Dell Drac 5 User Guide

							Using GUI Console Redirection181
3Notice the two subdirectories vm and vkvm. Navigate to the appropriate 
subdirectory, right click the 
rac5XXX.xpi file, and select Save Link 
Target As....
4Choose a location to save the plug-in installation package file.
To install the plug-in installation package:
1
Copy the installation package to the clients native file system share that is 
accessible by the client.
2Open an instance of the browser on the client system.
3Enter the file-path to the plug-in installation package in the browsers 
address bar. For example:
file:///tmp/rac5vm.xpi
4The browser guides the user through plug-in installation.
Once installed, the browser will not prompt for that plug-in installation again, 
as long as the target DRAC5 firmware does not contain a newer version of the 
plug-in.
Why does the console redirection session end when I reboot my terminal?
When the DRAC 5 NIC settings are in shared or shared with failover 
mode, a system reset causes the LAN On Motherboard (LOM) to reset. On 
networks that have switches with the Spanning Tree Protocol (STP) enabled, 
this causes the connection between the management station and the client to 
be re-established after approximately ten to fifteen seconds. As a result, 
connectivity with the remote system is lost and a connection lost error 
message is displayed on the console redirection and virtual media clients. 
If you access the DRAC GUI at this time, you will receive Page Not Found 
error message. 
To work around this issue:
• Use the DRAC 5 dedicated NIC for connection over the network.
• Disable STP on the network switches.  
						

							182Using GUI Console Redirection 
						

							Using and Configuring Virtual Media183
11
Using and Configuring 
Virtual Media
Overview
The Virtual Media feature provides the managed system with a virtual 
CD drive, which can use standard media from anywhere on the network. 
Figure 11-1 shows the overall architecture of virtual media.
Figure 11-1. Overall Architecture of Virtual Media
Using Virtual Media, administrators can remotely boot their managed 
systems, install applications, update drivers, or even install new operating 
systems remotely from the virtual CD/DVD and diskette drives. 
 NOTE: Virtual media requires a minimum available network bandwidth of 128 Kbps.
Managed System Management Station
DRAC 5 Remote CD
Virtual FloppyVirtual CD
Remote Floppy Network 
						

							184Using and Configuring Virtual Media
The managed system is configured with a DRAC 5 card. The virtual CD and 
floppy drives are two electronic devices embedded in the DRAC 5 that are 
controlled by the DRAC 5 firmware. These two devices are present on the 
managed system’s operating system and BIOS at all times, whether virtual 
media is connected or disconnected. 
The management station provides the physical media or image file across the 
network. When you launch the RAC browser for the first time and you access 
the virtual media page, the virtual media plug-in is downloaded from the 
DRAC 5 Web server and is automatically installed on the management 
station. The virtual media plug-in must be installed on the management 
station for the virtual media feature to function properly. 
When virtual media is connected, all virtual CD/floppy drive access requests 
from the managed system are directed to the management station across the 
network. Connecting virtual media is identical to inserting media into virtual 
devices. When virtual media is not connected, virtual devices on the 
managed system appear as two drives without media installed in the drives. 
  NOTE: You can connect to a virtual media using browser plug-in or Java plug-in.
Table 11-1 lists the supported drive connections for virtual floppy and virtual 
optical drives.
 NOTE: Changing virtual media while connected could stop the system 
boot sequence.
Table 11-1. Supported Drive Connections
Supported Virtual Floppy Drive 
ConnectionsSupported Virtual Optical Drive 
Connections
Legacy 1.44 floppy drive with a 1.44 
floppy disketteCD-ROM, DVD, CDRW, combination 
drive with CD-ROM media
USB floppy drive with a 1.44 floppy 
disketteCD-ROM image file in the ISO9660 
format
1.44 floppy image USB CD-ROM drive with CD-ROM 
media. 
						

							Using and Configuring Virtual Media185
Installing Virtual Media Browser Plug-In
The virtual media browser plug-in must be installed on your management 
station to use the virtual media feature. After you open the DRAC 5 user 
interface and launch the Virtual Media page, the browser automatically 
downloads the plug-in, if required. If the plug-in is successfully installed, 
the Virtual Media page displays a list of floppy diskettes and optical disks that 
connect to the virtual drive.
Windows-Based Management Station
To run the virtual media feature on a management station running the 
Microsoft Windows operating system, install a supported version of Internet 
Explorer with the ActiveX Control plug-in. Set the browser security to 
Medium or a lower setting to enable Internet Explorer to download and 
install signed ActiveX controls.
Additionally, you must have administrator rights to install and use the virtual 
media feature. Before installing the ActiveX control, Internet Explorer may 
display a security warning. To complete the ActiveX control installation 
procedure, accept the ActiveX control when Internet Explorer prompts you 
with a security warning.
Linux-Based Management Station
To run the virtual media feature on a management station running the Linux 
operating system, install a supported version of Mozilla or Firefox. If the 
virtual media plug-in is not installed or if a newer version is available, a dialog 
box appears during the installation procedure to confirm the plug-in 
installation on the management station. Ensure that the user ID running the 
browser has write permissions in the browsers directory tree. If the user ID 
does not have write permissions, you cannot install the virtual media plug-in. 
See the Dell Systems Software Support Matrix on the Dell Support website at 
support.dell.com/manuals for more information. 
						

							186Using and Configuring Virtual Media
Running Virtual Media
 CAUTION: Do not issue a racreset command when running a Virtual Media 
session. Otherwise, undesired results may occur, including loss of data.
Using Virtual Media, you can virtualize a diskette image or drive, enabling 
a floppy image, floppy drive, or optical drive on your management console to 
become an available drive on the remote system. You can connect to a virtual 
media using the browser plug-in or Java plug-in. If you are using Java plug-in, 
ensure that Java Runtime Environment (JRE) 1.6 or later is installed on the 
management system.
Supported Virtual Media Configurations
You can enable Virtual Media for one floppy drive and one optical drive. 
Only one drive for each media type can be virtualized at a time.
Supported floppy drives include a floppy image or one available floppy drive. 
Supported optical drives include a maximum of one available optical drive or 
one ISO image file.
Running Virtual Media Using the Web User Interface
Connecting Virtual Media Using the Native Plug-in
1Open a supported Web browser on your management station. Fo r  a  l i s t  o f  
supported Web browsers, see the Dell Systems Software Support Matrix 
on the Dell Support website at support.dell.com/manuals.
 CAUTION: Console Redirection and Virtual Media only support 32-bit Web 
browsers. Using 64-bit Web browsers may generate unexpected results or 
failure of operations.
2Connect and log into the DRAC 5. See Accessing the Web-Based 
Interface on page 48 for more information.
3Click the Media tab and then click Vi r t u a l  M e d i a. 
						

							Using and Configuring Virtual Media187
The Vi r t u a l  M e d i a page appears with the client drives that can be 
virtualized.
 NOTE: The Floppy Image File under Floppy Drive (if applicable) may appear, 
as this device can be virtualized as a virtual floppy. You can select one optical 
drive and one floppy at the same time, or a single drive. 
 
NOTE: The virtual device drive letters on the managed system do not coincide 
with the physical drive letters on the management station. 
4If prompted, follow the on-screen instructions to install the virtual media 
plug-in.
5In the Attribute box, perform the following steps:
aIn the Va l u e column, ensure that the Attach/Detach status value is 
Attached.
If the value is 
Detached, perform the following steps:
•In the 
Media tab, click Configuration.
•In the 
Va l u e column, ensure that the Attach Virtual Media check 
box is selected.
•Click 
Apply Changes.
•In the 
Vi r t u a l  M e d i a tab, click Vi r t u a l  M e d i a.
•In the 
Va l u e column, ensure that the Attach/Detach status value 
is 
Attached.
 NOTE: After the Virtual Media is attached, you can change the Boot Order 
only through RACADM, the Configuration page does not allow you to change 
any configuration of the Boot Order device.
b
Ensure that the Current Status value is Not connected. If the Va l u e 
field displays connected, you must disconnect from the image or drive 
before reconnecting. This status denotes the current status of the 
Virtual Media connection on the current Web-based interface only.
cEnsure that the Active Session value is Available. If the Va l u e field 
display 
In Use, you must wait for the existing Virtual Media session to 
be released or terminate it by going to the Session Management tab 
under Remote Access and terminating the active Virtual Media 
session.  
						

							188Using and Configuring Virtual Media
Only one active Virtual Media session is allowed at one time. This 
session could have been created by any Web-based interface or 
VM-
CLI utility
.
dSelect the Encryption Enabled check box to establish an encrypted 
connection between the remote system and your management station 
(if desired).
6If you are virtualizing a floppy image or ISO image, select Floppy Image 
File
 or ISO Image File and enter or browse to the image file you want to 
virtualize. 
If you are virtualizing a floppy drive or an optical drive, select the button 
next to the drives that you want to virtualize. 
7Click Connect.
If the connection is authenticated, the connection status becomes 
Connected and a list of all connected drives is displayed. All available 
diskette images and drives you selected become available on the managed 
system’s console as though they are real drives.
 NOTE: The assigned virtual drive letter (for Microsoft Windows systems) or 
device special file (for Linux systems) may not be identical to the drive letter 
on your management console. 
 
NOTE: Virtual Media may not function properly on Windows operating system 
clients that are configured with Internet Explorer Enhanced Security. To 
resolve this issue, see your Microsoft operating system documentation or 
contact your administrator.
Disconnecting Virtual Media
Click Disconnect to disconnect all virtualized images and drives from the 
management station. All virtualized images or drives disconnect and are no 
longer available on the managed system.
Connecting Virtual Media Using Java Plug-in
1Open a supported Web browser on your management station. Fo r  a  l i s t  o f  
supported Web browsers, see the Dell Systems Software Support Matrix 
on the Dell Support website at support.dell.com/manuals.
2
Connect and log into the DRAC 5. For more information, see Accessing 
the Web-Based Interface on page 48. 
						

							Using and Configuring Virtual Media189
3Click the Media tab and then click Vi r t u a l  M e d i a.
The 
Vi r t u a l  M e d i a page is displayed with the client drives that can be 
virtualized.
 NOTE: The plug-in with which you can connect to a virtual media depends on 
the pug-in type you selected in the Configuration tab.
4In the Attribute box, perform the following steps:
aIn the Va l u e column, ensure that the Attach/Detach status value is 
Attached.
If the value is 
Detached, perform the following steps:
•In the 
Media tab, click Configuration.
•In the 
Va l u e column, ensure that the Attach Virtual Media is 
selected as Attach.
•In the 
Va l u e  column, select the Plug-in Type as Java Plug-in.
•Click 
Apply Changes.
•In the 
Vi r t u a l  M e d i a tab, click Vi r t u a l  M e d i a.
 NOTE: Ensure that JRE 1.6 or later is installed in the management system.
b
Ensure that the Active Session value is 0. If the Va l u e field displays 1, 
wait for the existing Virtual Media session to be released or terminate 
it by accessing the 
Session Management tab under Remote Access. 
Only one active Virtual Media session is allowed at one time. This 
session may have been created by any Web-based interface or 
VM-
CLI utility
.
5Click Launch VM.
The 
Vi r t u a l  M e d i a Session pop-up window is displayed. The pop-up 
window displays the drivers you can virtualize.
6If a device is already virtualized, disconnect it by deselecting the Mapped 
check-box associated with the driver. 
						

							190Using and Configuring Virtual Media
7To virtualize a floppy image or ISO image, click Add Image and select an 
image.
8Click the Mapped check-box associated with the driver or image that you 
want to connect.
The device in the managed system to which the driver or image attached is 
displayed in the 
Details table.
Disconnecting Virtual Media
Deselect the Mapped check box associated with a driver or image.
Attaching and Detaching the Virtual Media Feature 
The DRAC 5 Virtual Media feature is based on USB technology and can take 
advantage of the USB plug and play features. DRAC 5 adds the option to 
attach and detach the virtual devices from the USB bus. When the devices 
are detached, the operating system or BIOS cannot see any attached drives. 
When the virtual devices are attached, the drives are visible. Unlike DRAC 4, 
where the drives could only be enabled or disabled at the next system boot, 
DRAC 5 virtual devices can be attached or detached at any time. 
The virtual devices can be attached or detached using a Web browser, local 
racadm, remote racadm, telnet, and serial port. To configure virtual media 
using a Web browser, you can navigate to the Media page and then to the 
Configuration page where you can change settings and apply them.You may 
also specify the Virtual Media Port Number and the Virtual Media SSL Port 
Number. In addition, you can enable or disable the Virtual Flash and the 
Boot Once feature. See cfgVirtualBootOnce (Read/Write) on page 389
 for 
information on the Boot Once feature. If this property is set to a supported 
device and when the host server is rebooted, the feature will attempt to boot 
from the selected device—if the appropriate media is installed in the device.
Auto-Attaching Virtual Media
DRAC 5 firmware version 1.30 and later support the auto-attach virtual 
media feature. When you enable this feature, DRAC 5 will automatically 
attach a virtual device to the system only when a device is virtualized 
(connected) on a supported client.
The DRAC 5 will detach the virtual media devices when the virtual media 
session is disconnected.