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 interfaces 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
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
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)
SSH/Telnet/Serial RACADM (Firmware RACADM) 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 utility. See the documentation section at the end of this article 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 linked at the end of this article.
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.