Dell R720 Server: ESXi 6.7 Not Showing Virtual Console after Installing Ubuntu Server on Separate HDD and iDRAC7

Dell R720 Server: ESXi 6.7 Not Showing Virtual Console - Installing Ubuntu Server on Separate HDD with iDRAC7

In this article, we will discuss the process of installing Ubuntu Server on a separate HDD in a Dell R720 server running ESXi 6.7, while addressing the issue of the iDRAC7 not showing the virtual console. This guide is designed for network engineers, system administrators, and IT professionals who are working with Dell R720 servers and ESXi 6.7 in a lab environment.

Prerequisites

• A Dell R720 server with ESXi 6.7 installed
• An additional HDD for Ubuntu Server installation
• An iDRAC7 enterprise license
• An Ubuntu Server ISO image
• A remote desktop application (e.g., RDP, VNC, or SSH client) to access the iDRAC7 virtual console

Procedure

To install Ubuntu Server on a separate HDD in a Dell R720 server running ESXi 6.7, follow these steps:

1. Attach the additional HDD to the Dell R720 server.
2. Reboot the server and access the iDRAC7 virtual console using a remote desktop application.
3. In the iDRAC7 virtual console, navigate to the "Storage" section and identify the new HDD.
4. Create a new VMFS datastore on the new HDD by selecting "New Datastore" and following the on-screen prompts.
5. Download and install the "VMware Remote Console" application on your local machine.
6. Launch the "VMware Remote Console" application and connect to the ESXi 6.7 host using the IP address and root credentials.
7. Create a new virtual machine by selecting "File" > "New" > "Virtual Machine" and following the on-screen prompts.
8. Select "Custom" as the configuration type and choose the new VMFS datastore as the storage location.
9. Configure the virtual machine with the desired settings, including the number of CPUs, memory, and network adapters.
10. Attach the Ubuntu Server ISO image to the virtual machine's CD-ROM drive.
11. Power on the virtual machine and begin the Ubuntu Server installation process.
12. Once the installation is complete, remove the ISO image from the virtual machine's CD-ROM drive and power off the virtual machine.

Troubleshooting: iDRAC7 Not Showing Virtual Console

If the iDRAC7 virtual console is not showing, try the following troubleshooting steps:

1. Ensure that the iDRAC7 enterprise license is installed and activated.
2. Check the iDRAC7 firmware version and update it if necessary.
3. Verify that the iDRAC7 virtual console is enabled in the BIOS settings.
4. Restart the iDRAC7 service by running the following command in the iDRAC7 CLI:

In this article, we have discussed the process of installing Ubuntu Server on a separate HDD in a Dell R720 server running ESXi 6.7, while addressing the issue of the iDRAC7 not showing the virtual console. By following the steps outlined in this article, network engineers, system administrators, and IT professionals can successfully install and configure Ubuntu Server in a lab environment using a Dell R720 server and ESXi 6.7.

References

• Dell R720 Server: https://www.dell.com/en-us/work/shop/povw/poweredge-r720-rack-server/spd/poweredge-r720
• ESXi 6.7: https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-vSphere/6.7/vsphere-esxi-67-vcenter-server-pubs.html
• Ubuntu Server: https://ubuntu.com/server
• iDRAC7: https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000126791/dell-remote-access-controller-7-idrac7-vmware-esxi-6-5-and-6-7-virtual-console-support

Note: This article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for production environments without proper testing and validation.