PowerEdge: Export SupportAssist Collections Using iDRAC

iDRAC7 / iDRAC8: web interface (firmware 2.30 and later)

1. Log in to iDRAC. Open Overview > Server > Troubleshooting > SupportAssist.
2. Click Edit Collection Data and select the required data.

Hardware and RAID Controller Log are selected in the example. OS and Application Data requires the optional iDRAC Service Module (iSM) to be installed and running on the host. Without iSM, this option is disabled.

3. Click Apply, then Export Support Collection.
4. Wait for collection to finish. It often takes about 15 minutes, depending on the environment; the screen may show a different estimate. If it remains incomplete after several hours, follow Dell's iDRAC reset guidance before retrying.

5. When collection completes, click OK and choose where to save the package for technical support.

RACADM: generate and retrieve a collection

Connect to the iDRAC address over SSH, using a client such as PuTTY, then enter the RACADM shell if required.

iDRAC7 / iDRAC8 firmware 2.30 and later: documented command sequence

Dell KB 000126803 documents generating the report, checking its job, and retrieving it with the following subcommands:

racadm techsupreport generate -t SysInfo
racadm jobqueue view
racadm techsupreport collect -l <CIFS-or-NFS-share>

Use SysInfo for system information, TTYLog for storage-controller logs, and OSAppAll for host OS/application logs when iSM is installed and running. Separate multiple types with commas and no spaces, for example SysInfo,TTYLog.

When running RACADM locally on the server, the documented local-file retrieval form is racadm techsupreport collect -f <filename>.zip. For a share that requires authentication, add -u <share-user> -p <share-password> as required. The local -f filename option is not required for a network-share destination.

CLI captures using the collect / export command variant

The inherited terminal captures below use collect followed by export, as documented for iDRAC9 and in some older firmware references. These differ from the iDRAC7/8 2.30+ sequence above. Check the RACADM guide for the installed firmware before choosing a sequence.

Collection command in the source capture: racadm techsupreport collect -t SysInfo.

Check the job queue using the returned Job ID, for example racadm jobqueue view -i <JobID>. Wait for successful completion.

With this command variant, use racadm techsupreport export -f <filename>.zip when RACADM is running locally on the server. A remote iDRAC SSH session should export to a network share with racadm techsupreport export -l <CIFS-or-NFS-share>, adding share credentials if required.

Historical capture of the local-file export syntax; the -f option requires the supported local RACADM context.

iDRAC9: web interface

1. Log in to the iDRAC UI. For network setup, see Dell's iDRAC9 network configuration guide.
2. Open Maintenance > SupportAssist and click Start a Collection.

If a registration wizard appears, registration can be skipped when you only need a local collection. Registration was required for automatic submission on firmware that supported it. Starting with iDRAC9 firmware 7.0, collections cannot be sent directly to Dell.

3. Select the required datasets, or keep the defaults. OS and Application Data needs iSM running and OS-to-iDRAC pass-through enabled; otherwise that option is disabled.
4. Review collection preferences and any personally identifiable information filtering.

5. Choose Save Locally or Save to Network (CIFS/NFS). Network details may be retained for later collections. Allow the browser's file-download prompt.
6. Click Collect, accept the EULA when prompted, and save the completed package.

Updating firmware and drivers may resolve issues described by the collection. See Dell's firmware and driver guidance. Select the specific iDRAC generation and installed firmware in Dell product documentation for version-specific instructions. For iSM, see Support for Dell iDRAC Service Module.