Resolving RAC0690 on Dell PowerEdge Servers Running Ubuntu 20.04

In enterprise environments, hardware observability and remote lifecycle management are critical for ensuring operational continuity and minimizing downtime. Dell’s iDRAC (Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller) is a powerful tool for out-of-band management, but its integration with the host operating system requires an additional software layer: the iDRAC Service Module (iSM).

When deploying Ubuntu 20.04 on Dell PowerEdge servers, administrators often encounter the following message in the iDRAC interface:

RAC0690: The iDRAC Service Module is not installed on the operating system of the server. Install the Service Module and retry the operation.

This post outlines the cause of this message, its implications, and the appropriate remediation steps using Dell-supported packages.

Understanding the RAC0690 Warning

The RAC0690 message indicates that iDRAC is unable to retrieve OS-level telemetry from the host machine. While the hardware-level functions of iDRAC—such as power cycling, thermal monitoring, and remote console access—remain fully operational, the absence of iSM limits the controller’s visibility and functionality in the following ways:

OS hostname and version are not exposed to iDRAC
NIC-level telemetry (e.g., interface state, IP address) is unavailable
Lifecycle logs lack in-OS events such as panics or shutdowns
Graceful OS shutdown via iDRAC is not possible

Though not an error in itself, RAC0690 is a warning that iDRAC is operating without full system integration.

Why iSM Is Not Preinstalled

Ubuntu is not officially supported via Dell’s automated driver repositories, which primarily target RHEL, CentOS, and SLES environments. As a result, even if the correct NIC drivers (e.g., igb for Intel I350) are present and functional, iDRAC will not be able to interface with the OS unless the service module is explicitly installed.

Installation Procedure for Ubuntu 20.04

1. Confirm the Operating System Version

Ensure the system is running Ubuntu 20.04:

lsb_release -a

2. Obtain the Correct iSM Package

Dell provides .deb packages for Ubuntu through its support site. For Ubuntu 20.04, download the following version:

👉 Dell EMC iDRAC Service Module for Linux, v3.6.0

3. Install the iDRAC Service Module

Run the following commands to install and activate the service:

sudo dpkg -i dcism-osc-5.0.1.0-2951.ubuntu20.deb
sudo systemctl enable --now dcismeng

4. Reboot and Validate

Reboot the system to complete the integration:

sudo reboot

Post-reboot, the RAC0690 warning should be cleared. Within iDRAC, OS-level information (such as hostname, NIC IP addresses, and system logs) should now be visible under Overview → Server.

You can verify the iSM service is running via:

sudo systemctl status dcismeng

When Is It Acceptable to Operate Without iSM?

In non-production or tightly controlled environments—such as staging servers, single-tenant deployments, or systems with alternate monitoring strategies—it may be acceptable to omit iSM. In such cases, administrators must rely exclusively on SSH or direct access for graceful shutdown and software observability.

However, in any production setting where uptime, maintainability, and out-of-band automation matter, installing iSM is strongly recommended.

Conclusion

The iDRAC Service Module is essential for closing the observability and control gap between Dell’s iDRAC interface and the host OS. While Ubuntu 20.04 is not automatically integrated via Dell’s tools, the manual installation process is straightforward and officially supported via .deb packages.

For organizations operating PowerEdge hardware with Linux-based operating systems, ensuring the presence of iSM is a best practice that enhances visibility, diagnostics, and remote lifecycle operations.