RACADM Command Line Interface for DRAC
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Terminology
Managed System - The Dell PowerEdge Server containing the iDRAC or DRAC, or the Dell Blade Chassis containing the Chassis Management Controller (CMC).
Management Station - A computer used for accessing the iDRAC, DRAC, or CMC remotely.
iDRAC - Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller. Available on newer and current generations of Dell PowerEdge Servers (11G and 12G).
DRAC - Dell Remote Access Controller. Available on older generations of Dell PowerEdge Servers.
Overview
The Dell RACADM (Remote Access Controller Admin) utility is a command line tool that allows for
remote or local management of Dell Servers via the iDRAC or DRAC. RACADM
provides similar functionality to the iDRAC/DRAC Graphical User Interface (GUI). The Dell Chassis Management Controller (CMC) can also be managed remotely with RACADM.
RACADM commands can be run remotely from a management station and/or locally on the managed system.
RACADM commands allow you to view managed system information, perform power operations on the managed system, perform firmware updates on the iDRAC and server, set system time, and more. Because RACADM is run from a command line interface (CLI), system administrators can create scripts that control and update Dell systems in a one-to-many fashion. See the links to the RACADM documentation at the end of this article for a complete listing of features for your product version.
The different RACADM utilities
The following RACADM utilities are available:
Remote RACADM - utility is installed on a management station.
Local RACADM - utility is installed on the managed system.
SSH/Telnet/Serial RACADM (also known as Firmware RACADM) - utility is built into the iDRAC, DRAC, and CMC firmware.
NOTES:
Local RACADM is not required if you will be managing your server from a management station via Remote RACADM. Remote RACADM and Local RACADM cannot be installed at the same time on the same system.
Locating and Installing RACADM utilities
Remote RACADM - Supports executing RACADM commands from a remote management
station such as a laptop or desktop computer. It is available on the Dell OpenManage Systems Management Tools and Documentation DVD or at support.dell.com.
To download Remote RACADM from support.dell.com, select Drivers and Downloads> choose your
server > select the Operating System
of your Management Station > expand Systems
Management> select the application that applies to DRAC Tools (for Windows Operating Systems) or Linux Remote Access Utilities (for Linux Operating Systems) > Download File.
Remote RACADM Installation - Windows Management
Station
If downloaded, extract the downloaded file and run <path>\DRAC.msi
-OR-
If using the DVD, run <path>\SYSMGMT\ManagementStation\windows\DRAC\DRAC.msi
Accept the license agreement > Next > Select the folder to install
to > Next > Install> Finish.
Open an administrative command
prompt, type racadm and press Enter.
If you get the RACADM help instructions it is installed correctly.
Remote RACADM Installation - Linux Management
Station
If downloaded, extract the downloaded file and cd to the directory
containing the rpm files:
<path>/linux/rac/<linux
distribution name>/<i386 or x86_64>
-OR-
If using the DVD, cd to the
directory containing the rpm files: <path>/SYSMGMT/ManagementStation/linux/rac/<linux_distribution_name>/<i386
or x86_64>
From the i386 or x86_64 directory, run:
rpm -ivh *.rpm
Open a shell prompt with root
privileges, type racadm and press Enter.
If you get the RACADM help instructions it is installed correctly.
NOTE: The racadm
executable is located under /opt/dell/srvadmin/sbin. You may need to log out
and log back in to reset the PATH environment variable to include this location.
Local RACADM - Supports executing RACADM commands from the
managed system’s operating system. It is available on the Dell OpenManage
Systems Management Tools and Documentation DVD or at support.dell.com.
To download local RACADM from support.dell.com, select Drivers and Downloads> choose your
server > select your Operating System
> expand Systems Management
> select Dell Open ManageServer
Administrator Managed Node> Download
File.
Do the following on the managed system containing the
iDRAC/DRAC:
Local RACADM Installation - Windows
If downloaded, extract the downloaded file and run <path>\windows\setup.exe
-OR-
If using the DVD, run <path>\SYSMGMT\srvadmin\windows\setup.exe
After the prerequisite checker
runs, click Server Administrator.
Click Next> Accept the license agreement > Next > select Custom >
Next.
At a minimum, make sure Remote Access Controller will be
installed > Next> Install > Finish.
Open an administrative command
prompt, type racadm and press Enter.
If you get the RACADM help instructions it is installed correctly.
Local RACADM Installation - Linux
If downloaded, extract the downloaded file and run <path>/linux/supportscripts/srvadmin-install.sh
-OR-
If using the DVD, run <path>/SYSMGMT/srvadmin/linux/supportscripts/srvadmin-install.sh
Accept the license agreement and, at a minimum, select option 5 - Remote Access Core Component from
the menu.
Open a shell prompt with root
privileges, type racadm and press Enter.
If you get the RACADM help instructions it is installed correctly.
NOTE: The racadm
executable is located under /opt/dell/srvadmin/sbin. You may need to log
out/log back in to reset the PATH environment variable to include this
location.
SSH/Telnet/Serial RACADM (Firmware RACADM)- This utility is built into the iDRAC, DRAC or CMC firmware and
there is no separate download or installation required. See your user's guide
for connecting via these methods.
Once connected, type racadm help for the online help
instructions.
NOTE:
On some interfaces if
you type racadm and press Enter,
you will be taken to a racadm>
prompt. Commands can then be entered from this prompt without the "racadm" prefix. To exit the
prompt, type quit or use Ctrl+C.
Syntax Usage
The following shows an example of a simple RACADM command, getsysinfo,
with each interface. See
the documentation section below for links to documentation containing the full
list of RACADM commands.
Remote RACADM
Remote RACADM commands must include the ip address or hostname of the
idrac, and the idrac username and password.
racadm -r <ip address or hostname> -u <username> -p <password>
getsysinfo
racadm -r 10.1.1.1 -u root -p calvin getsysinfo
NOTE: Remote racadm uses
the web server SSL certificate of the iDRAC to authenticate the session. You
will receive a warning message if certificates have not been configured or if
the certificate is invalid. However, the command will execute normally following
the message. If you wish to halt the command on certificate errors, use the -S
option in the command. For information on configuring certificates on the iDRAC,
see the user's guide for your iDRAC at the link below.
Local RACADM
You do not have to specify the ip address, username, or password in Local
RACADM commands.
racadm getsysinfo
SSH/Telnet/Serial (Firmware)
RACADM
You do not have to specify the ip address, username, or password in Firmware
RACADM commands.
racadm getsysinfo
or
racadm <Enter>
racadm>>getsysinfo
RACADM Documentation
See
the RACADM Command Line Reference Guide
at the appropriate link below for detailed information on supported RACADM
commands and features. This guide is available for iDRAC7, iDRAC6, and the CMC.
For DRAC5, this information is combined with the User's Guide.
See
the Readme file at the appropriate
link below for a complete listing of supported operating systems.
To
locate a particular document, select the appropriate link for your hardware,
then select your firmware version, then your language.