Question : Problem: DRAC5 configuration and firmware update

Hi,

I believe I have my DRAC cards functional on the servers, but I want to update the firmware and replace the default certificate.

I read the documentation, but I don't understand whether, once the firmware is updated, just the DRAC resets (without affecting the rest of the server) or if it requires a reboot.  It said 'when the DRAC resets' but I don't know what's involved in the DRAC resetting, and what kind of impact it might have.  Is this firmware update something I can do during business hours?

Also, I've been unable to find the most current firmware.  The documentation points to http://support.dell.com, but I looked up PowerEdge 2950 (I assumed it would be there) and I couldn't find the firmware.  Can anyone direct me more specifically to the download?  Is it under the server (where I looked) and they call it something other than DRAC?

As to the certificates, should I just do a self-signed certificate?  Does anyone have a good procedure for doing that, or any better suggestions (working within a budget of "free" of course :)?

TIA for your help!

Answer : Problem: DRAC5 configuration and firmware update

Sorry for the delay - I didn't dig up anything definitive on the reset.  Some Linux folks who talk about issuing a reset command to the DRAC from within the OS with no problems, but nothing I'm 100% confident in.  Any chance you could run this by Dell support?  

Re: the certificate, are you trying to replace the default cert with one from your internal organization so the cert will be recognized by your PCs?  Here's a doc from Dell that instead talks about making the Dell cert a trusted one in your domain: http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/software/smdrac3/drac4/1.1/en/UG/racugc5.htm#wp33604

This link is at a different level of the user guide and talks about the reset command.  If you use a certain parameter, an OS reboot is required afterward - that implies, at least to me, that no OS reboot will take place during the reset.  YMMV, of course.
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/software/smdrac3/drac4/1.1/en/UG/racugaa.htm#wp31217