAID controllers
racadm raid get vdisks                                  # RAID virtual disks
racadm raid get pdisks                                  # RAID physical disks

BIOS & Job Queue

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racadm get BIOS                                         # BIOS summary
racadm set BIOS.ProcSettings.LogicalProc Enabled         # Enable logical processors
racadm set BIOS.SysSecurity.SecureBoot Enabled           # Enable Secure Boot
racadm jobqueue view                                    # View job queue
racadm jobqueue delete -i JID_xxxxx                     # Delete specific job
racadm jobqueue delete --all                            # Delete all jobs
racadm jobqueue create BIOS.Setup.1-1                    # Queue BIOS change job

Virtual Media & Console

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racadm remoteimage -c                                    # Connect virtual media
racadm remoteimage -d                                    # Disconnect virtual media
racadm get iDRAC.VirtualConsole                          # Virtual console info
racadm set iDRAC.VirtualConsole.PluginType html5         # Set HTML5 console

Alerts, SNMP & Syslog

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racadm get iDRAC.EmailAlert                              # Email alert config
racadm testemail -i 1                                    # Test email alert
racadm get iDRAC.SNMP                                   # SNMP config
racadm set iDRAC.SNMP.AgentEnable 1                      # Enable SNMP agent
racadm get iDRAC.Syslog                                 # Syslog config
racadm set iDRAC.Syslog.SysLogEnable 1                   # Enable syslog

Redfish & Security

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racadm get iDRAC.Redfish                                 # Redfish status
racadm set iDRAC.Redfish.Enable 1                        # Enable Redfish
racadm sslkeyupload                                      # Upload SSL private key
racadm sslcsrgen                                         # Generate CSR
racadm sslcertupload                                     # Upload SSL certificate
racadm get iDRAC.Security                                # Security settings
racadm set iDRAC.Security.TLSProtocol TLS1.2              # TLS protocol
racadm set iDRAC.Security.LockdownMode Enabled            # Enable lockdown mode
racadm get RemoteHosts                                    # Remote service hosts

Support & Export/Import

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racadm license view                                      # View license status
racadm license import                                    # Import license
racadm supportassist view                                # SupportAssist status
racadm supportassist register                            # Register SupportAssist
racadm supportassist collect                             # Collect SupportAssist data
racadm telemetry help                                     # Telemetry help
racadm telemetry enable                                   # Enable telemetry
racadm telemetry disable                                  # Disable telemetry
racadm systemconfig export                               # Export server profile
racadm systemconfig import                               # Import server profile
racadm rollback                                          # Firmware rollback

Useful Daily Commands

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racadm getsysinfo
racadm getversion
racadm getsel
racadm clrsel
racadm racreset
racadm racresetcfg
racadm serveraction powercycle
racadm serveraction hardreset
racadm hwinventory
racadm getsensors
racadm getsensorinfo
racadm jobqueue view
racadm get BIOS
racadm get iDRAC.IPv4
racadm set iDRAC.IPv4.Address <ip>                      # Set iDRAC IPv4 address
racadm techsupreport collect
racadm lclog view
racadm storage get controllers
racadm storage get pdisks
racadm storage get vdisks

Useful One-Liners

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racadm getsysinfo | findstr /C:"Service"             # Find Service Tag on Windows
racadm getversion                                       # Show firmware versions
racadm serveraction powercycle                          # Reboot server
racadm racreset                                        # Reboot iDRAC only
racadm racresetcfg                                     # Factory reset iDRAC
racadm hwinventory                                      # Show hardware inventory
racadm getsensors                                       # Show all sensors
racadm lclog view                                       # Show Lifecycle Controller logs
racadm storage get vdisks                               # Show RAID virtual disks
racadm storage get pdisks                               # Show physical disks
racadm jobqueue view                                    # Show job queue

Best Practices

  • Change Default Credentials: Immediately change the default root password 
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    # Example for iDRAC 9+ (change existing user's password)
racadm config -g cfgUserAdmin -o cfgUserAdminPassword <new_secure_password> -i 2
  • Dedicated Management Network: Whenever possible, use a dedicated network port for iDRAC 
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    # View shared LOM status
racadm get iDRAC.NICConfig.SharedLOMMode

  • Keep Firmware Updated: Regularly update iDRAC firmware to benefit from new features and security patches

  • Configure SNMP Alerts: Set up SNMP traps to send alerts to a central monitoring system 
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    # Configure SNMP destination (example for iDRAC 7/8/9)
racadm config -g cfgRacTuning -o cfgRacTuneSnmpAlertDestIpAddr 1 <monitoring_server_ip>
racadm config -g cfgRacTuning -o cfgRacTuneSnmpAlertDestPort 1 162
racadm config -g cfgRacTuning -o cfgRacTuneSnmpAlertDestEnable 1 1
racadm config -g cfgRacTuning -o cfgRacTuneSnmpAgentCommunityName <community_string>
  • Enable System Lockdown Mode (iDRAC 9+): Prevents unauthorized configuration changes 
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    # Enable Lockdown Mode
racadm set iDRAC.Security.LockdownMode Enabled
  • Implement Strong Password Policies: Enforce complex passwords and account lockout policies 
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    # View password complexity requirements (iDRAC 9+)
racadm get iDRAC.Security.PasswordComplexity
# Configure password history (example for iDRAC 9+)
racadm set iDRAC.Security.PasswordHistory 5
  • Regular Configuration Backups: Export iDRAC configurations, especially before major changes 
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    racadm configexport -f config.xml -t xml

Troubleshooting

iDRAC Web Interface is Unresponsive or Slow

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# Restart iDRAC Services (Soft Reset)
racadm racreset

Wait a few minutes for iDRAC to come back online.

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# Check iDRAC Network Configuration
racadm getniccfg

# If incorrect, reconfigure using:
racadm setniccfg -s <IP_Address> <Subnet_Mask> <Gateway>

# Verify Network Connectivity
ping <iDRAC_IP_Address>

Server Not Responding to Power Commands

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# Check Server Power Status
racadm serveraction powerstatus

# Perform a Hard Reset (if the OS is completely frozen)
racadm serveraction hardreset

WARNING A hard reset immediately cuts power and can lead to data loss or file system corruption if the OS is not cleanly shut down. Use with extreme caution!

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# Check iDRAC Event Logs
racadm getsel

Unable to Log In via SSH or Web Interface

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# Check User Accounts (if you have other access)
racadm getconfig -g cfgUserAdmin

# Reset iDRAC to Factory Defaults (Last Resort)
racadm racresetcfg

WARNING racadm racresetcfg will reset all iDRAC settings, including network configuration and all user accounts. You will need to reconfigure iDRAC from scratch.

Firmware Update Fails

  • Verify Firmware File Integrity
  • Check iDRAC Version Compatibility
  • Check Available Space
  • Review Lifecycle Controller Logs

Fan Speeds Are High / Noise Issues

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# Check System Temperatures
racadm getsysinfo

# Check Thermal Profile (iDRAC 9+)
racadm get iDRAC.ThermalSettings.ThermalProfile
racadm set iDRAC.ThermalSettings.ThermalProfile "Minimum Power"

References

Cheatsheet
IDRAC Dell PowerEdge RACADM Server Management Homelab Dell Server Firmware Update SSH cheatsheet
This post is licensed under CC BY 4.0 by the author.