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Connecting to the Remote Access Interface

Dell™ Remote Access Controller Installation and Setup Guide

  Accessing the Remote Access Interface Through the Network

  Accessing a DRAC III Over a Modem

  Accessing the DRAC III Remote Access Interface Using VT-100 Terminal Emulation


RACs help you monitor your Dell system environment by extending the system management capabilities of the Server Administrator software. These RACs allow you to remotely monitor and manage your Dell PowerEdge™ system through a network, optional modem (DRAC III only), or serial port (DRAC III only using an optional VT-100 serial connection). The following sections provide information on accessing a RAC after it is installed and configured; installation is required for DRAC III and ERA/O only. The ERA controller is embedded.

NOTE: The RAC default user name is root and the default password is calvin.

Accessing the Remote Access Interface Through the Network

You can access the RAC Web-based remote access interface through the network connection to the RAC NIC using Server Administrator or a supported Web browser.

To access the RAC remote access interface using Server Administrator, first launch Server Administrator. From the system tree on the left pane of the Server Administrator home page, click System® Main System Chassis® Remote Access Controller. For more information on using Server Administrator remote access features, see your Server Administrator User's Guide.

To access the RAC using a supported Web browser, type in the IP address of the RAC. Log in with your RAC user name and password (defaults are root and calvin). For more information on using the RAC remote access interface, see the remote access interface online help.

Accessing a DRAC III Over a Modem

When you connect to a DRAC III over a modem, the DRAC III functions as a RAS system by providing an IP address to the remote console. The DRAC III can obtain IP addresses using one of the following methods:

NOTE: When you use the DHCP method, the DRAC III searches for a DHCP system only when the DRAC III is first reset.
NOTE: By default, the IP address is auto generated by the DRAC III on the 10.0.0.0 network.

The following sections provide instructions for accessing the managed system's DRAC III by modem from a previously-configured dial-in client. If you have not yet added and configured the client system for dial-in to the DRAC III, see "Adding and Configuring Dial-In Users for DRAC III."

Accessing the DRAC III From a Dial-In Client Running Microsoft® Windows® 95 or Windows 98

  1. Click the Start button, point to Programs® Accessories, and click Dial-Up Networking.

  2. In the Dial-Up Networking dialog box, double-click the connection icon created when the client was configured.

  3. Enter the user name and password for the DRAC III and click Connect.

  4. After the connection is accepted, open your Web browser and type in the following address:

http://<remote_IP_address>

where <remote_IP_address> is the DRAC III IP address.

If you do not know the IP address assigned to the DRAC III, you can calculate it by performing the following steps:

    1. Click the Start button, point to Programs, and click MS-DOS Prompt.

    1. At the MS-DOS® prompt, type the following command and press <Enter>:

winipcfg

    1. In the IP Configuration dialog box, click the down-arrow on the pull-down menu and select PPP Adapter.

The IP Configuration dialog box does not display the remote IP address assigned to the DRAC III, but it does display the local IP address in the IP Address field.

    1. Calculate the DRAC III remote IP address by incrementing the PPP adapter IP address by one.

Accessing the DRAC III From a Dial-In Client Running Microsoft Windows NT®

  1. Click the Start button, point to Programs® Accessories, and click Dialup Networking.

  2. Click New, or if a window pops up warning that the telephone book is empty, click OK.

  3. Check the check box for I know all about phonebook entries ....

  4. Click Finish.

  5. Enter the telephone number of the DRAC III to which you want to connect.

  6. Check the Dial Using check box to select the modem and port you want to use for dial-out.

  7. Click the Server tab.

  8. Ensure that the Dial Up Server Type is set to PPP: Windows 95/98/NT4/2000, Internet.

  9. Ensure that Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) is checked.

  10. Click TCP/IP Settings.

  11. Ensure that Use default gateway on remote network is cleared.

  12. Click the Security tab.

  13. Ensure that Accept any authentication including clear text is checked.

  14. Type your name and password if they are not already there. Ensure that any Domain check box is cleared, and then click Dial, Connect, or the equivalent.

  15. After the connection is accepted, open your Web browser and type in the following address:

http://<remote_IP_address>

where <remote_IP_address> is the DRAC III IP address.

If you do not know the IP address assigned to the DRAC III, you can calculate it by performing the following steps:

    1. Click the Start button, point to Programs, and click Command Prompt.

    1. At the prompt, type the following command and press <Enter>:

ipconfig

The ipconfig command does not display the remote IP address assigned to the DRAC III, but it does display the local IP address.

    1. Calculate the DRAC III remote IP address by incrementing the IP address by one.

Accessing the DRAC III From a Windows 2000 Dial-In Client

  1. Click the Start button, point to Settings® Network And Dial-Up Connections, and click the connection that you created and named in the previous procedure.

  2. In the screen displayed in step 1, type your user name and password if they are not already there, ensure that any Domain box is deselected (unchecked), and click Dial, Connect, or the equivalent.

  3. After the connection is accepted, open your Web browser and type in the following address:

http://<remote_IP_address>

where <remote_IP_address> is the DRAC III IP address.

If you do not know the IP address assigned to the DRAC III, you can calculate it by performing the following steps:

    1. Click the Start button, point to Programs, and click Command Prompt.

    1. At the prompt, type the following command and press <Enter>:

ipconfig

The ipconfig command does not display the remote IP address assigned to the DRAC III, but it does display the local IP address.

    1. Calculate the DRAC III remote IP address by incrementing the IP address by one.

Accessing the DRAC III From a Dial-In Client Running Red Hat Linux 7.1 or Later (With PPP-2.3 or Later)

  1. Establish a connection to the DRAC III using the following command (where # is the command shell prompt):

# pppd call rac

  1. After the connection is accepted, determine the IP address assigned to the DRAC III.

Both the local and remote addresses are logged in the system log as shown in the following example:

Apr 7 22:59:24 myhost pppd[187]: local IP address 10.19.250.93

Apr 7 22:59:24 myhost pppd[187]: remote IP address 10.19.250.94

In this example, you would type the following URL into the address box of your Web browser:

http://10.19.250.94.

Connecting to the Management Station From the DRAC III

You can configure the DRAC III to dial out to a management station when an event occurs. In this situation, RAS on the management station assigns the IP addresses. You can configure RAS on the management station to use DHCP or to use a static address pool.

PPP authentication occurs at the time of negotiation with RAS. To allow the DRAC III to dial out to a management station for alert notification, you must create an account on the management station with the demand dial-out entry remote user name and password configured in the DRAC III for this connection.

For more information on configuring RAS and DHCP, see "Installing and Configuring the Software."

Accessing the DRAC III Remote Access Interface Using VT-100 Terminal Emulation

For information on using VT-100 terminal emulation with a DRAC III, including communication port settings, see the Information Update contained in your VT-100 serial cable kit.

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