When I launch the virtual console for the server my iDRAC is installed on, I am able to see the screen and to click on the logon buttons, however when I want to type anything...no text is passed to the console. I dug a little bit on the Internet and found two suggestions:
- Problems first appeared after I changed the IP address on the iDRAC config. After some digging, I was able to get my keyboard working again within the Virtual Console Native Plugin by updating the firmware. [Note: I tried this, but it did not solve my problem]
- I had a defective iDRAC expansion card with outdated firmware. I replaced the card with one running the current firmware (because I was also unable to update the firmware remotely) and the problem was solved. [Note: Wow...strange. iDRAC is built into my Dell system's motherboard, Poweredge R710]
- I just had the same issue. Login to your DRAC and change the console type from Native to Java. Once I did this i could use my keyboard. It seems to be a problem with iDRAC plugin on my local computer. [Note: This does not appear to be possible with iDRAC 6, this tip must be for a previous version]
- ...by adding the new iDRAC IP to Trusted Sites in IE.[Note: We already did this via Group Policy and the iDRAC website is trusted]
None of these things were problems for me, so I tried to run the console in Google Chrome...the browser I normally use for the Internet. I was able to login and when I tried to launch the console, a JNLP file downloaded to my computer to run. From a quick search, I was able to see that JNLP are Java files, and I don't have Java Runtime installed on my computer, so the file would not open. So I downloaded Oracle Java Runtime 7 and installed it (despite my worries of the infinite exploits running around on the Internet and the frequent news releases of security problems with Java). I closed Internet Explorer, relaunched it, logged in, launched the Virtual Console...and still no dice.
I'll post the final solution later.
Notes:
Windows 7 64bit
Internet Explorer 9
Java Runtime 7u21
iDRAC 6 1.95
UPDATE: I found that the 3rd solution I found works for me, I just didn't know how to do it. Here's one way to switch from Native to Java consoles (note: Java Runtime is required as well).
- Log into the web interface for iDRAC.
- Select System from the right menu and then click Console/Media.
- Select the Configuration screen menu
- In the Virtual Console section, locate the Plug-in Type drop-down menu and select Java (Native is the default)
- Click Apply at the bottom of the screen.
- Select the Virtual Console and Virtual Media screen and then click Launch Virtual Console to launch the server console.
