iDrac 8 HTML Console constant "reconnecting" issue

BashRoot,

Would you clarify a couple of things for me? 

What model server are you working on?

What other browsers have you tried, if any?

What is the specific OS you are trying to install?

Do you have the ability to try any of the other options besides HTML5, if so what is the results?

Have you tried reseting the iDrac with the racadm racreset command?

Let me know what you see.

Hi @dell-chris

I don't java anymore, it's clunky and lousy. I only use HTML 5 via Edge desktop. I also tried via iPhone Safari, but everytime I launch virtual console, it says "the network connection has been dropped". Replicated with Wifi and LTE and 5G.

I get the reconnecting error on multiple servers: R630, R430, R440, and on both iDrac 8 and iDrac9

This happens with various Linux ISOs including Centos7, AlmaLinux 8/9, Debian, Ubuntu.

It's obviously related to iDRAC. I've already done the reset option. 

BashRoot,

You may want to glance at this page and make sure the browsers are configured to access the virtual console.  Also, I have to ask, the servers are all up to date on BIOS, iDrac, raid controller, etc?

Yes BIOS and firmware, etc all up to date. I still don't understand why the "reconnecting" issue keeps happening on desktop. Please explain. This just happened again on 2 x R630 servers while installing AlmaLinux 8.9.

Can anyone help please?

BashRoot,

With us not supporting AlmaLinux, I would suggest you wait to hear from the community, or you may try seeing if the issue occurs when you try using a different OS to install. 

@DELL-Chris H​ 

Thanks for the reply, but please read my OP again. 

"Regardless of ISO size or which o/s is mounted as virtual cd-rom (ISO), I get attached reconnecting message, then the virtual console window closes." 

It's not just AlmaLinux. Happens with Ubuntu, Centos, Debian too.

https://dell.to/3W6iBh3.

Support for Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller 8 | Dell Australia

Note: iDRAC8 has reached the End of Sale as of December 2021 and reaches the End of Software Maintenance as of February 2024. The last scheduled release of iDRAC8 firmware is version 2.85.85.85.

As per release note for 2.84.84.84 the supported browsers are:

• Microsoft Internet Explorer 11
• Microsoft EDGE
• Safari version 12
• Mozilla Firefox version 64
• Mozilla Firefox version 65
• Google Chrome version 76
• Google Chrome version 77

The issue is most likely related to the browsers trying to sleep/hibernate pages to free up resources 

something like this

https://dell.to/3ztC4zD

Sleeping tabs

We were able to replicate the issue in latest Chrome 126:

if we minimise the virtual console or go to another Chrome windows it will get disconnected,

and it is the same as iDRAC losing the connection, because latest browsers and old iDRAC cannot do it correctly  

If we keep the window with virtual console always on top we have no issues.

Another test we did - used compatible old Internet Explorer 11. And that has no issues even if we minimise it or jump to another window.

 So workaround is use old compatible browsers or do not minimise/loose focus of virtual console window during OS deployment. 

Respectfully,