How to do a remote installation of Debian 5.0.4 on a Dell Poweredge 2900 using the DRAC 5 Virtual Media feature

1. Update the DRAC firmware to the latest revision (System->Remote Access). I have 1.51

2. Install a 32-bit version of Firefox 3.0, along with 32-bit Java plugin. This allows the "Native" plug-in to be installed and work!

3. Download the Debian netinst iso image, and "connect" it (set "Auto-Attach").

4. Boot the server - press F11 so you can select the Virtual CD-ROM from the boot menu.

5. During the installation, the CD-ROM mount may fail. Start the shell from the installer menu, and mount /dev/sr1 on /cdrom. Check to make sure /cdrom shows the CD content.

6. After partitioning is complete, unmount /cdrom. (THis took forever to find out!)