Question

DRAC5 configuration and firmware update

Asked by: epitec

Hi,

I believe I have my DRAC cards functional on the servers, but I want to update the firmware and replace the default certificate.

I read the documentation, but I don't understand whether, once the firmware is updated, just the DRAC resets (without affecting the rest of the server) or if it requires a reboot.  It said 'when the DRAC resets' but I don't know what's involved in the DRAC resetting, and what kind of impact it might have.  Is this firmware update something I can do during business hours?

Also, I've been unable to find the most current firmware.  The documentation points to http://support.dell.com, but I looked up PowerEdge 2950 (I assumed it would be there) and I couldn't find the firmware.  Can anyone direct me more specifically to the download?  Is it under the server (where I looked) and they call it something other than DRAC?

As to the certificates, should I just do a self-signed certificate?  Does anyone have a good procedure for doing that, or any better suggestions (working within a budget of "free" of course :)?

TIA for your help!

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Asked On
2008-09-17 at 11:18:55ID23739775
Tags

Dell

,

PowerEdge 2950

,

DRAC5

Topics

Remote Access Software

,

Secure Socket Layer (SSL) & HTTPS

,

Computer Servers

Participating Experts
1
Points
125
Comments
7

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Answers

 

by: Scott1201Posted on 2008-09-17 at 11:32:43ID: 22502071

The DRAC firmware is in the "System Management" section of the Dell support site, once you've entered your service tag.  Here's a general link for the PowerEdge 2950, hopefully the link works: http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/format.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&deviceid=8735&libid=36&releaseid=R182768&vercnt=4&formatcnt=0&SystemID=PWE_2950&servicetag=&os=WNET&osl=en&catid=-1&impid=-1

Can't help much with the rest of the question, sorry!

 

by: epitecPosted on 2008-09-17 at 11:34:35ID: 22502095

Thanks for the quick response!  The link does work, so that helps with part. :)

 

by: epitecPosted on 2008-09-19 at 06:21:17ID: 22520774

Any takers on the certificate question?

 

by: epitecPosted on 2008-09-24 at 12:11:56ID: 22562985

How about the effect of the DRAC reset?  Is the DRAC pretty much doing its own thing, so it won't affect the rest of the server functionality?

 

by: Scott1201Posted on 2008-09-26 at 08:28:16ID: 22580532

Sorry for the delay - I didn't dig up anything definitive on the reset.  Some Linux folks who talk about issuing a reset command to the DRAC from within the OS with no problems, but nothing I'm 100% confident in.  Any chance you could run this by Dell support?  

Re: the certificate, are you trying to replace the default cert with one from your internal organization so the cert will be recognized by your PCs?  Here's a doc from Dell that instead talks about making the Dell cert a trusted one in your domain: http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/software/smdrac3/drac4/1.1/en/UG/racugc5.htm#wp33604

This link is at a different level of the user guide and talks about the reset command.  If you use a certain parameter, an OS reboot is required afterward - that implies, at least to me, that no OS reboot will take place during the reset.  YMMV, of course.
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/software/smdrac3/drac4/1.1/en/UG/racugaa.htm#wp31217

 

by: epitecPosted on 2008-09-26 at 08:41:56ID: 22580685

I hadn't really thought of just trusting the certificate - I guess that's another way to go about it.  Works for me!  Thanks for your help (although now that I see what you came up with, I feel like I probably could have found the same, and I just didn't look long and hard enough ;) - I greatly appreciate it, anyway.

 

by: epitecPosted on 2008-09-26 at 08:50:53ID: 31497444

Thanks again for your help

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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