# How do you upgrade an iDRAC9 license from Express to Enterprise? Author: Mike Wang, Fanxi Technology (Dalian Fanxi Technology Co., Ltd., Dell Technologies Platinum Partner). Updated 2026-11-01. URL: https://fanxi-technology.com/en/blog/upgrade-idrac-license-express-to-enterprise Written against: Written against the Dell iDRAC9 7.xx User's Guide (licensed features table) and the iDRAC9 6.xx RACADM CLI Guide for PowerEdge 14G, 15G and 16G (R640, R740, R650, R750, R660, R760) > Check the current tier under Configuration > Licenses in the iDRAC web interface or with "racadm license view". Buy an iDRAC9 Enterprise license for that server's service tag, download the XML file from Dell Digital Locker, and import it with Configuration > Licenses > Import or "racadm license import -f License.xml -c idrac.embedded.1". Enterprise adds the virtual console, virtual media, AD/LDAP login and Group Manager, which Express does not include on rack servers. ## How do you check which iDRAC license a server has? In the iDRAC9 web interface, open Configuration > Licenses. The page lists each installed license with its description (for example iDRAC9 Enterprise License), its type (perpetual or evaluation) and its entitlement ID. From the command line, RACADM shows the same data locally on the host or remotely over the network. ```bash # On the server itself (local RACADM, no iDRAC login needed) racadm license view # From your workstation (remote RACADM) racadm -r 10.0.0.50 -u root -p license view ``` Viewing and exporting a license needs only the Login privilege. Importing or deleting one needs Login, Configure iDRAC and Server Control. ## What does each iDRAC9 license tier include? Every iDRAC9 has the core interfaces and agent-free health monitoring. The table below follows Dell's licensed-features table for iDRAC9 7.xx on rack and tower servers. The point most buyers miss: on rack servers, Express does not include the virtual console or virtual media. Those start at Enterprise. | Feature | Basic | Express | Enterprise | Datacenter | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Web UI, Redfish, IPMI 2.0, RACADM, SSH, serial-over-LAN, power control | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Email alerts, power and temperature graphs | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Remote OS deployment, auto-discovery, crash screen capture | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | | HTML5 virtual console and virtual media | No | No | Yes | Yes | | Virtual folders, Remote File Share, console collaboration (up to 6 users) | No | No | Yes | Yes | | Directory services (AD, LDAP), single sign-on, smart-card two-factor | No | No | Yes | Yes | | Easy Multi Factor Authentication, System Lockdown mode | No | No | Yes | Yes | | Group Manager, zero-touch configuration | No | No | Yes | Yes | | Power capping, remote syslog, boot capture, crash video capture | No | No | Yes | Yes | | Telemetry streaming, idle server detection, serial console logs | No | No | No | Yes | | PCIe airflow, custom exhaust and delta-T thermal control | No | No | No | Yes | | OAuth / OpenID Connect, IEEE 802.1x, automatic certificate enrollment | No | No | No | Yes | | Secure Enterprise Key Manager (SEKM) | No | No | With SEKM license | With SEKM license | Depending on the model, a PowerEdge ships with Basic or Express by default. Enterprise, Datacenter and SEKM are upgrades you can buy at any time. SEKM is a separate license on top of Enterprise or Datacenter, used when an external key server manages self-encrypting drives. ## Do you need Enterprise or Datacenter? Choose Enterprise if you want to see the screen and mount an ISO from your desk, log in with Active Directory accounts, or manage several servers through Group Manager. That covers most remote sites and small clusters. Choose Datacenter only if you stream hardware telemetry into a monitoring stack, need fine thermal control for non-Dell PCIe cards, or require OpenID Connect or 802.1x on the management network. ## How are iDRAC licenses bound to the service tag? - A perpetual license is bound to the service tag of one server and stays valid for the life of that server. You cannot move it to another machine. - Licenses are generation-specific: a 16G license does not import on a 14G or 15G server, and the reverse also fails. - You can export a factory-installed license as a backup, but iDRAC will not import that exported file. To reinstall, download the equivalent license from Dell Digital Locker. - Licenses bought later appear in Dell Digital Locker under the purchasing account. Register the product with the code from the order email, then use Get Key on the product page. > Cheap "Enterprise license keys" sold online for any service tag usually fail validation, because each Dell license file is signed for one service tag. Buy the upgrade for the exact service tag, from Dell or a Dell partner. ## How do you import an iDRAC Enterprise license file? 1. Download the license XML file for your service tag from Dell Digital Locker (or from the email Dell sent). 2. Log in to the iDRAC web interface as a user with Configure iDRAC and Server Control privileges. 3. Open Configuration > Licenses, choose Import, browse to the XML file and apply it. 4. Refresh the Licenses page and confirm the new entry shows the Enterprise description and type Perpetual. ```bash # Local RACADM, file on the host racadm license import -f License.xml -c idrac.embedded.1 # From a CIFS share racadm license import -u admin -p -f License.xml -l //192.168.0.10/licshare -c idrac.embedded.1 # From an NFS share racadm license import -f License.xml -l 192.168.0.10:/licshare -c idrac.embedded.1 # Confirm the result racadm license view ``` The -c option names the component, which for iDRAC is always idrac.embedded.1. Add -o to accept the EULA prompt in scripts. If System Lockdown mode is enabled, turn it off first, because Lockdown blocks license changes. ## Can you try Enterprise with an evaluation license first? Yes. Dell publishes 30-day trial licenses for iDRAC9 Enterprise and Datacenter. You download a ZIP file from Dell support, extract the XML and import it like a purchased license. The timer runs while power is applied to the system, the trial cannot be extended, and you can import a trial only once per server. Run the trial when you can test the features you are paying for, not during a week the server sits unpowered in a rack. ## What changes with iDRAC10 on PowerEdge 17G? PowerEdge 17G servers such as the R670 and R770 use iDRAC10, which renames the tiers to Core (included), Enterprise and Datacenter. iDRAC9 licenses do not carry over, so a license for a 16G R760 will not work on an R770. Dell offers 30-day Enterprise and Datacenter trials for iDRAC10 as well. ## Can you order a PowerEdge with Enterprise already installed? Yes, and it is the simplest route. A license bought at the point of sale is installed at the Dell factory and tied to the new service tag, so the server arrives with the full feature set and no import step. We supply PowerEdge CTO builds direct from the Dell factory and state the iDRAC tier on every quote. ## FAQ **Do I have to reboot the server after importing an iDRAC license?** The host does not need a reboot. Log out of the iDRAC web interface and log in again so the new menus, such as the virtual console, appear. **Does iDRAC9 Express include the virtual console?** Not on rack and tower servers. Dell's feature table lists the virtual console and virtual media as Enterprise features for those servers. Only the "Express for Blades" license on blade servers includes a single-user virtual console. **What happens to the license if Dell replaces the motherboard?** The license belongs to the service tag, not to the board. After a board replacement the technician restores the service tag, and you can re-import the license from Dell Digital Locker if it does not reappear. **Is the upgrade to Enterprise worth it for a single server?** If the server sits anywhere you cannot reach in a few minutes, usually yes. The first time an OS fails to boot, the virtual console and virtual media let you fix it from your desk instead of sending someone to the rack. ## Sources - [Dell iDRAC9 7.xx User's Guide: Licensed features in iDRAC9](https://www.dell.com/support/manuals/en-us/idrac9-lifecycle-controller-v7.x-series/idrac9_7.xx_ug/licensed-features-in-idrac9?guid=guid-e8a767a7-3648-48d7-945a-a700da1d5c96&lang=en-us) - [Dell iDRAC9 RACADM CLI Guide: license](https://www.dell.com/support/manuals/en-us/idrac9-lifecycle-controller-v6.x-series/idrac9_6.xx_racadm_pub/license?guid=guid-9c864254-db5b-40ee-8dda-b91ef33d2c2b&lang=en-us) - [Dell KB 000176472: trial licenses for iDRAC](https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000176472/idrac-cmc-openmanage-enterprise-openmanage-integration-with-microsoft-windows-admin-center-openmanage-integration-with-servicenow-and-dpat-trial-licenses) - [Dell KB 000130349: obtain iDRAC licenses from Dell Digital Locker](https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000130349/how-to-obtain-idrac-enterprise-licenses-from-dell-digital-locker-ddl) - [Dell iDRAC10 User's Guide: types of licenses](https://www.dell.com/support/manuals/en-us/idrac10-lifecycle-controller-v1-xx-series/idrac10_1.xx_ug/types-of-licenses?guid=guid-cb1dabb2-95b3-4002-adbb-c60bb1c38367&lang=en-us) If you are choosing a new or refurbished PowerEdge, tell us which iDRAC tier you need and we include it in the quote. For a server you already own, see our iDRAC license page or ask us for an upgrade price for your service tag.