If you look after both Dell PowerEdge and HPE ProLiant servers, you switch between two management controllers: iDRAC9 on PowerEdge 14G, 15G and 16G, and iLO 5 (ProLiant Gen10 and Gen10 Plus) or iLO 6 (ProLiant Gen11). They do the same jobs with different names, menus and licence rules. This guide maps one to the other so you can find a task quickly and know, before you buy or deploy, which licence tier each vendor lists for the features you rely on.
Before you start
- Menu paths below come from the iDRAC9 7.xx User's Guide (March 2026) and the iLO 6 and iLO 5 user guides. Older firmware can label pages differently; check the guide for your version.
- Licence rows come only from the vendors' own feature tables: the "Licensed features in iDRAC9" table and the "HPE iLO standard and licensed features" table, which is the same in the iLO 5 and iLO 6 licensing guides.
- This is not a performance comparison. Both controllers are documented as out-of-band tools that work without an operating-system agent for basic health monitoring.
Names that mean the same thing
Most confusion comes from vocabulary. Each pair below appears in the vendor guides:
- Virtual Console (iDRAC) = Integrated Remote Console (IRC), started as the HTML5 console (iLO).
- System Event Log (SEL) and Lifecycle Log (iDRAC) = Integrated Management Log (IML) and iLO Event Log (iLO).
- SupportAssist collection (iDRAC) = Active Health System (AHS) log download (iLO) when support asks for diagnostic data.
- iDRAC Direct, the front USB management port (iDRAC) = iLO Service Port, the front USB port labelled iLO (iLO).
- Group Manager (iDRAC) = iLO Federation (iLO) for managing peers from one console.
- RACADM (iDRAC) = the SSH command line interface and RIBCL scripts (iLO). Both expose a RESTful API (Redfish on iDRAC, the iLO RESTful API on iLO) and IPMI.
Daily tasks side by side
Paths are written as you click them in the web interface. On iLO, "Information > Integrated Management Log tab" means click Information in the navigation tree, then the tab.
| Task | Dell iDRAC9 | HPE iLO 5 / iLO 6 |
|---|---|---|
| First login | User root; unique password printed on the system information tag (or calvin if chosen when ordering). DHCP is on by default. | User Administrator; password on the serial label pull tab (random eight characters, or a common default if ordered with that SKU). |
| Hardware event logs | Maintenance > System Event Log; Maintenance > Lifecycle Log | Information > Integrated Management Log tab; Information > iLO Event Log tab |
| Diagnostic bundle for vendor support | Maintenance > SupportAssist | Information > Active Health System Log tab |
| Remote console | Dashboard > Virtual Console, then Launch Virtual Console | Remote Console & Media, Launch tab, then HTML5 Console or New Window |
| Virtual media (mount an ISO) | Configuration > Virtual Media, or Connect to Virtual Media inside the console | Remote Console & Media > Virtual Media tab, or from the HTML5 console |
| Firmware update | Maintenance > System Update (Manual Update, Automatic Update, Rollback); jobs in Maintenance > Job Queue | Firmware & OS Software > Update Firmware; also iLO Repository, Install Sets and Installation Queue |
| Email alerts | Enable alerts in Configuration > System Settings > Alert Configuration; recipient address and mail server in Configuration > System Settings > SMTP (E-mail) Configuration | Management > Mail tab (AlertMail) |
| Remote syslog | Configuration > System Settings > Alerts and Remote System Log Configuration | Management > Remote Syslog tab |
| SNMP | Configuration > System Settings > SNMP and E-mail Settings | Management (SNMP Settings page) |
| Licences | Configuration > Licenses | Administration > Licensing tab |
| Storage view | Storage > Overview (Controllers, Physical Disks, Virtual Disks) | Storage pages in iLO; RAID set-up is usually done in the controller tools |
One firmware detail to note: the iLO 6 guide says the Update Firmware option does not work for packages that must be applied through UEFI or a runtime agent; those go into the iLO Repository and are picked up during POST. For step-by-step updates see iDRAC9 firmware updates and the job queue and iLO firmware updates and the iLO Repository.
Licence tiers as documented
iDRAC9 has Basic or Express by default (depending on the model), with Enterprise and Datacenter as upgrades. iLO ships with iLO Standard, and iLO Advanced is the upgrade. The rows below are the ones that most often surprise people after delivery.
| Feature | iDRAC9 (Licensed features table) | iLO 5/6 (standard and licensed features table) |
|---|---|---|
| Graphical remote console | Enterprise and Datacenter (also Express for Blades); not in Basic or Express | Standard: pre-OS only, except BL and WS servers; Advanced: full |
| Virtual media | Enterprise and Datacenter (also Express for Blades) | Through the remote console: Advanced (standard only on BL and WS); scripted or URL-based: Advanced |
| Console sharing | Enterprise and Datacenter: collaboration for up to six users | Advanced: Global Team Collaboration through IRC |
| Email alerts | Express, Enterprise and Datacenter | Advanced |
| Remote syslog | Enterprise and Datacenter | Advanced |
| Directory login (AD/LDAP) | Enterprise and Datacenter | Advanced (Directory Service Authentication) |
| Power history and capping | Enterprise and Datacenter | Advanced (Advanced Power Management) |
| Configuration lock | Lockdown mode: Enterprise and Datacenter | Server Configuration Lock: Advanced |
| Firmware update from the controller | All tiers (remote agent-free update, update from repository) | Not listed as a licensed feature |
| Trial | 30-day evaluation, runs while the system has power; cannot be extended | Free 90-day trial; the key can be applied to a server one time |
| Licence binding | Perpetual licence is bound to the Service Tag | A licence is needed for each server; licences are not transferable |
Note: on a ProLiant DL server with iLO Standard, the remote console works only before the operating system loads. If your team installs or rescues operating systems remotely, plan for iLO Advanced. On PowerEdge rack servers with Basic or Express, the Virtual Console and Virtual Media are not available until Enterprise or Datacenter is installed.
Practical tips when you run both
- Record the licence tier with the asset. iDRAC shows it under Configuration > Licenses; iLO under Administration > Licensing.
- Change default passwords on day one. Both guides recommend it, and both reset to the shipped default after a factory reset of the controller.
- Send alerts the same way from both. If you use email, iDRAC needs Express or higher and iLO needs Advanced; SNMP traps are an alternative on both. See iDRAC9 alerts and iLO alerts.
- Keep a USB-to-Ethernet adapter in the kit bag. The iLO Service Port accepts a supported adapter for web, console, API and CLI access; iDRAC Direct is the Dell front USB management port.
- Use the vendor's own steps for first set-up: iDRAC9 first-time setup and iLO first-time setup.
Warning: a factory reset of the controller is not a password fix. HPE states that resetting iLO to factory defaults erases all iLO settings, including users, licence data, network settings and logs (a factory-installed licence key is kept). Dell states that iDRAC reboots, is restored to factory defaults and its IP is reset. Export the controller configuration and save the logs first.
Frequently asked questions
Is iDRAC Express enough for remote OS installation?
No, according to Dell's table. Virtual Console and Virtual Media are listed as No for Basic and Express on rack and tower servers, and Yes for Enterprise and Datacenter.
Can I try iLO Advanced before buying?
Yes. HPE's licensing guide describes a free 90-day trial licence that can be applied to a server one time.
Can I move an iDRAC or iLO licence to another server?
Dell says a perpetual iDRAC licence is bound to the Service Tag. HPE says iLO licences are not transferable.
Checklist
- Controller generation known for each server (iDRAC9, iLO 5 or iLO 6) and firmware version noted.
- Licence tier recorded; remote console and virtual media needs checked against the tables above.
- Default passwords changed and stored in your password vault.
- Alerts (email, SNMP or syslog) configured and tested on every controller.
- Your team knows where logs live: SEL and Lifecycle Log on Dell, IML and iLO Event Log on HPE.
Skyline can supply, configure and maintain Dell, HPE and Huawei servers under an annual maintenance contract (AMC). Contact us.
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