Users Guide

NOTE: In the event of a CMC failover, all iDRAC connections and all active CMC sessions are logged off. Users with
logged-off sessions must reconnect to the new active CMC.
About Standby CMC
The standby CMC is identical to and is maintained as a mirror of the active CMC. The active and standby CMCs must both be installed
with the same firmware revision. If the firmware revisions differ, the system reports as “redundancy degraded”.
The standby CMC assumes the same settings and properties of the active CMC. You must maintain the same firmware version on both
the CMCs, but you do not have to duplicate configuration settings on the standby CMC.
NOTE: For information about installing a CMC, see the VRTX Owner’s Manual . For instructions about installing CMC
firmware on your standby CMC, see Updating Firmware.
CMC Failsafe Mode
The PowerEdge VRTX enclosure enables the fail-safe mode to protect the servers and I/O module from not functioning. The fail-safe
mode is enabled when a CMC is not in control of the chassis. During the CMC failover period, or during a single CMC management loss:
• You cannot turn on the newly installed servers.
• You cannot remotely access existing servers.
• Server performance reduces to limit power consumption until management of the CMC is restored.
The following are some of the conditions that can result in CMC management loss:
• CMC removal — Chassis management resumes after replacing CMC, or after failover to standby CMC.
• CMC network cable removal or network connection loss — Chassis management resumes after the chassis fails over to the standby
CMC. Network failover is only enabled in redundant CMC mode.
• CMC reset — Chassis management resumes after CMC reboots or chassis fails over to the standby CMC.
• CMC failover command issued — Chassis management resumes after the chassis fails over to the standby CMC.
• CMC firmware update — Chassis management resumes after CMC reboots or chassis fails over to the standby CMC. It is
recommended that you update the standby CMC first so that there is only one failover event.
• CMC error detection and correction — Chassis management resumes after CMC resets or chassis fails over to the standby CMC.
NOTE:
You can configure the enclosure either with a single CMC or with redundant CMCs. In redundant CMC
configurations, if the primary CMC loses communication with the enclosure or the management network, the standby
CMC takes over the chassis management.
Active CMC Election Process
There is no difference between the two CMC slots; that is, slot does not indictate precedence. Instead, CMC that is installed or started
first, assumes the role of an active CMC. If AC power is applied with two CMCs installed, CMC installed in CMC chassis slot 1 normally
assumes the active role. The active CMC is indicated by a blue LED.
If two CMCs are inserted into a chassis that is already turned on, automatic active- or standby negotiation can take upto two minutes.
Normal chassis operation resumes when the negotiation is complete.
Obtaining Health Status of Redundant CMC
You can view the health status of the standby CMC in the web interface. For more information about accessing CMC health status in the
web interface, see Viewing Chassis Information and Monitoring Chassis and Component Health.
Configuring Front Panel
You can configure the following:
• Power button
• LCD
• DVD drive
Installing and Setting Up CMC
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