4 min
Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller (iDRAC) is a remote server management processor which is embedded within every Dell PowerEdge Server. It is designed for secure local and remove server monitoring and management.
Depending on its version it supports various protocols such as SNMP, SSH (as well as RESTful API based on Redfish).
This article will cover up how you can monitor your Dell servers hardware equipped with a Dell IDRAC Controller using Domotz, and it is divided into two main sections: Basic Monitoring and Advanced Monitoring.
Basic Monitoring
To get a basic monitoring a Dell iDRAC equipped server you might rely on Domotz SNMP templates or enable the OS monitoring feature which rely on the SSH protocol.
SNMP Templates
After you have enabled the SNMP service on your Dell iDrac controller, and set-up the authentication credentials inside Domotz (https://help.domotz.com/tips-tricks/how-to-set-custom-snmp-credentials-in-domotz/), Domotz will automatically display the Dell IDRAC Preconfigured SNMP Templates in the device SNMP section:
And you will be able to apply them on each device by selecting them from this modal window:
Or, if you prefer, you might assign these SNMP templates in bulk using Domotz Monitoring dashboards and tables:
To see what you will be able to monitoring with the Dell iDRAC General Monitoring, and the Dell iDrac Components Status Monitoring SNMP templates, you might check this kb article: https://help.domotz.com/monitoring-management/pre-configured-snmp-sensors/#htoc-dell-iDrac
Alert Settings – what and how to monitor using the SNMP templates?
General SNMP template
If using the General SNMP template you might setup an alert on the System Status and Storage Status:
| Value to be alerted | Alert Condition (if the value is) | Condition value | Notes |
| System Status | is Different From | ok | |
| Storage Status | is Different From | ok | |
If the value is: Is Different From “ok” Example on the System Status value
Components Status monitoring template
Otherwise, if you enabled the Components Status monitoring template, you might create an alert profile to monitor the following:
| Value to be alerted | Alert Condition (if the value is) | Condition value | Notes |
| Global System Status | is Different From | ok | |
| | | |
| Power Unit Status | | | add the three alert profiles |
| (1) Power Unit Status | Equals to | critical | failure state |
| (2) Power Unit Status | Equals to | non critical | warning state (not critical) |
| (3) Power Unit Status | Equals to | non recoverable | dead state |
| | | |
| Redundancy Power Unit Status | | | add the three alert profiles |
| (1) Redundancy Power Unit Status | Equals to | critical | failure state |
| (2) Redundancy Power Unit Status | Equals to | non critical | warning state (not critical) |
| (2) Redundancy Power Unit Status | Equals to | non recoverable | dead state |
| | | |
| Temperature | is Different From | ok | |
| | | |
| Cooling Device Status | is Different From | ok | |
| | | |
| Processor Status | is Different From | ok | |
| | | |
| Amperage Status | is Different From | ok | |
| | | |
| Chassis Intrusion | is Different From | ok | |
of the Power Unit Status and Redundancy Power Unit Status values, the “other” state is a bug and equals to “ok” and the “unknown” state equals to “not monitored” so these might be not considered to be an “alert”.
OS monitoring
We do also ship a native integration (called OS monitoring) which is ssh-based and allow you to monitoring IPMI sensors.
After unlocking over ssh the iDRAC controller using the Access Manager
you will be able to setup alerts on IPMI sensors:
Most common IPMI sensors on which you might want to be alerted are:
| Value to be alerted | Alert Condition (if the value is) | Condition value | Notes |
| CPU1 Temp | is Grater or Equal To | 79 | |
| CPU1 Temp | is Grater or Equal To | 79 | |
| System Board Inlet Temp | is Grater or Equal To | 35 | |
| System Board Fan1 | is Less Than | 3000 | |
| System Board Fan* | is Less Than | 3000 | |
Advanced Monitoring
Also advanced monitoring is possible in Dell iDRAC server controllers by using Domotz Integration scripts.
Physical HDs Monitoring
By applying the Physical HDs script, you will be able to monitor all this information:
- Type
- Description
- Primary Status
- Raid Status
- Raid Types
- Size
- Used Size
- Free Size
- Manufacturer
- Model
- Bus protocol
Most common values on which you might want setup an alert are:
| Value to be alerted | Alert Condition (if the value is) | Condition value | Notes |
| Status | Is Different from | OK | |
| Raid Status | Is Different from | Online | |
PSU Monitoring
By choosing the PSU (Power Supply Unit) Monitoring script you will be able to get access to this data:
- Power Supply Description
- Primary Status
- Total Output Power
- Input Voltage
- Redundancy Status
- Part Number
- Model
- Manufacturer
Most common values on which you might want setup an alert are:
| Value to be alerted | Alert Condition (if the value is) | Condition value | Notes |
| Primary Status | Is Different from | OK | |
Raid Monitoring
By choosing the Raid Monitoring script, you will be able to get access to this data:
- Type
- Primary Status
- Product Name
- Description
- Support RAID 10 Uneven Spans
- Cache Size
- Driver Version
- Encryption Mode
- Security Status
Most common values on which you might want setup an alert are:
| Value to be alerted | Alert Condition (if the value is) | Condition value | Notes |
| Primary Status | Is Different from | OK | |
Memory Monitoring
By using the Memory Monitoring script. you will be able to fetch the following data:
- Type
- Description
- Primary Status
- Bank Label
- Model
- Part Number
- Serial Number
- Manufacturer
- Size
- Speed
- Current Operating Speed
Most common values on which you might want setup an alert are:
| Value to be alerted | Alert Condition (if the value is) | Condition value | Notes |
| Primary Status | Is Different from | OK | |
Fan Monitoring
With the Fan Monitoring script you will be able to fetch and monitor the following data:
Most common values on which you might want setup an alert are:
| Value to be alerted | Alert Condition (if the value is) | Condition value | Notes |
| Primary Status | Is Different from | OK | |
| PWN | Is Greater than | 90% | PWM stands for “pulse width modulation.”
This is a standardized pulse signal that controls the fan speed. |
Processors Monitoring
Our specific script about Processors Monitoring will allow you to monitor the following:
- Type
- Description
- Model
- Primary Status
- Max Clock Speed
- Virt Tech Enabled
- Hyper Threading Enabled
Most common values on which you might want setup an alert are:
| Value to be alerted | Alert Condition (if the value is) | Condition value | Notes |
| Primary Status | Is Different from | OK | |
| CPU Status | Is Different from | CPU Enabled | |
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