Managing DELL Server Remotely Using DRAC

[smallapu]

Hello,

I am hosting a DELL PowerEdger Server and have installed the DRAC (Dell Remote Access Card) on it. DRAC is supposed to allow me to manage the DELL server remotely.

Can anyone share their experiences in managing a DELL server remotely using DRAC?

Thank You.

[Jaiem]

I think you'll do better with this message on the Dedicated forum. Moving to there.

[Mr Chunder]

I've got a poweredge sat in the corner not doing very much. I've not heard of DRAC but I'm interested. Obviously, you are new to the card but why did you not use something like pcanywhere type products ? In other words, whats better about it compared with these copy your screen and keyboard to some remote location type products ?

[smallapu]

One of the things ( I was told) that DRAC can do is to remotely shut down and power up the machine. So even if the remote machine goes down, you still have control over it because of DRAC.

I am not aware if the remote startup and shutdown can be done using pcanywhere or windows terminal services, etc.

[JTY]

If the card is anything like the AMI RAC, then it has an onboard processor, so it can function even if NT/W2k crashes, allowing for the server to be rebooted.

[Mr Chunder]

I'm beginning to see the light here. I discussed this briefly with Compaq. Their raq type systems have separate processor that monitor the running of the main machine, give you stats for general state of disks etc. and allow for hardware diagnostics in case of failure and of course allow reboots or startup when shutdown.

You can still do reboots with pcAnywhere and Terminal services. I have successfully been able to run remote services with this type of software based solution for some time and hardware failures and quite rare (touch wood - avoid kiss of death :) ).

I'm not totally convinced that such remote cards are really necessary.

[JTY]

For the cost of some of those cards, I wouldn't be able to justify it. If I need to reboot a box, I'll just call the datacenter.