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I’m working with the task of configuring a series of Dell computers!

Can anyone tell me whether or not we need iDrac as we wil use Spicework as our survailiance system, and what are DELL’s SD “Internal Module with 1x 8GB SD Card”

Only for memory or somthingg special

I hope you guy’s can help me!

@Dell_Technologies

11 Spice ups
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The Dell Internet SD Card Module, Allows you to Boot ESXi dirct from an SDCard, instead of using the disk space, means that your disks can be used purely for VM Storage,

iDrac allows you to remote into the server below the bios, so if theres a crash you can get into the host, without having to walk to the physical machine, and connect a kmv switch to it.

7 Spice ups
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And this works well with Spicework+

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Cant say, havent got any servers which have idrac in,

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Thanks for the help

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Now for the next issue!

Can you tell the difference between a server 2012 R2 Datacenter as opposite Essentials!

Just for the picture we intend to install a Development server a communication server and a office server in windows 2012 R2 and one test and home server in Linux.

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Datacenter is really just more licenses so you can run more VM’s. I think the break even point is 6. Essentials is an entry level product.

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Thanks:-)

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Essentials has a cut down version and only support 25 AD Users

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The SD card is for things like ESXi to be installed on to.

The iDRAC is for remote management. It comes in handy to be able to connect to it and see how the hardware health is and to be able to have console access to a host.

Personally, I would never get a Dell without an iDRAC.

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iDrac is not a needed component but if it comes with the server it will be very handy.

Assume your offsite and the server has crashed, you cant remote in because the server isn’t there, add an iDrac and you can still connect to the remote web page, which will tell you why the server crashed and you also have the ability to see the boot up and power on and off remotely.

Can save you an actual site visit, which is even more handy if you have a good drive to get there.

iDrac and HP iLO can save a lot of visits to get a server back on.

You mention SD cards and 2012 Datacentre or Essentials, I’m not sure I would want Windows to boot from an SD card, patching/updates and temp space would be limited and slow.

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An 8GB SD Card formatted would give you, what? 7.7GB usable?

That’ll take a windows install but wouldn’t leave any room for the swap file! It would be a right mess.

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We give all out 2012 servers a minimum of 80GB for the C partition. It’s crazy how fast this can be chewed up by updates.

My current windows 8.1 install is using 54GB of the C: partition and it was only installed a few weeks ago. And for what it’s worth, I install all applications to a separate partition to leave the Windows files on their own.

Remember, as Gary said you also have the swap file and hibernation file (you can move and turn these off, but your limiting the system with an 8GB card as for speed if you planned on running Windows from it.

Unless you are installing a Hypervisor I wouldn’t use this as boot media.

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You have to create a vhdx drive then copy it and format the USB as active

Hyper-V Core Server when fully patched is around 10Gb and with page pooling removed works a treat!

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iDRAC is essential. Go with the iDRAC Enterprise license. It will save you a lot of grief in the future. It’s just like being in front of the console.

The 8GB SD is plenty to load ESXi.

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iDRAC is badass and you want it, it’s pretty much like HP’s ILO

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Make sure you get the Enterprise iDRAC - anything less does not let you launch a remote console session. I use it all the time, such as during my current ESXi 5.1 to 5.5 upgrades so I can watch the server console during reboots and upgrades. The iDRAC also allows you to see server hardware health at the source, you can power off the server in case of power problems, and power it back on again.

IMHO, the enterprise iDRAC is an essential component of any Dell server - even more so when you need to remotely support the machine.

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These are some pretty basic questions. If you’re going to use Spiceworks (not Spicework) for monitoring, and you’re unsure about iDrag and server 2012, you may be better off hiring a consultant or you might wind up using RAID5 on a production file sharing system, which is bad.

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RAID10 #FTW

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#Raid5IsBad??? who knew?

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