Rich Mingin (PLUG) on 5 Sep 2018 09:52:01 -0700


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Re: [PLUG] Fwd: iDRAC

I don't have the free time to be on-site this week, but I've done the work described many times. Some free notes;

The system firmware will have an option for the idrac to use a shared NIC or the dedicated (Enterprise, Dell calls it) port. I would have both cabled just in case.

Firmware updates can be a pita without a local machine to work from. Dell has some management stuff for remote management of firmware/raid controller/etc, but I've never gotten it 100% functional.

Where is this going to run from? If residential, power and network issues can be a pita. You'll want something you can VPN into the network with, OFF the ESXi host, if possible. Some better routers can cover this.

Setting up ESXi is a breeze, but use the Dell customized iso instead of the vanilla VMware ones whenever possible. Has drivers and support software baked in.

How is remote access happening? Dyndns? Noip? Something else? I'd recommend two independent methods if at all possible. You'll also want a host you can remote access that isn't in the same chassis as the Dell is at all possible.

Shared storage will be a third VM at least. VMware itself doesn't do any kind of networked storage access to the VMs, so they will need a third party that can translate to cifs/NFS or other.

Double check that a raid controller is present. A lot of the integrated options are software raid, which esx emphatically does NOT support. It's a bit late, but in the future, always shop from the VMware HCL whenever possible. It cuts the headaches way down.


On Wed, Sep 5, 2018 at 09:16 Joe Rosato <rosatoj@gmail.com> wrote:
Will be there at the meeting tonight, but forwarding this off for a friend. 

Anyone have the time to help Mike for a price? (I do not have the time)

Quick summary, he bought a Dell T320 and wants to configure the iDrac, install vmware and create two nodes (ubuntu and windows). He has a time crunch, he is heading overseas this Saturday so he hopes to have enough done to access it from afar (so ubuntu and windows install not important if vmware working). Longer explanation attached.

Can chat tonight if any questions about this.. or just email..

Past that - see you tonight!

Joe

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Mike Rudnick <mikerudnick@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Sep 5, 2018 at 8:06 AM
Subject: Re: iDRAC
To: Joe Rosato <rosatoj@gmail.com>


Hey Joe,

So I now have the parts and I have logged into iDRAC.  Now I need to get this machine running to the point where i can manage it remotely by Saturday when I leave for India for 6 months.  Please let me know if you have any ideas where I can get some help.

Just a reminder, my goals for this machine is to be able to utilize a data source with BOTH windows and Linux software.  It is also important for me to use this to build the python program that I will be working on during my time in India, as well as, to have reliable access to the data source where ever I am on the planet.

I am working with a clean 12th Generation Dell T320 that operates on 4 wired drives (not hot swappable).  I have just installed 4 SATA 2TB hard drives, 48 GB of RAM, an iDRAC Enterprise dedicated port card, and the IDSDM card which stores the VM Ware for the initial boot on two mirrored sd cards.  

Thus far I have been able to update the iDRAC Enterprise license and the iDRAC firmware, however, I have not been able to get an ip signal from the Enterprise card port, i have only been able to access iDRAC when connected from port #1.

What I need to accomplish in the next couple days is to update all the firmwares, and configure the hard drives.  Next, I need to load VM Ware ESXi and set up a windows virtual machine and a ubuntu VM.  I was also recommended to create an additional VM for the VM Ware controller which I think is called VCenter.  

I have no RAID card because it is my understanding that there is a RAID controller baked into the system.  At this point this should be fine for my needs.  I am not sure if there is anything special I have to do for this.  The rest is just loading the VM Ware and operating systems.  I have a DVD for the windows OS so I guess I need to load this manually before I leave.

Usually I would google my way through this project but the two delays in procuring the drives and my looming departure on Saturday Sept 8 makes this approach a bit dicey.   I have too much to learn in too little time as this will be my first experience setting up a server AND working with the VM Ware software.  If you have any ideas how I can find some help to accelerate this process to get me to the point where I can manage this server remotely from India please let me know.  Thanks Joe!

Best,

Mike

On Fri, Aug 31, 2018 at 6:00 PM Michael Rudnick <mikerudnick@gmail.com> wrote:
No thumb twiddle here.  Been overwhelmed with managing apartment sublease, doctors/vaccinations and countless other details. I am going to have to try all this in a couple days when I arrive on MN. I will keep you posted about this...  Thanks again!

Mike



On Aug 31, 2018, at n11:55 AM, Joe Rosato <rosatoj@gmail.com> wrote:

No biggie. Delays are constant with things like equipment. If you are twiddling your thumbs waiting... You can still send me a write-up to drop on the list if you want. 

Joe

On Fri, Aug 31, 2018, 11:49 AM Mike Rudnick <mikerudnick@gmail.com> wrote:
Joe,

There was a problem with the shipping of my drives and they were returned to sender last night.  I am still trying to figure out what to do, but obviously I need the drives before anything else.  I am still in a state of disbelief about this situation...  I appreciate your help with all this.

Mike

On Tue, Aug 28, 2018 at 1:39 PM Michael Rudnick <mikerudnick@gmail.com> wrote:
Hey Joe, call me on your way home. I will be around. 
Mike

On Aug 28, 2018, at 12:46 PM, Joe Rosato <rosatoj@gmail.com> wrote:

Going to lunch now for 1 hour.. or can talk on way back from work at end day while driving home. That would be like 4:30+

Just give me a number that I can text and then call you.

Joe
text/mobile: 646-221-8147

On Tue, Aug 28, 2018 at 12:14 PM Michael Rudnick <mikerudnick@gmail.com> wrote:
Ok Joe, thanks for the reply. I have accessed the iDRAC ip and am waiting to get the Enterprise license sometime today. There was a problem with my SAS drives so some SATA ones will arrive sometime on Friday, so I am not sure how much i can accomplish until the hard drives are in place. I hope this will be all the hardware I need to get the job I need done. My research says so. 

I intend to run the server on VMWare ESXi sphere to run an Ubuntu VM and a Windows VM. I am focusing my time now on figuring out the VMWare and it's installation.  I bought a IDSDM card which stores the VMware on two mirrored SD cards. 

It is my understanding that I should be able to accomplish loading all the OS software remotely with the iDRAC enterprise interface.  Does this sound right to you?  If that is the case, it will reduce the stress by providing the possibility of finishing all this where ever I am on the planet. 

When is a convenient time to reach you?

Mike 



On Aug 28, 2018, at 11:46 AM, Joe Rosato <rosatoj@gmail.com> wrote:

Mike - call me - was on vacation and only just got this (you said time is important)
long story short - time is not on my side for this but I can throw this over to my PLUG group to find possible takers.
Not sure what people will ask for as payment - but it is better than nothing

Joe

On Sun, Aug 26, 2018 at 12:59 PM Michael Rudnick <mikerudnick@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi Joe, 
thanks for the reply.  Do you have much experience managing servers?,  VMware ESXi?  I am trying to get this T320 in operation before I leave the country.  Today  I installed new memory, drives, IDSDM, and iDRAC port so I working with a virgin machine. 

Do you have the time / interest to chat?  I could use some experience regarding the sequence of operations as I get this machine into production.  

Time is not on my side on this project.  If you Have an idea how I can find some help please let me know. 

Thanks Joe,

Mike


On Aug 23, 2018, at 11:48 PM, Joe Rosato <rosatoj@gmail.com> wrote:

Sort of a lot to chat about in one email.

In short - iDrac is nothing more than something you can access from afar to do things like "reboot/poweroff". It is a mini computer in the computer. Usually on a seperate network so when you are away from the office you can reboot. Really needed for failover between failover nodes, but if you just have one node - all that does is give you power to connect to the node even when it is off.. to turn it on or off. It also has a console and usually can be accessed via a browser.

There are plenty of searachable reasources on the internet for setting up an IDrac. Then when overseas you can turn box on and off.


Things to look up

Ipmi - old standard on how to communicate to these things

Redshift - some recent stuff written to control crap but new... Might be too new for your node. Not sure

HPs version is called iLO, just a fun fact.

Quick history - before these things turning a node on and off was done by hand and terminal access was thru terminal servers connected to serial ports. Now - plug in the second network, and you can access the idrac on a browser. Turn on/off and open a low level text console.

Joe

On Tue, Aug 21, 2018 at 12:05 PM Michael Rudnick <mikerudnick@gmail.com> wrote:
Hey Joe,

Do you know much about Dell servers and networking?  Trying to setup a T320 before I leave the country for 6 months.

Mike


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