iDRAC Setup via ESXi

How to install Dell racadm on ESXi, configure iDRAC networking and NIC selection mode, and reset the iDRAC password, all from the ESXi host CLI.

Prerequisites

ESXi host with SSH access
Dell iDRAC Tools VIB file downloaded from Dell Support
VIB file placed on a datastore accessible from ESXi

Download: Dell iDRAC Tools for ESXi v11.0.0.0 (Driver ID: 0C7FM). Supports ESXi 7.0 U3 and ESXi 8.0.

File: Dell-iDRACTools-Web-ESXi.VIB-11.0.0.0-5139_A00.zip

Step 1 — Install racadm VIB on ESXi

SSH into your ESXi host, then install the VIB from your datastore:

esxcli software vib install -d /vmfs/volumes/datastore1/ISO/Dell-iDRACTools-Web-ESXi.VIB-11.0.0.0-5139_A00.zip

Verify the installation was successful:

esxcli software vib list | grep racadm

Expected output:

racadm    11.0.0.0.2022-DEL.700.0.0.15525992    DEL    VMwareAccepted    2022-xx-xx

Step 2 — Check ESXi Network (Optional)

Verify the ESXi host IP to confirm you’re on the right server:

esxcli network ip interface ipv4 get

Test connectivity to your gateway or known IPs:

ping <HOST_IP>
ping <GATEWAY_IP>

Step 3 — Set iDRAC IP Address

Assign a static IP to iDRAC using racadm:

racadm setniccfg -s <IP> <Netmask> <Gateway>

Example:

racadm setniccfg -s <IDRAC_IP> 255.255.255.0 <GATEWAY_IP>

Verify the IP was applied:

racadm getniccfg

Step 4 — Fix iDRAC NIC Selection (Dedicated → Shared LOM)

By default, iDRAC may be set to Dedicated NIC mode. If the dedicated port has no cable connected, iDRAC will be unreachable. You’ll see this in getniccfg output:

LOM Status:
NIC Selection   = Dedicated
Link Detected   = No
Speed           = 10Mb/s
Duplex Mode     = Half Duplex
Active NIC      = None

Switch iDRAC to Shared LOM1 mode so it uses the server’s main NIC:

racadm set iDRAC.NIC.Selection 2

Confirm the change:

racadm getniccfg

Expected output after the change:

LOM Status:
NIC Selection   = LOM1
Link Detected   = Yes
Speed           = 1Gb/s
Duplex Mode     = Full Duplex
Active NIC      = LOM1
Active LOM in Shared Mode = LOM1
FailOver LOM in Shared Mode = None

Value	Mode
1	Dedicated
2	Shared LOM1 ✅
3	Shared with Failover LOM2
4	Shared with Failover All LOMs

Step 5 — Reset iDRAC Password to Default

Reset the root (index 2) account password back to calvin:

racadm set iDRAC.Users.2.Password calvin

Default iDRAC credentials:

Field Value
Username root
Password calvin

⚠️ On newer Dell servers (iDRAC 9 firmware 3.00+), the default password may be a unique value printed on a pull-tab label on the server instead of calvin.

Field	Value
Username	`root`
Password	`calvin`

Step 6 — Access iDRAC Web UI

Open a browser and navigate to:

https://<IDRAC_IP>

Username: root
Password: calvin

Full Command Summary

# 1. Install racadm VIB
esxcli software vib install -d /vmfs/volumes/datastore1/ISO/Dell-iDRACTools-Web-ESXi.VIB-11.0.0.0-5139_A00.zip

# 2. Verify installation
esxcli software vib list | grep racadm

# 3. Check ESXi host network
esxcli network ip interface ipv4 get

# 4. Set iDRAC static IP
racadm setniccfg -s <IDRAC_IP> 255.255.255.0 <GATEWAY_IP>

# 5. Verify IP config
racadm getniccfg

# 6. Switch NIC to Shared LOM1
racadm set iDRAC.NIC.Selection 2

# 7. Verify NIC change
racadm getniccfg

# 8. Reset password to default
racadm set iDRAC.Users.2.Password calvin

Troubleshooting

racadm not found

Install the racadm VIB first (see Step 1). If the VIB is already installed but racadm is still not found, try logging out and back into SSH, or verify the installation with:

esxcli software vib list | grep racadm

iDRAC still not reachable after NIC change

Wait 30-60 seconds for iDRAC to reinitialize after NIC mode change
Confirm the server’s LOM port has a physical cable connected
Try pinging the iDRAC IP from another host on the same subnet

usbarbitrator error when running certain racadm commands

Disable usbarbitrator first:

/etc/init.d/usbarbitrator stop

Then retry the racadm command.

Remote racadm commands fail (firewall issue)

Disable the ESXi firewall temporarily:

esxcli network firewall unload