Uploading ISO over 2GB to iDrac8

 

I have a dell R730xd server with an iDrac8 with a 16GB vFlash.

Its relatively easy to upload an iso to it from the iDrac HTML5 web interface… As long as its under 2GB in size.

 

There is a way to upload an ISO that is over 2GB, but you have to jump through some hoops.

 

Let’s go pull Ubuntu 26.04 ISO (This ISO is over 2GB)

 

Download it from https://releases.ubuntu.com/26.04/ubuntu-26.04.1-live-server-amd64.iso
I just ran a simple wget to pull it down

> wget https://releases.ubuntu.com/26.04/ubuntu-26.04.1-live-server-amd64.iso

First let me show you how you can’t upload this file from the iDrac web page.

 

 

Select OverviewàServer then click on VFlash

 

 

 

Select Create from Image tab

 

Here you will see the Note that says you are limited to 2GB

 

For the label I am setting it to UBU26
For Emulation Type set it to CD.
Then click on Choose File in the Image location field.

 

Select the Ubuntu 26.04 ISO and click Open.

 

 

 

Click Apply

 

And it fails with this error.  Even though I have enough space.
So how can you work around this?

 

 

The workaround!

We need to run a local web server so we can share the ISO we downloaded via http.

I am running Ubuntu in WSL from a windows machine.   I could get this to work but I would need to do some work to get windows to forward a port to the WSL Ubuntu.  I am not going to fight that fight today… but it would work.

What I am going to do is run a web server from the Ubuntu I already have running on my server (So the iDrac will mount/upload the ISO from the server it is on 😊 )

You need your IP address, here is a command that can obtain it.

> hostname -I

 

My address is 192.168.0.46.

Now let me make a folder and download the ISO to this computer.

> mkdir ISOs   > cd ISOs   > wget https://releases.ubuntu.com/26.04/ubuntu-26.04.1-live-server-amd64.iso

 

After it downloads lets check the size

> ls -alh

 

 

I tried using a simple python web server like this

> python3 -m http.server 8000

 

Unfortunately, this will not work since we need HTTP/1.1 and to be able to use Partial Content, which will allow us to effectively “MOUNT” the ISO and access it in chunks. 

OK let’s use nginx and run it via docker…

> sudo apt update   > sudo apt install docker.io

Then run (assuming you are running it from the directory the ISO is in.

> cd ISOs   > sudo docker run --rm -p 8000:80 \   -v .:/usr/share/nginx/html:ro \   nginx:alpine

 

OK, not lets test it from another server (not the iDrac)
Run this command. 

> curl -I -H "Range: bytes=0-1023" http://192.168.0.46:8000/ubuntu-26.04.1-live-server-amd64.iso

 

You should see HTTP/1.1 and 206 Partial Content

Now ssh to the iDrac.  In my case my test iDrac is located at 192.168.0.67

> ssh root@192.168.0.67

 

 

Now confirm we can hit the server by using ping

> racadm ping 192.168.0.46

 

Looks good 0% packet loss.

Just in case run this command to disconnect from any virtual media on the iDrac.

> racadm remoteimage -d

Then to check

> racadm remoteimage -s

 

Now run this command from the iDrac to “mount” the ISO from the webserver.  (make sure to change the IP to your own IP address)

> racadm remoteimage -c -l http://192.168.0.46:8000/ubuntu-26.04.1-live-server-amd64.iso

 

That failed… Run it again

I don’t know why, but it took 5 times then it worked! 

Check it

> racadm remoteimage -s

 

From the iDrac web interface I can click on Attached Media and see that the ISO is attached.

Now run this command to add it to the vFlash (change the IP to your and change the ISO save name to what you want)

Make sure to use an index that is available I am using -i 3 since 1 and 2 are being used

> racadm vflashpartition create -i 3 -o UBU26 -e cddvd -t image -l http://192.168.0.46:8000/ubuntu-26.04.1-live-server-amd64.iso -u user -p pass

 

It worked!

No let’s see its progress

From the iDrac Overviewà Server
Select vFlash à Manage

Here you will see it uploading!

There is also a command you can run from the iDrac cmd line

> racadm vflashpartition status -i 3

 

Now the funny thing is it will stay at 0% as it uploads then when its done it will jump to 100%.  So you can’t easily track it.

You can also run

> racadm vflashpartition status -a

 

But same thing you will see no progress until it hits 100%

 

 

 

Its fully there now!

 

 

 

Installing from an ISO on the vFlash

To now use this ISO on the vFlash to install do the following.

 

From the vFlash tool.  Select manage then checkbox attached for the ISO you want to install and click Apply.

Now Launch the Virtual Console

 

From the Virtual Console click on Launch Virtual Console

 

Now power cycle the box.

 

 

Watch it reboot in the virtual console.

Press F10

 

 

Now it will enter the lifecycle controller in a minute as it boots up.

 

 

 

 

Click on System Setup then Click on Advanced Hardware Configuration.

 

 

Click System BIOS

 

Click Boot Settings

 

Click UEFI Boot Settings

 

 

 

Click on UEFI Boot Sequence

 

 

 

Select our ISO that we mounted as a CD and click the + button until its at the top.

 

 

Click OK

 

 

Click Exit

 

 

Save the Changes

 

Click OK

 

 

Click Finish

 

 

Click Yes.

 

Now it will start up and start from the ISO so you can install the OS.

 

 

 

OK now we are at the install menu!

 

I am not going to walk through an Ubuntu 26.04 install but this covered how to get there from an ISO on your iDrac 😊

 

References