I'm working with a Dell R440 server equipped with an iDRAC9 enterprise license, and I've updated the system fully. My goal is to access the virtual console via the iDRAC login, but I'm facing an issue where I can't get any keyboard or mouse input while in the BIOS setup. When I attempt to reboot, it appears that the keyboard and mouse don't respond until the operating system has booted. Even when I try to boot from an ISO image, I can't enter the BIOS at all. I've checked the settings for keyboard and mouse attachment, set it to auto-attach as well as tried manual attachment, but there's been no change. Additionally, I reset the iDRAC through both the GUI and command line with no success. Has anyone experienced this problem before?
2 Answers
I've dealt with a similar issue in the past, and though I'm a bit fuzzy on the exact fix, it's worth checking any USB-related settings. In my case, I couldn't get the physical USB keyboards to work either, so it might be tied to that.
This might sound a bit out there, but draining the residual power worked for me before on a different Dell server with a similar issue. Just ensure your keyboard and mouse are connected to USB ports 1 and 2 (those are the black ones on the left at the back). Here’s the power drain procedure:
1. Turn off the server.
2. Unplug all power and network cables.
3. Hold the power button for at least 10 seconds (I'd suggest counting to 20).
4. Plug the power and network cables back in.
5. Wait about 2 minutes to let the iDRAC initialize.
6. Then power the server back on.
Give it a shot!
That actually makes sense. I’ll give it a shot!