RE: Dell - IDRAC6 Enterprise vs IDRAC6 Express

[Malcolm Reitz]

We've found the remote media mount to be very useful. We have rebuilt
servers remotely just via the DRAC. The DRACs, on a whole, have been quite
reliable for us.

-Malcolm

-Original Message-
From: Fred Sawyer [mailto:fr...@sunbelt-software.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, August 17, 2010 12:40
To: NT System Admin Issues
Subject: Dell - IDRAC6 Enterprise vs IDRAC6 Express

Is anyone using either the IDRAC6 Enterprise or Express.  From what I am
reading the Express card offers a basic web-interface that can be used to
remotely reboot that machine.  Where the Enterprise version offers remote
ability to mount media as well as direct console access.  

I am trying to figure out how reliable the Enterprise card is for remotely
supporting a server.  From a cost analysis the IDRAC Enterprise options is
more affordable then a TCP/IP KVM such as a Raritan.  

All feedback is greatly appreciated!

Cheers,

Fred

..
~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~
  ~



~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~
~   ~

Re: Dell - IDRAC6 Enterprise vs IDRAC6 Express

[Sean Martin]

Thanks for the clarification. Most of our stand-alone systems with DRACs are
earlier generation Dells. We primarily use Blade systems now.

We started using Tripplite IP KVMs in our racks with legacy equipment.
They're probably not as nice or feature rich as some of the Avocent models,
but if I remember correctly, they were signficantly cheaper. We're now
replacing all of our KVMs with the IP models through attrition.

You can never have too many options for out-of-band management!

- Sean

On Tue, Aug 17, 2010 at 10:25 AM, Osborne, Richard
wrote:

>  Agreed; the ability to mount media is very handy to setup servers
> remotely and the KVM doesn’t get you that.
>
>
>
> You don’t need a separate network port for the DRAC nowadays.  You can
> assign it a different IP address but use one port for it and the live NIC.
> Of course, if that link goes bad you’re out of luck.
>
>
>
> The DRAC remote console is quite a bit snapper than the Dell (Avocent) KVM
> one.
>
>
>
> I have not seen any issues with reliability on either flavor of DRAC.
>
>
>
> Buy both unless your budget is really tight!
>
>
>
> *From:* Sean Martin [mailto:seanmarti...@gmail.com]
> *Sent:* Tuesday, August 17, 2010 12:53 PM
> *To:* NT System Admin Issues
> *Subject:* Re: Dell - IDRAC6 Enterprise vs IDRAC6 Express
>
>
>
> We primarily use out-of-band features within the Dell Blade Chassis, which
> is great, but we also have a few stand-alone servers with iDRACs. They are
> definitely handy to have, especially with the ability to mount virtual
> media. I have experienced a handful of issues with servers not booting,
> hardware errors, etc. (over many years) that was a result of a bad DRAC, but
> not enough to sway me from using them.
>
>
>
> If mounting virtual media is not a requirement, I would look again at the
> cost comparison between IP KVMs and individual DRACs for each server. I
> don't know what the exact costs are for DRACs, but I dont think a 16 port IP
> KVM would cost much more than 16 DRACs. You also need to factor in a
> dedicated switch port for the DRAC vs. a single port an IP KVM.
>
>
>
> Centralized management may be another consideration. I think some of the IP
> KVM offerings allow multiple switches to be daisy chained that can be
> managed through a single interface.
>
>
>
> - Sean
>
> On Tue, Aug 17, 2010 at 9:39 AM, Fred Sawyer 
> wrote:
>
> Is anyone using either the IDRAC6 Enterprise or Express.  From what I am
> reading the Express card offers a basic web-interface that can be used to
> remotely reboot that machine.  Where the Enterprise version offers remote
> ability to mount media as well as direct console access.
>
> I am trying to figure out how reliable the Enterprise card is for remotely
> supporting a server.  From a cost analysis the IDRAC Enterprise options is
> more affordable then a TCP/IP KVM such as a Raritan.
>
> All feedback is greatly appreciated!
>
> Cheers,
>
> Fred
>
> ..
> ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~
> ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/>  ~
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~
~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/>  ~

RE: Dell - IDRAC6 Enterprise vs IDRAC6 Express

[Osborne, Richard]

Agreed; the ability to mount media is very handy to setup servers
remotely and the KVM doesn't get you that.

 

You don't need a separate network port for the DRAC nowadays.  You can
assign it a different IP address but use one port for it and the live
NIC.  Of course, if that link goes bad you're out of luck.

 

The DRAC remote console is quite a bit snapper than the Dell (Avocent)
KVM one.

 

I have not seen any issues with reliability on either flavor of DRAC.

 

Buy both unless your budget is really tight!

 

From: Sean Martin [mailto:seanmarti...@gmail.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, August 17, 2010 12:53 PM
To: NT System Admin Issues
Subject: Re: Dell - IDRAC6 Enterprise vs IDRAC6 Express

 

We primarily use out-of-band features within the Dell Blade Chassis,
which is great, but we also have a few stand-alone servers with iDRACs.
They are definitely handy to have, especially with the ability to mount
virtual media. I have experienced a handful of issues with servers not
booting, hardware errors, etc. (over many years) that was a result of a
bad DRAC, but not enough to sway me from using them.

 

If mounting virtual media is not a requirement, I would look again at
the cost comparison between IP KVMs and individual DRACs for each
server. I don't know what the exact costs are for DRACs, but I dont
think a 16 port IP KVM would cost much more than 16 DRACs. You also need
to factor in a dedicated switch port for the DRAC vs. a single port an
IP KVM. 

 

Centralized management may be another consideration. I think some of the
IP KVM offerings allow multiple switches to be daisy chained that can be
managed through a single interface. 

 

- Sean 

On Tue, Aug 17, 2010 at 9:39 AM, Fred Sawyer
 wrote:

Is anyone using either the IDRAC6 Enterprise or Express.  From what I am
reading the Express card offers a basic web-interface that can be used
to remotely reboot that machine.  Where the Enterprise version offers
remote ability to mount media as well as direct console access.

I am trying to figure out how reliable the Enterprise card is for
remotely supporting a server.  From a cost analysis the IDRAC Enterprise
options is more affordable then a TCP/IP KVM such as a Raritan.

All feedback is greatly appreciated!

Cheers,

Fred

..
~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~
~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/>  ~

 

 

 

~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~
~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/>  ~

Re: Dell - IDRAC6 Enterprise vs IDRAC6 Express

[Sean Martin]

We primarily use out-of-band features within the Dell Blade Chassis, which
is great, but we also have a few stand-alone servers with iDRACs. They are
definitely handy to have, especially with the ability to mount virtual
media. I have experienced a handful of issues with servers not booting,
hardware errors, etc. (over many years) that was a result of a bad DRAC, but
not enough to sway me from using them.

If mounting virtual media is not a requirement, I would look again at the
cost comparison between IP KVMs and individual DRACs for each server. I
don't know what the exact costs are for DRACs, but I dont think a 16 port IP
KVM would cost much more than 16 DRACs. You also need to factor in a
dedicated switch port for the DRAC vs. a single port an IP KVM.

Centralized management may be another consideration. I think some of the IP
KVM offerings allow multiple switches to be daisy chained that can be
managed through a single interface.

- Sean

On Tue, Aug 17, 2010 at 9:39 AM, Fred Sawyer wrote:

> Is anyone using either the IDRAC6 Enterprise or Express.  From what I am
> reading the Express card offers a basic web-interface that can be used to
> remotely reboot that machine.  Where the Enterprise version offers remote
> ability to mount media as well as direct console access.
>
> I am trying to figure out how reliable the Enterprise card is for remotely
> supporting a server.  From a cost analysis the IDRAC Enterprise options is
> more affordable then a TCP/IP KVM such as a Raritan.
>
> All feedback is greatly appreciated!
>
> Cheers,
>
> Fred
>
> ..
> ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~
> ~   ~
>
>

~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~
~   ~