Users Guide

Remote Access Service 89
Remote Access Service
Overview
The Server Administrator Remote Access Service provides a complete remote system management
solution for SNMP- and CIM-instrumented systems equipped with a Dell™ Remote Access Card
(DRAC) III, a DRAC III/XT, an Embedded Remote Access (ERA) controller, or an ERA Option
(ERA/O) card. These hardware and software solutions are collectively known as Dell Remote Access
Controllers (DRACs). With regard to the latest DRAC solution offering from Dell—DRAC 4, the
Remote Access Service also allows a basic management task to be performed from Dell OpenManage
Server Administrator: you can connect to DRAC 4 from the Server Administrator GUI.
The DRAC 4 is a systems management hardware and software solution designed to provide remote
management capabilities, crashed system recovery, and power control functions for
Dell PowerEdge™ systems.
By communicating with the system’s baseboard management controller (BMC), the DRAC 4 can be
configured to send you e-mail alerts for warnings or errors related to voltages, temperatures, and fan
speeds. The DRAC 4 also logs event data and the most recent crash screen (for systems running the
Microsoft
®
Windows
®
operating system only) to help you diagnose the probable cause of a system crash.
Depending on your system, the DRAC 4 hardware is either a system card (DRAC 4/I) or a full-length
PCI card (DRAC 4/P). The DRAC 4/I and DRAC 4/P are identical except for the hardware differences.
The DRAC 4 has its own microprocessor and memory, and is powered by the system in which it is
installed. The DRAC 4 may be preinstalled on your system, or available separately in a kit.
NOTE: The information contained in this section pertains to the previous generation of DRACs. See the
Dell Remote Access Controller 4 User’s Guide for more information on using DRAC 4.
The Remote Access Service provides remote access to an inoperable system, allowing you to get the
system up and running as quickly as possible. The Remote Access Service also provides alert
notification when a system is down and allows you to remotely restart a system. Additionally, the
Remote Access Service logs the probable cause of system crashes and saves the most recent crash screen.
You can log into the Remote Access Service through the Server Administrator home page or by
directly accessing the controller's IP address using a supported browser.
See the Server Administrator Command Line Interface User's Guide and the Dell Remote Access
Controller Racadm User's Guide for information about running the Remote Access Service from the
command line.