Dell OpenManage Baseboard Management Controller User Manual

Dell OpenManage Baseboard

Management Controller

Utilities 4.3

User’s Guide

Notes and Cautions

NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your computer.

CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates potential damage to hardware or loss of data if instructions are not followed.

____________________

Information in this publication is subject to change without notice. © 2010 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.

Reproduction of these materials in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc. is strictly forbidden.

Trademarks used in this text: Dell™, the DELL™ logo, OpenManage™, PowerVault™, PowerConnect™, and PowerEdge™ are trademarks of Dell Inc. Microsoft®, Windows®, Windows Server®, and MS-DOS® are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Red Hat® and Red Hat Enterprise Linux® are registered trademarks of Red Hat, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. SUSE™ is a registered trademark of Novell, Inc. Intel® is a registered trademark of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. UNIX® is a registered trademark of The Open Group.

Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this publication to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products. Dell Inc. disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own.

July 2010

Contents

1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	9
Supported Systems and Operating Systems. . . . . . .	10
BMC Configuration and Management Tasks . . . . . .	10
Configuring the BMC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	10
Managing the System Using BMC . . . . . . . . .	11
BMC Action on Event . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	13
Basic BMC Alerting Over a LAN . . . . . . . . . .	13
IPMI Shell Over a LAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	14
IPMI Shell Over the Serial Cable . . . . . . . . . .	16
SOL Proxy Over a LAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	18
BMC Configuration and Management Tools . . . . . .	20
Using the Remote Access Configuration Utility	20
in x9xx systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using Deployment Toolkit. . . . . . . . . . . . . .	20
Using the BMC Management Utility . . . . . . . .	20
Using Server Administrator. . . . . . . . . . . . .	21
Other Dell Documents You May Need. . . . . . . . . .	21
Obtaining Technical Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . .	23

2 Configuring Your Managed System . . . . .	25
BIOS Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	25
Configuring System BIOS in Dell	26
PowerEdge x8xx/x9xx Systems . . . . . . . . . . .
Contents			3

Configuring System BIOS in Dell
PowerEdge x9xx and xx0x Systems. . . . . . . . .	27
Configuring System BIOS in Dell
PowerEdge xx1x Systems. . . . . . . . . . . . . .	29
Using BIOS Console Redirection
With SOL Proxy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	30
Baseboard Management Controller Configuration . . .	31
Entering the Remote Access Configuration	32
Utility in x9xx systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Remote Access Configuration Utility Options . . .	32
Configuring Your BMC Using the Deployment	40
Toolkit Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Installation and Setup for Microsoft Windows	40
PE Operating Systems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Creating a Bootable Windows PE 2005
ISO Image . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	41
Creating a Bootable Windows PE 2.0
ISO Image . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	43
Installation and Setup for Linux Operating
Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	44
Basic configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	45
Configuring Your BMC Using Server Administrator. . .	48
Using Dell Remote Access Controller 5 . . . . . .	49

3 Using the BMC Management Utility . . . 51

Installing the BMC Management Utility . . . . . . . . .	52
Installation Prerequisites . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	53
Installation Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	53
Installing on Systems Running Supported	54
Windows Operating Systems . . . . . . . . . . . .
Uninstalling on Systems Running Supported
Windows Operating Systems . . . . . . . . . . . .	55

4 Contents

Installing on Systems Running Supported
Linux Enterprise Operating Systems . . . . . . . .	56
Uninstalling on Systems Running Supported
Linux Enterprise Operating Systems . . . . . . . .	57
IPMI Shell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	57
Using IPMI Shell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	59
IPMI Shell Command Syntax . . . . . . . . . . . .	59
IPMI Shell Global Options . . . . . . . . . . . . .	60
IPMI Shell Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	66
SOL Proxy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	78
Using SOL Proxy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	81
Using SOL proxy in command mode . . . . . . . .	91
Configuring the SOL Proxy Configuration File . . .	93
IPMItool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	96
IPMItool Command for Dynamic Entry on the	102
DNS Server When DRAC is Not Present . . . . . .

4Known Issues and Frequently Asked

Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109

Known Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	109
General Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	109
SOL Proxy Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	109
IPMI Shell Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	110
Frequently Asked Questions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	110

Contents 5

A BMC Management Utility Error

Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	113
B Terminal Mode Commands . . . . . . . . . .	117
Configuring Terminal Mode . . . . . . . . . . . .	117
Using Terminal Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	118
Security Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	118
Syntax . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	119
Command Length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	119
Character Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	119
Hex-ASCII Command Format. . . . . . . . . . . . . .	120
Text Command Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	120
Examples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	121

CEscape Key Sequences . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129

DSerial Port Console Redirection . . . . . . 131

Serial Communication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	131
Console Redirection Via COM1 . . . . . . . . . .	131
Console Redirection Via COM2 . . . . . . . . . .	131
Serial Terminal Communication to
BMC or DRAC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	132
SPCR Table . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .	132
Serial Console redirection With SOL Proxy . . . . . .	133
Configuring Linux for Serial Redirection	133
During Boot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Enabling Login to the Console After Boot. . . . .	135

6 Contents

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139

Contents 7

8 Contents

1

Introduction

The Dell systems’ Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) monitors the system for critical events by communicating with various sensors on the system board and sends alerts and logs events when certain parameters exceed their preset thresholds. The BMC supports the industry-standard Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) specification, enabling you to configure, monitor, and recover systems remotely. The BMC provides the following features:

•Access through the system’s serial port and integrated NIC

•Fault logging and SNMP alerting

•Access to the system event log (SEL) and sensor status

•Control of system functions including power on and power off

•Support that is independent of the system’s power or operating state

•Text console redirection for system setup, text-based utilities, and operating system consoles

•Access to Linux Enterprise server serial console interfaces by using Serial over LAN (SOL).

Dell provides several distinct utilities and programs for accessing the BMC to perform management activities. The following BMC interfaces allow you to configure and manage your system through the BMC:

•The BMC Management Utility allows remote, out-of-band LAN and/or serial port power control, event log access, and console redirection.

•The Remote Access Configuration Utility in x9xx systems enables configuring BMC in a pre-operating system environment.

•The Dell OpenManage Deployment Toolkit SYSCFG utility provides a powerful command line configuration tool.

•Dell OpenManage Server Administrator allows remote, in-band access to event logs, power control, and sensor status information and provides the ability to configure the BMC.

•Command Line Interface (CLI) tools provide a command line tool for sensor status information, System Event Log (SEL) access, and power control.

Introduction 9

Additionally, the BMC can be accessed by standard, off-the-shelf terminal or terminal emulator utilities that allow access to sensor status information and power control.

Supported Systems and Operating Systems

BMC Management Utility supports new Dell systems running supported Microsoft Windows and Linux systems by implementing the new IPMItool commands to monitor your system’s power, view, and set the LCD status.

For the complete list of supported systems and operating systems, see the readme.txt file in the root installation folder, or the Dell Systems Software Support Matrix available on the Dell Support website at support.dell.com/manuals.

NOTE: All references in this document to x9xx systems also apply to the PowerVault NX1950, PowerVault 500, and PowerVault 600 systems. All references to the PowerEdge 840 system also apply to the PowerVault 100 system.

NOTE: The new power monitoring features are not supported on IPMIsh and SOLProxy.

BMC Configuration and Management Tasks

The following sections document the basic tasks needed to set up and configure the BMC on a managed system in preparation for using the BMC Management Utility. These basic tasks are:

•Configuring the BMC

•Managing the BMC

Configuring the BMC

To configure the BMC on a managed system in a pre-boot environment, you can use:

•Dell Deployment Toolkit (DTK)

•Remote Access Configuration Utility in x9xx systems

NOTE: The Remote Access Configuration Utility is called the BMC Setup Module in Dell PowerEdge x8xx systems, iDRAC Configuration Utility in xx0x systems, and iDRAC6 Configuration Utility in xx1x systems.

10 Introduction

•Dell Remote Access Controller (DRAC) 5 graphical user interface (GUI)

•iDRAC6 Enterprise graphical user interface (GUI)

•Command Line Interface (CLI)

from a management station depending on the scope of your required configuration tasks. Alternately, you can configure the BMC on a managed system with a running operating system using the Server Administrator home page GUI or CLI. See "Baseboard Management Controller Configuration" on page 31 for more information.

Managing the System Using BMC

To manage the BMC in a pre-boot environment, or to access the BMC of a system, you can use the BMC Management Utility. See "Using the BMC Management Utility" on page 51. To configure the BMC on a system with a running operating system or to perform everyday BMC management tasks, you can use the GUI on the Server Administrator home page. See the Server Administrator User’s Guide for more information about using Server Administrator to manage your system’s BMC functions. Figure 1-1 shows the configuration matrix for BMC.

Introduction 11

Figure 1-1. BMC Configuration Matrix

12 Introduction

BMC Action on Event

If you plan to use your system’s BMC to perform actions when events occur, you must follow the BMC Action on Event configuration guidelines listed in Table 1-1.

Table 1-1. BMC Action on Event Configuration Guidelines

Features	Connection	BMC Configuration	Basic	Management
	Medium	Tools	Configuration	Tools
			Tasks
• System	LAN	• Deployment Toolkit	• Enable	NA
Reset		(pre-operating system	platform
• System		environment)	events
Power Off		• Server Administrator	• Enable alert
• System			actions
Power
Cycle

Basic BMC Alerting Over a LAN

If you plan to use your system’s BMC to send alerts (Platform Event Traps), you must follow the BMC configuration guidelines listed in Table 1-2.

NOTE: The LAN-sharing depends on the NIC selection configuration option.

The available options are Shared and Failover. If you are using iDRAC6 Enterprise, the additional option available is Dedicated. See the NIC Selection option in the table in "Remote Access Configuration Utility Options" on page 32 for more information on Shared, Failover, and Dedicated.

Introduction 13

Table 1-2. BMC LAN Alerting Configuration Guidelines

Features	Connection	BMC Configuration	Basic Configuration	Management
	Medium	Tools	Tasks	Tools

Platform	LAN	• Remote Access
Event Alerts		Configuration
(SNMP		Utility in x9xx
Traps)		systems
		(pre-operating
		system
		environment)
		• Deployment
		Toolkit
		(pre-operating
		system
		environment)
		• Server
		Administrator

1 Configure NIC	IT Assistant
Selection to
select Shared,
Failover, or
Dedicated

NOTE: This option is available only on Dell PowerEdge

x9xx, xx0x, and xx1x systems.

2 Configure the IP address, Subnet mask, and Gateway on the managed system

3 Configure the VLAN (optional)

4 Enable alerting

5 Configure the Alert destination IP address

6 Configure the

Host Name (optional)

IPMI Shell Over a LAN

Table 1-3 lists the actions you can perform, if you plan to use the BMC Management Utility’s IPMI Shell or IPMItool to access your system’s BMC over a LAN.

14 Introduction

Table 1-3. BMC LAN Access Configuration Guidelines

Features	Connection	BMC Configuration	Basic Configuration	Management
	Medium	Tools	Tasks	Tools

•Remote SEL LAN access

•Power control

•System identification

•Sensor information

•Remote Access Configuration Utility in x9xx systems (pre-operating system environment)

•Deployment Toolkit (pre-operating system environment)

•Server Administrator

1 Enable IPMI over IPMI Shell LAN on the

managed system

2 Configure NIC selection to select Shared, Failover, or Dedicated

NOTE: This option is available only on Dell PowerEdge

x9xx, xx0x, and xx1x systems.

3 Configure the IP address, Subnet mask, and Gateway on the managed system

4 Configure IPMI encryption key (optional)

NOTE: This option is available only on Dell PowerEdge

x9xx, xx0x, and xx1x systems.

5 Configure VLAN (optional)

6 Configure BMC users

Introduction 15

IPMI Shell Over the Serial Cable

If you plan to use the BMC Management Utility’s IPMI Shell to access your system’s BMC over a serial cable, you must follow the BMC configuration guidelines listed in Table 1-4.

NOTE: Console redirection does not apply to BMC when using the serial interface.

Table 1-4. BMC Serial Configuration Guidelines

	Features	Connection	BMC Configuration	Basic	Management
		Medium	Tools	Configuration	Tools
				Tasks
	• Interactive	Accessed	• BIOS	1 Configure Serial	• IPMI Shell
	mode	through	(pre-operating	Port 1 to BMC	(Basic
	• Remote SEL	the serial	system	Serial	mode)
		channel by	environment)	NOTE: This
	access				• Terminal
		using a
	• Power control		• Deployment	option is	emulation
		null
			Toolkit	available only	(Terminal
	• System	modem
			(pre-operating	on Dell	mode
	identification	cable
			system	PowerEdge	only)
	• System		environment)	x8xx systems.
	information		• Server	2 Configure
	• Access the		Administrator	External Serial
	BMC of the		(to enable BMC	Connector to
	remote system		serial only)	Remote Access
				NOTE: This
				option is
				available only
				on Dell
				PowerEdge
				x9xx, xx0x, and
				xx1x systems.

16 Introduction

Table 1-4. BMC Serial Configuration Guidelines (continued)

Features	Connection	BMC Configuration	Basic	Management
	Medium	Tools	Configuration	Tools
			Tasks

	• System	3 Set Serial baud
	information	rate to match
	• Access the	the rate to be
		used by the
	BMC of the
		management
	remote system
		tool
		4 Set BMC Serial
		Connection
		Mode to Basic
		for IPMI Shell
		or Terminal for
		Terminal
		emulation
		5 Configure BMC
		users

Introduction 17

SOL Proxy Over a LAN

If you plan to use the BMC Management Utility’s SOL Proxy to access your system’s console over a LAN, you must follow the BMC configuration guidelines listed in Table 1-5.

Table 1-5. BMC SOL Configuration Guidelines

Features	Connection	BMC Configuration	Basic Configuration	Management
	Medium	Tools	Tasks	Tools

•Text Utility LAN console redirection

•Remote BIOS setup

•Microsoft text console redirection

•Linux text console redirection

•BIOS (pre-operating system environment)

•Remote Access Configuration Utility in x9xx systems (pre-operating system environment)

•Deployment Toolkit (pre-operating system environment)

•Server Administrator

1 Configure Serial Port 1 to BMC NIC

NOTE: This option is available only on Dell PowerEdge x8xx systems.

2 Configure BIOS console redirection to Serial Port 1.

NOTE: This option is available only on Dell PowerEdge x9xx systems.

3Configure Console Redirection to On with Console Redirection via COM2

NOTE: This option is available only on Dell PowerEdge x9xx, xx0x, and xx1x systems.

•SOL Proxy

•IPMI Shell

18 Introduction

Table 1-5. BMC SOL Configuration Guidelines (continued)

Features	Connection	BMC Configuration	Basic Configuration	Management
	Medium	Tools	Tasks	Tools
• Force a			4 Configure other
reboot on a			Console
remote			Redirection
system and			parameters, such
activate			as baud rate,
console			emulation type,
redirection			and so on.
• Access			5 Enable IPMI over
BMC of the			LAN on the
remote			managed system
system			6 Configure the
			IP address,
			Subnet mask, and
			Gateway on the
			managed system
			7 Configure IPMI
			encryption key
			(optional)
			NOTE: This
			option is available
			only on Dell
			PowerEdge x9xx,
			xx0x, and xx1x
			systems.
			8 Configure VLAN
			(optional)
			9 Configure BMC
			users

Introduction 19

BMC Configuration and Management Tools

Using the Remote Access Configuration Utility in x9xx systems

The Remote Access Configuration Utility in x9xx systems provides basic BMC setup and configuration functions that can be accessed during system boot. Use the utility for initial BMC setup and configuration only.

For advanced configuration tasks, you must use the Deployment Toolkit SYSCFG utility or Server Administrator Version 2.0 or later.

NOTE: The Remote Access Configuration Utility is called the BMC Setup Module in Dell PowerEdge x8xx systems, iDRAC Configuration Utility in xx0x systems, and iDRAC6 Configuration Utility in xx1x systems.

Using Deployment Toolkit

The Deployment Toolkit (DTK) SYSCFG utility provides a powerful Microsoft Windows Preinstallation Environment (PE) and Linux command-line interface for locally configuring your system’s BMC as part of an initial deployment. Use the DTK SYSCFG utility to set all supported BMC features. Additionally, you can use the Deployment Toolkit utilities to capture and replicate system settings on similar systems. See "Configuring Your BMC Using the Deployment Toolkit Utility" on page 40 for more information on how to install and set up the DTK SYSCFG utility.

Using the BMC Management Utility

The BMC Management Utility provides a command-line interface to your remote management station to manage BMC-supported functions. Use the BMC Management Utility to manage your BMC from a remote management station and as your managed system’s emergency management console.

The utility gives you the option of using either a command line interface (IPMI Shell) or a SOL Proxy to access and manage the BMC. To use the BMC Management Utility, you must perform the following tasks:

•Configure BMC using the Remote Access Configuration Utility in x9xx systems, the DTK SYSCFG utility, or Server Administrator.

•Install the BMC Management Utility on a management station.

See "Configuring Your Managed System" on page 25 for instructions on configuring the BMC on a managed system in preparation for using the BMC Management Utility.

20 Introduction

Using Server Administrator

The Server Administrator provides a convenient and easy-to-use GUI for remotely configuring or managing your system’s BMC on a system running a supported operating system. You can use the Server Administrator to configure the most relevant BMC features, such as Platform Event Filter (PEF) parameters and alert destinations. Additionally, Server Administrator can be used as a command line interface. Server Administrator requires that the system has an operating system installed and functioning. As a result, Server Administrator is best suited for everyday BMC management tasks, and is not an option for performing pre-boot setup or accessing the BMC as an emergency management console. To use Server Administrator, you must perform the following tasks:

•Install Server Administrator on the managed system.

•Access the Server Administrator home page remotely or locally from a supported browser on a management station.

•Configure BMC remotely or locally on the managed system.

See the Dell OpenManage Server Administrator User’s Guide and Command line Interface User’s Guide on the Dell Support website at support.dell.com/manuals for more information about using Server Administrator to configure and manage your system BMC.

Other Documents You May Need

In addition to this guide, you can access the following guides available on the Dell Support website at support.dell.com/manuals. On the Manuals page, click Software Systems Management. Click on the appropriate product link on the right-side to access the documents.

•The Dell OpenManage Software Quick Installation Guide provides an overview of applications that you can install on your management station (console) and on your managed systems and procedures for installing your console and managed system applications on systems running supported operating systems.

•The Dell OpenManage Server Administrator User’s Guide provides additional information about using Server Administrator to manage your system’s BMC.

Introduction 21

•The Dell OpenManage Deployment Toolkit User’s Guide provides additional information about installing and using the DTK utilities.

•The Dell OpenManage Deployment Toolkit Command Line Interface Reference Guide provides a complete list of all valid BMC-related command-line options, suboptions, and arguments.

•The Dell OpenManage IT Assistant User’s Guide provides information about how to monitor and manage a large number of client and server systems on a local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN).

•The Dell Remote Access Controller 5 User’s Guide provides complete information about installing and configuring a DRAC 5 and using DRAC 5 to remotely access an inoperable system.

•The Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller User’s Guide provides detailed information on configuring and using the iDRAC.

•The Dell Systems Software Support Matrix provides information about the various Dell systems, the operating systems supported by these systems, and the Dell OpenManage components that can be installed on these systems.

•The Dell system User’s Guide provides supplemental information about configuring your BIOS settings with the System Setup Program, as well as instructions for configuring your system to use console redirection.

•The Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller 6 (iDRAC6) Enterprise for Blade Servers User Guide provides information about configuring and using an iDRAC6 for blade servers to remotely manage and monitor your system and its shared resources through a network.

•The Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller 6 (iDRAC6) User Guide provides complete information about configuring and using an iDRAC6 for tower and rack servers to remotely manage and monitor your system and its shared resources through a network.

•The iDRAC Administrator Reference Guide provides information about the RACADM subcommands, supported interfaces, and iDRAC6 property database groups and object definitions.

•The Glossary provides information about the terms used in this document.

22 Introduction

Additionally, the Dell OpenManage readme.txt file provides the latest available information for the installation and operation of the programs and utilities used to manage your system through the BMC. The readme is available on the Dell Systems Management Tools and Documentation DVD and on the Dell Support website at support.dell.com/manuals.

Obtaining Technical Assistance

If at any time you do not understand a procedure described in this guide or if your product does not perform as expected, help tools are available to assist you. For more information about these help tools, see "Getting Help" in your system's Installation and Troubleshooting Guide or the Hardware Owner’s Manual.

Additionally, Dell Enterprise Training and Certification is available; see www.dell.com/training for more information. This service may not be offered in all locations.

Introduction 23

24 Introduction

2

Configuring Your Managed System

Before using the BMC Management Utility, configure certain items, such as the necessary system BIOS, network, Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) encryption key, and serial connection settings, depending on the functionality to be performed, to enable access to the BMC.

NOTE: The IPMI encryption key is a public key that is used to generate an encryption key for use between the firmware and the application.

In addition, to utilize the BMC Management Utility IPMI serial functions, you must have a working connection between the management station and the correct serial I/O port of the target BMC, using a null modem cable.

This section describes the basic procedures you must perform to prepare your BMC to be accessed and managed using the BMC Management Utility. The following procedures are described:

•BIOS Configuration

•Baseboard Management Controller Configuration

•Configuring your BMC with the Dell OpenManage Deployment ToolKit (DTK) SYSCFG utility

•Configuring your BMC with Dell OpenManage Server Administrator

BIOS Configuration

For most configurations, you must configure the serial port settings and the console redirection settings in your system BIOS before you can use the BMC Management Utility. To configure the necessary system BIOS setting, your must enter the System Setup Program. The BIOS settings can also be configured using the Deployment Toolkit or the Server Administrator.

NOTE: For more information about configuring BIOS settings, see your system

User’s Guide.

Configuring Your Managed System		25

Configuring System BIOS in Dell PowerEdge x8xx/x9xx Systems

1Turn on or restart your system.

2Press <F2> immediately after you see the following message:

<F2> = Setup

The System Setup screen appears.

NOTE: If the operating system begins to load before you press <F2>, allow your system to boot, and then restart your system, and try again.

3Use the upand down- arrow keys to navigate to the Integrated Devices field and press <Enter>.

4Use the upand downarrow keys to navigate to the Serial Port 1 field and press <Enter>.

5Use the space bar to select the serial port option.

The options are COM1, COM3, BMC Serial, BMC NIC, Off, and RAC

(if an optional RAC is installed in the system).

To use BMC, serial port 1 uses the COM1 address and communication can be through the serial port or the integrated shared NIC. RAC control uses only the COM1 address. Off and COM3 are not available options when Console Redirection is set to use serial port 1.

a Select BMC Serial if you are planning to access the BMC through the serial cable connection.

b Select BMC NIC if you are using SOL proxy and are planning to access the BMC over a shared LAN.

6Press <Enter> to return to the System Setup screen.

7Use the upand downarrow keys to navigate to the Console Redirection field and press <Enter>.

8Use the upand downarrow keys to navigate to the Console Redirection option and then use the space bar to set the console redirection feature to

Serial Port 1. Optionally, you can also enable Redirection after Boot.

9Use the upand downarrow keys to navigate to the Failsafe Baud Rate option and then use the space bar to set the console failsafe baud rate, if applicable.

26		Configuring Your Managed System

10Use the upand downarrow keys to navigate to the Remote Terminal Type option and then use the space bar to select either VT 100/VT 200 or ANSI, if applicable.

11Press <Enter> to return to the System Setup screen.

12Press <Esc> to exit the System Setup program. The Exit screen displays the following options:

•Save Changes and Exit

•Discard Changes and Exit

•Return to Setup

13Choose the appropriate option and exit the system setup.

Configuring System BIOS in Dell PowerEdge x9xx and xx0x Systems

1Turn on and restart your system.

2Press <F2> immediately after you see the following message:

<F2> = Setup

The System Setup screen appears.

NOTE: If the operating system begins to load before you press <F2>, allow your system to boot, and then restart your system, and try again.

3Use the upand downarrow keys to navigate to the Serial Communication field and press <Enter>.

4Use the spacebar to select the appropriate serial communication option.

5Press <Enter> to select the appropriate option for Console Redirection. The following options are available:

On without Console Redirection: COM1 and COM2 are enabled and available for use by the operating system or applications. Console redirection is disabled. This is the default option.

On with Console Redirection via COM1: When BIOS console redirection is enabled through COM1, the COM1 port is not available to applications through the operating system.

On with Console Redirection via COM2: When BIOS console redirection is enabled through COM2, the COM2 port is not available to applications through the operating system.

Configuring Your Managed System		27

Off: COM1 and COM2 are both disabled and not available for use by the operating system or applications. BIOS Console redirection is disabled.

NOTE: Select On with Console Redirection via COM2 to use Console Redirection with SOL.

6Use the upand downarrow keys to navigate to the External Serial Communication field and press <Enter>.

7Use the spacebar to select the appropriate external serial communication option.

The available options are COM1, COM2, and Remote Access. The default option is COM1.

NOTE: Select Remote Access to access the BMC through the serial cable connection. This option can be set to any value for using SOL and accessing the BMC over LAN.

8Press <Enter> to select.

9If required, use the spacebar to navigate to and change the settings for

Redirection after Boot.

10Use the upand downarrow keys to navigate to the Failsafe Baud Rate option and then use the space bar to set the console failsafe baud rate, if applicable.

11Use the upand downarrow keys navigate to the Remote Terminal Type option and then use the space bar to select either VT 100/VT 200 or ANSI, if applicable.

12Press <Enter> to return to the System Setup screen.

13Press <Esc> to exit the System Setup program. The Exit screen displays the following options:

•Save Changes and Exit

•Discard Changes and Exit

•Return to Setup

NOTE: For most options, any changes that you make are recorded but do not take effect until you restart the system.

NOTE: Press <F1> to display the help file for the System Setup program.

28		Configuring Your Managed System

Configuring System BIOS in Dell PowerEdge xx1x Systems

1Turn on and restart your system.

2Press <F2> immediately after you see the following message:

<F2> = Setup

The System Setup screen displays.

NOTE: If the operating system begins to load before you press <F2>, allow your system to boot, and then restart your system, and try again.

3Use the upand downarrow keys to navigate to the Serial Communication field and press <Enter>.

4Use the spacebar to select the appropriate serial communication option.

5Press <Enter> to select the appropriate option for Console Redirection. The following options are available:

On without Console Redirection: COM1 and COM2 are enabled and available for use by the operating system or applications. Console redirection is disabled. This is the default option.

On with Console Redirection via COM1: When BIOS console redirection is enabled through COM1, the COM1 port is not available to applications through the operating system.

On with Console Redirection via COM2: When BIOS console redirection is enabled through COM2, the COM2 port is not available to applications through the operating system.

Off: COM1 and COM2 are both disabled and not available for use by the operating system or applications. BIOS Console redirection is disabled.

NOTE: Select On with Console Redirection via COM2 to use Console Redirection with SOL.

6Use the upand downarrow keys to navigate to the Serial Port Address Selection field to select COM1 or COM2.

7Use the upand downarrow keys to navigate to the appropriate External Serial Connector option.

The available options are SerialDevice1, SerialDevice2, and Remote

Access Device.

NOTE: Use only SerialDevice2 for SOL.

Configuring Your Managed System		29

8Use the upand downarrow keys to navigate to the Failsafe Baud Rate option and then use the space bar to set the console failsafe baud rate, if applicable.

9Use the upand downarrow keys to navigate to the Remote Terminal Type option and then use the space bar to select either VT 100/VT 220 or ANSI, if applicable.

10Use the upand downarrow keys to navigate to and change the settings for Redirection After Boot.

11Press <Enter> to return to the System Setup screen.

12Press <Esc> to exit the System Setup program. The Exit screen displays the following options:

•Save Changes and Exit

•Discard Changes and Exit

•Return to Setup

NOTE: For most options, any changes that you make are recorded but do not take effect until you restart your system.

NOTE: Press <F1> to display the help file for the System Setup program.

Using BIOS Console Redirection With SOL Proxy

Console redirection allows maintenance of a system from a remote location by redirecting keyboard input and output through the serial port. Any console-based feature or operating system can then be used to access the server. DR-DOS, Linux (init 3) and Windows Special Administrative Console (SAC) are examples of operating systems and consoles that can be used to access the server.

By default, some operating systems, such as Windows Server 2003, are automatically configured to send text console output to the BIOS. Manual configuration of the Redirection after Boot feature through the system BIOS may not be visible to the operating system. This results in both, the operating system feature and the BIOS redirection feature, being enabled. Depending on the operating system and its setup, the results may vary. Dell recommends the following steps as good practice:

DR-DOS: Do not configure DR-DOS for serial console output. Enable console redirection after reboot in system BIOS.

30		Configuring Your Managed System