Summary

• Steps below are tested on R720xd with:
  • iDRAC 7 Enterprise
  • Firmware version 2.65.65.65
  • BIOS version 2.9.0
• Others have claimed it also works on R720 R720xd R520 R620 R730 R730xd R630 R530.
• Fans will operate around 25% of max PWM after configuration and reboot.
  • Note: It may take between 5-10 mins for the fans to spin down after booting.

Steps

1. SSH to server’s iDRAC IP address first.
2. Login with privileged iDRAC user account (default: root).
   1. Command

       ssh root@172.0.1.31
      

   2. Output

       user@localhost ~ % ssh root@172.0.1.31
       root@172.0.1.31's password: 
       /admin1->
      

3. Get current server’s thermal settings first for baseline with 1 command.

   1. Command

       racadm get system.thermalsettings
      

   2. Output

       /admin1-> racadm get system.thermalsettings
       [Key=system.Embedded.1#ThermalSettings.1]
       AirExhaustTemp=70
       FanSpeedOffset=High Fan Speed
       ThermalProfile=Default Thermal Profile Settings
       ThirdPartyPCIFanResponse=Enabled
      

   3. Individual thermal settings can be queried as such.

      1. FanSpeedOffset

          racadm get system.thermalsettings.FanSpeedOffset
         

      2. ThirdPartyPCIFanResponse

          racadm get system.thermalsettings.ThirdPartyPCIFanResponse
         

      3. ThermalProfile

          racadm get system.thermalsettings.ThermalProfile
         

4. Disable the offset for the fan speed.

   1. Notes
      1. 0 - Low Fan Speed
      2. 1 - High Fan Speed
      3. 2 - Medium Fan Speed
      4. 3 - Max Fan Speed
      5. 255 - None
      6. 2 and 3 are not valid options on R720xd
      7. Changes will be noticeable within 30 seconds

   2. Command

       racadm set system.thermalsettings.FanSpeedOffset 255
      

   3. Output

       /admin1-> racadm set system.thermalsettings.FanSpeedOffset 255
       [Key=system.Embedded.1#ThermalSettings.1]
       Object value modified successfully
      

5. Configure the thermal behaviour.

   1. Notes
      1. Allows you to set the system profile as required for thermal behaviour associated (thermal base algorithm) to the profile.
      2. Reboot required to take effect.
      3. 0 - Auto
      4. 1 - Maximum performance
      5. 2 - Minimum power

   2. Command

       racadm set system.thermalsettings.ThermalProfile 2
      

   3. Output

       admin1-> racadm set system.thermalsettings.ThermalProfile 2
       [Key=system.Embedded.1#ThermalSettings.1]
       Object value modified successfully
      

6. If you have third party PCI cards, disable the default system response for such cards.

   1. Notes
      1. Allows disablement or enablement of the default system fan response for detected third-party PCI cards.
      2. The presence of third-party PCI card can be confirmed by viewing the message ID PCI3018 in the Lifecycle Controller log.
      3. 0 - Enabled
      4. 1 - Disabled
      5. Values are flipped on R720xd

   2. Command

       racadm set system.thermalsettings.ThirdPartyPCIFanResponse 0
      

   3. Output

       /admin1-> racadm set system.thermalsettings.ThirdPartyPCIFanResponse 0
       [Key=system.Embedded.1#ThermalSettings.1]
       Object value modified successfully
      

7. Check server’s thermal settings again to validate settings are changed. Reboot to effect changes.

   1. Command

       racadm get system.thermalsettings
      

   2. Output

       /admin1-> racadm get system.thermalsettings
       [Key=system.Embedded.1#ThermalSettings.1]
       AirExhaustTemp=70
       FanSpeedOffset=Off
       ThermalProfile=Minimum Power
       ThirdPartyPCIFanResponse=Disabled
      

8. Reboot server.

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