Covers:
- What iDRAC is in plain English, and why no subscription is needed
- Phase 1: Firmware updates via Lifecycle Controller (F10), including
how to find the Service Tag and download firmware from Dell's site
if the server has no internet access
- Phase 2: iDRAC static IP, dedicated NIC port, IPMI over LAN enable,
default password change, browser login walkthrough
- Phase 3: Every required BIOS setting with exact menu paths —
VT-x, VT-d, SR-IOV, UEFI boot mode, HDD sequencing, C States
https://claude.ai/code/session_01TxTSnxDjgEVuNztdsWQjMD
12x 3.5" HDDs spinning up simultaneously can spike ~240W, pushing a single
750W PSU close to its limit. Two-layer fix:
- Layer 1: racadm iDRAC BIOS setting (HddSeq) fires at POST before OS loads
- Layer 2: stagger-spinup.service wakes drives one at a time via hdparm on boot
https://claude.ai/code/session_01TxTSnxDjgEVuNztdsWQjMD
- scripts/build-bay-map.sh: maps physical drive bays to /dev/disk/by-id paths
- scripts/gpu-passthrough-setup.sh: configures IOMMU + vfio-pci for two Quadro P2200s
- scripts/fan-control.sh: ipmitool daemon to prevent iDRAC from running fans at
100% due to non-Dell PCIe cards; adjusts speed by inlet temperature
- scripts/fan-control.service: systemd unit for fan-control.sh
https://claude.ai/code/session_01TxTSnxDjgEVuNztdsWQjMD
Initial structure for R730xd passthrough configuration:
- README with VM layout table and setup order
- docs/hardware-layout.md: bay/GPU/USB mapping worksheet
- scripts/perc-nonraid.sh: convert H730 drives to per-disk non-RAID mode
https://claude.ai/code/session_01TxTSnxDjgEVuNztdsWQjMD