With the iDRAC9 Virtual Console you can see the server's screen and use its keyboard and mouse from your browser, from POST and System Setup all the way to the OS. Virtual Media adds an ISO image from your PC as a drive on the server. Together they let you install or repair an operating system without going to the data centre. The steps follow the iDRAC9 7.xx User's Guide and Dell's virtual media KB article.
Before you start
- Licence: On rack and tower servers, Virtual Console and Virtual Media need an iDRAC Enterprise or Datacenter licence. Remote File Share needs Enterprise or Datacenter. Check Configuration > Licenses. Some blade models include a console session with the base licence.
- Privileges: Access Virtual Console and Access Virtual Media. Dell's launch prerequisites list administrator privileges.
- Network: The user's guide asks for at least 1 MB/s to iDRAC and recommends 5 MB/s for good console performance.
- Open the console from your workstation, never from a browser on the managed server itself.
- New iDRAC? Set it up first: iDRAC9 first-time setup.
Step 1 — Check the Virtual Console settings
- In the iDRAC web interface, go to Configuration > Virtual Console.
- Make sure the virtual console is enabled. Review Max Sessions (1–6), Video Encryption (on by default), Local Server Video and Automatic System Lock.
- Click Apply.
From iDRAC 6.00.02.00, the console uses eHTML5 only. Java, ActiveX and the older HTML5 viewer are no longer supported, so you don't need a Java plug-in on current firmware. Up to six users can share one console. When a second user connects, the first user can deny access, allow read-only access or share full control. If the first user does not answer within 30 seconds, the default setting applies.
Step 2 — Launch the console
- From the iDRAC dashboard or Configuration > Virtual Console, click Start the Virtual Console. It opens as a pop-up, so allow pop-ups for the iDRAC address.
- Or browse directly to
https://<iDRAC-IP>/console.
The eHTML5 viewer has the menus Power, Boot, Chat, Keyboard, Screen Capture, Refresh, Full Screen, Disconnect Viewer, Console Controls and Virtual Media. The viewer cannot pass every keystroke to the server, so send key combinations such as Ctrl+Alt+Del from Console Controls > Keyboard Macros and click Apply.
Step 3 — Map an ISO with Virtual Media
- In the viewer, click Virtual Media > Connect Virtual Media.
- For an ISO file, choose Map CD/DVD. For an IMG file, choose Map Removable Disk.
- Browse to the image on your workstation, then click Map Device. ISO and IMG files are mapped read-only.
- Keep the viewer window open. Virtual Media launched from the console disconnects when the console closes.
The Attached Media mode under Configuration > Virtual Media > Attached Media decides when the server sees the drives:
| Mode | Behaviour |
|---|---|
| Detach | No image can be mapped to the system |
| Attach | Media stays mapped even when the client view is closed |
| Auto-attach | Media is mapped when the client view opens and unmapped when it closes |
Warning: Do not reset iDRAC during a Virtual Media session. Dell warns this can cause unexpected results, including data loss. Also remember that an OS installer can overwrite the target disk. Back up first, and confirm you are installing to the right virtual disk.
Step 4 — Boot the server once from the virtual CD
From the console (quickest): click Boot, choose Virtual CD/DVD/ISO and confirm with Yes. Restart the server from the Power menu if it is running. During POST the screen shows "Virtual CD boot Requested by iDRAC" and the installer loads.
From the web interface: go to Configuration > System Settings > Hardware Settings > First Boot Device, select the virtual CD/DVD/ISO device, tick Boot Once and click Apply. With Boot Once, the next boot uses the virtual media and later boots follow the normal BIOS boot order.
For a virtual drive to appear in the boot list, Virtual Media must be in the Attached state. In Auto-attach mode, the Virtual Media client must already be open when the server boots. When the installation finishes, disconnect the virtual media.
Optional — Remote File Share for large or repeated installs
Remote File Share (RFS) mounts an ISO or IMG from a network share directly on iDRAC, so your workstation does not stream the image. It stays connected until you disconnect it, even after you log out. RFS needs an Enterprise or Datacenter licence.
- Go to Configuration > Virtual Media > Attached Media. Under Attached Media, select Attach or Auto Attach.
- Under Remote File Share, enter the Directory/File Path and, if the share needs them, Domain Name, User Name and Password. Path formats: CIFS
//<ip>/<path>/<image>, NFS<ip>:/<path>/<image>, HTTP or HTTPShttps://<url>/<path>/<image>. NFS paths are case-sensitive. - Click Apply, then Connect. Connection Status should show Connected. iDRAC gives up on the connection after 55 seconds.
- Set First Boot Device to the virtual CD/DVD/ISO or Virtual Network File device with Boot Once, then reboot.
The same mount from racadm (syntax from the user's guide):
racadm remoteimage -c -u "user" -p "pass" -l //shrloc/foo.iso
racadm remoteimage -s
racadm remoteimage -dRFS1 and Virtual Media cannot be used together. From iDRAC 6.00.02.00 there is a second, independent share (RFS2, racadm remoteimage2).
Common problems
| Symptom | What to check |
|---|---|
| "Virtual Media is currently unavailable. A Virtual Media or Remote File Share session is in use." | An RFS connection is active. Disconnect it, or keep using RFS. |
| Blank viewer | You have the Virtual Media privilege but not Virtual Console, or the embedded video controller is disabled in BIOS. |
| "No Signal" | The server is powered off, or iDRAC is not receiving the video. |
| "Out of Range" | The host's display resolution or refresh rate is beyond what iDRAC can capture. The console supports up to 1920x1200 at 60 Hz. |
| "Link Interrupted" during reboot | A shared LOM port resets during POST. With STP on the switch, enable portfast on that port. |
| Mapped drive missing in Windows | Check Device Manager for an unknown mass storage device, then disconnect and reconnect Virtual Media. On Linux you may need to mount it manually. |
| Poor video | Set the Performance slider to Maximum Video Quality, or refresh the preview. |
Frequently asked questions
Do I need Java to use the iDRAC9 console?
No. From iDRAC 6.00.02.00, the console is eHTML5 only and runs in a supported browser.
Does Virtual Media stay mounted if I close the console?
Media mapped from the console disconnects when the console closes. Remote File Share stays connected until you disconnect it, iDRAC resets or the network drops.
Checklist
- Enterprise or Datacenter licence confirmed
- Console launched from a workstation, not from the managed server
- ISO mapped with Map CD/DVD and the viewer kept open
- Boot Once set to Virtual CD/DVD/ISO and the server restarted
- Target disk confirmed and data backed up before installing
- Virtual media or RFS disconnected after the install
- For a driver-assisted install, see Lifecycle Controller OS deployment
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