Users Guide

144 Using and Configuring Virtual Media
The managed system is configured with a DRAC 5 card. The virtual CD and floppy drives are two
electronic devices embedded in the DRAC 5 that are controlled by the DRAC 5 firmware. These two
devices are present on the managed system’s operating system and BIOS at all times, whether virtual
media is connected or disconnected.
The management station provides the physical media or image file across the network. When you launch
the RAC browser for the first time and you access the virtual media page, the virtual media plug-in is
downloaded from the DRAC 5 Web server and is automatically installed on the management station.
The virtual media plug-in must be installed on the management station for the virtual media feature to
function properly.
When virtual media is connected, all virtual CD/floppy drive access requests from the managed system
are directed to the management station across the network. Connecting virtual media is identical to
inserting media into virtual devices. When virtual media is not connected, virtual devices on the
managed system appear as two drives without media installed in the drives.
Table 8-1 lists the supported drive connections for virtual floppy and virtual optical drives.
NOTE: Changing virtual media while connected could stop the system boot sequence.
Installing the Virtual Media Plug-In
The virtual media browser plug-in must be installed on your management station to use the virtual
media feature. After you open the DRAC 5 user interface and launch the Virtual Media page, the browser
automatically downloads the plug-in, if required. If the plug-in is successfully installed, the Virtual Media
page displays a list of floppy diskettes and optical disks that connect to the virtual drive.
Windows-Based Management Station
To run the virtual media feature on a management station running the Microsoft Windows operating
system, install a supported version of Internet Explorer with the ActiveX Control plug-in. Set the
browser security to Medium or a lower setting to enable Internet Explorer to download and install signed
ActiveX controls.
See "Supported Web Browsers" for more information.
Table 8-1. Supported Drive Connections
Supported Virtual Floppy Drive Connections Supported Virtual Optical Drive Connections
Legacy 1.44 floppy drive with a 1.44 floppy
diskette
CD-ROM, DVD, CDRW, combination drive
with CD-ROM media
USB floppy drive with a 1.44 floppy diskette CD-ROM image file in the ISO9660 format
1.44 floppy image USB CD-ROM drive with CD-ROM media.