How To
Summary
In this document I show you ways to reset iDRAC (Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller). Locally or remotely, as well as restarting or restoring it to default values.
Objective
Symptoms
Sometimes iDRAC (Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller) is responsible for collecting all the information from Dell servers and sometimes it stops responding and it is necessary to restart it and sometimes restore default values.
- RADADM command returns error.
- There is no access via SSH/Telnet and it gives a timeout.
- The browser does not have access to medication.
- Unable to ping.
Cause
It is possible that the iDRAC firmware is not updated to the latest level indicated by the manufacturer, as this update may lead to security/performance fixes. Once the iDRAC firmware is updated, it is not necessary to restart the server, only the management module would need to be restarted.
Steps
INDEX
Web Interface
Operating System
On Dell servers there is a small button indicated below. It is located on the front or back and is used to identify the server when you are working on it to identify it. But there is another utility, that if you leave it pressed for less than 16 seconds and when the fans start to rev, release the button, the iDRAC will restart without changing any configuration and without having to restart the operating system.
Web Interface
- Connect to the iDRAC web interface.
- Log in with username and password.
- Click on the Maintenance tab.
- Click on Diagnostics.
- Click on Reset iDRAC or Restart iDRAC.
iDRAC 7 AND iDRAC 8
- Connect to the iDRAC web interface.
- Log in with username and password.
- At the bottom of the quick start task tree.
- Push in Reset iDRAC.
- Push OK.
FROM INSIDE HOTS OS
To use this method iDRAC Service Module (iSM) must be already installed in host OS.
WINDOWS
There are three different ways to reset iDRAC in Windows environment:
Method WMI
- Open the command prompt with administrator rights.
- Execute the following command:
- Local: winrm i iDRACHardReset wmi/root/cimv2/dcim/DCIM_iSMService?InstanceID="iSMExportedFunctions"
- Remote: winrm i iDRACHardReset wmi/root/cimv2/dcim/dcim_ismservice -u:"admin-username" -p:"password" -r:http://"remote-hostname or IP"/wsman -a:Basic -encoding:utf-8 -skipCACheck -skipCNCheck
Method PowerShell
This option can be done locally and remotely with PowerShell cmdlets included with iSM.
Before running the commands ensure execution policy for running PowerShell scripts is "AllSigned" or "Unrestricted":
Set-ExecutionPolicy AllSignedSet-ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted
The commands to reset iDrac with PowerShell are:
Local
- Open PowerShell as Administrator from the server.
- Execute Invoke-iDRACHardReset .
Remote
- Open PowerShell with administrator rights.
- Enable PowerShell remote running Enable PS-Remoting cmdlet.
- Run the same commend as above.
Method Program Menu Shortcut
Open a remote desktop session to the host operating system, then locate and run iDRAC reset, created during iSM installation, in the program menu.
LINUX
Connect to host OS with SSH, Telnet, or any valid method. Run one of the following commands:
- Soft reset
$ /opt/dell/srvadmin/iSM/bin/Invoke-iDRACHardReset - Forced reset
$ /opt/dell/srvadmin/iSM/bin/Invoke-iDRACHardReset -f
VMware ESXi
Issue the following command:
winrm i iDRACHardReset http://schemas.dell.com/wbem/wscim/1/cim-schema/2/root/cimv2/dcim/DCIM_iSMService? __cimnamespace=root/cimv2/dcim+InstanceID=iSMExportedFunctions -u:"root-username" -p:"password" -r:https://"Host-IP":443/wsman -a:basic -encoding:utf-8 -skipCNCheck -skipCACheck -skipRevocationcheck
It is possible that after the reboot the IPMI unit stops working, to enable it again it is necessary to stop the IPMI service and restart it.
RACADM
The RACADM (Remote Access Controller Admin) utility is a command line application that allows you to locally or remotely manage the server. To run the command remotely you need to include remote connection options to the command.
racadm -r <iDRAC_IP> -u <username> -p <password>
iDRAC9
racadm racreset = This command restarts iDRAC without changing the configuration.
racadm racreset -f = This command restarts iDRAC without changing the configuration in mode force.
racadm racresetcfg = This command resets the iDRAC but leaves it at factory settings, but preserves the user and network settings.
racadm racresetcfg -all = This command resets the iDRAC to factory settings, removing user and network settings.
racadm racresetcfg - custom = This command resets the iDRAC to factory settings to custom default values.
racadm racresetcfg -rc = This command resets the iDRAC to factory settings and leaves the username (root) and password (calvin).
iDRAC 7 o iDRAC 8
racadm racreset = This command restarts iDRAC without changing the configuration.
racadm racreset -f = This command restarts iDRAC without changing the configuration in mode force.
racadm racresetcfg = This command resets the iDRAC to factory settings, removing user and network settings.
Document Location
Worldwide
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Document Information
Modified date:
05 November 2025
UID
ibm17179804