How to Monitor Dell PowerEdge Servers Using Python and SNMPv3

Windows

To install Python on Windows, visit the official Python download page and download the latest Python Install Manager. Run the installer, then use it to install Python.

• Once Python is installed, open a Windows terminal and install the required pysnmp and cryptography packages:

C:\Users\user> py -m pip install pysnmp cryptography

Install Python on Debian

The following procedure is based on Debian 13, but it should also work on most Linux distributions with a few adjustments.

• Install the python3-venv package to enable the creation of Python virtual environments:

root@host:~# apt update && apt install python3-venv

• As a regular user, create a dedicated Python virtual environment for the SnmpTDell script:

john@host:~$ python3 -m venv .snmptdell

• Activate the Python virtual environment:

john@host:~$ source .snmptdell/bin/activate

• Install the required pysnmp and cryptography packages inside the virtual environment:

(.snmptdell) john@host:~$ python3 -m pip install pysnmp cryptography

Dell iDRAC SNMP OIDs

As explained in the introduction, the SnmpTDell Python script uses SNMPv3 to retrieve hardware information from Dell iDRAC interfaces. Each piece of information is identified by an Object Identifier (OID), which allows the script to query specific hardware components and retrieve their status.

The following table lists the SNMP OIDs referenced in the script, including system information, BIOS, batteries, physical disks, and power supplies.

For more information about these OIDs and their possible values, you can refer to the official Dell iDRAC SNMP Reference Guide.

SnmpTDell.py - Python SNMPv3 Monitoring Script

Copy the following Python monitoring script into a file named SnmpTDell.py on the Windows or Linux machine that will communicate with the iDRAC interfaces of the Dell PowerEdge servers you want to monitor.

#! /usr/bin/python
import asyncio
from pysnmp.hlapi.v3arch.asyncio import *
import re
# Modules used to test host reachability with ping
import subprocess
import platform

# Script version
v_script = "20261110"
# Device information
auth_proto = usmHMACSHAAuthProtocol  # or usmHMACMD5AuthProtocol
priv_proto = usmAesCfb128Protocol      # or usmAesCfb128Protocol, usmAesCfb192Protocol, etc.

# Supported SNMP authentication and privacy protocols
SNMP_PROTOCOLS = [
    ("SHA512", "AES256", usmHMAC384SHA512AuthProtocol, usmAesCfb256Protocol),
    ("SHA1",   "AES128", usmHMACSHAAuthProtocol, usmAesCfb128Protocol),
    ("MD5",    "DES",    usmHMACMD5AuthProtocol,       usmDESPrivProtocol),
    ("SHA256", "AES256", usmHMAC192SHA256AuthProtocol, usmAesCfb256Protocol),
    ("SHA256", "AES128", usmHMAC192SHA256AuthProtocol, usmAesCfb128Protocol),
]

# Device information
liste_oid = { "servicetag": '1.3.6.1.4.1.674.10892.5.1.3.2.0', "nom_serveur": '1.3.6.1.4.1.674.10892.5.1.3.1.0', "servicecode": '1.3.6.1.4.1.674.10892.5.1.3.3.0', "modele": '1.3.6.1.4.1.674.10892.5.1.3.12.0', "statut_global": '1.3.6.1.4.1.674.10892.5.2.1.0', "status_battery": '1.3.6.1.4.1.674.10892.5.5.1.20.130.15.1.4.1', "bios_version": '1.3.6.1.4.1.674.10892.5.4.300.50.1.8.1.1', "bios_releasedate": '1.3.6.1.4.1.674.10892.5.4.300.50.1.7.1.1', "cmos_battery": '1.3.6.1.4.1.674.10892.5.4.200.10.1.52.1' }
liste_oid_disques = { "nom_disque": '1.3.6.1.4.1.674.10892.5.5.1.20.130.4.1.6', "emplacement_disque": '1.3.6.1.4.1.674.10892.5.5.1.20.130.4.1.1', "status_disques": '1.3.6.1.4.1.674.10892.5.5.1.20.130.4.1.24', "status_smart": '1.3.6.1.4.1.674.10892.5.5.1.20.130.4.1.31', "status_vd": '1.3.6.1.4.1.674.10892.5.5.1.20.140.1.1.4', "sn_disques": '1.3.6.1.4.1.674.10892.5.5.1.20.130.4.1.7', "modele_disques": '1.3.6.1.4.1.674.10892.5.5.1.20.130.4.1.8' }
liste_oid_alim = { "ps_status": '1.3.6.1.4.1.674.10892.5.4.600.12.1.5' }
resultats = []

class Disques(object):
        "Disk information container"

class Alimentations(object):
        "Power supply information container"

# Server class definition
class Serveur(object):
        def __init__(self, disques, alimentations, servicetag):
                self.disques = disques
                self.alimentations = alimentations
                self.servicetag = servicetag

        def afficher_info(self):
                print(f"Brand: {self.marque}, Model: {self.modele}")


# Detect the supported SNMP authentication and privacy protocol combination
async def detect_snmp_protocols(host, user, authkey, privkey, test_oid='1.3.6.1.4.1.674.10892.5.1.3.2.0', port=161):
    for auth_name, priv_name, auth_proto, priv_proto in SNMP_PROTOCOLS:
        #print(f"Test {auth_name} + {auth_proto} + {priv_name} + {priv_proto} on {host}...")

        try:
            errorIndication, errorStatus, errorIndex, varBinds = await get_cmd(
                SnmpEngine(),
                UsmUserData(
                    user,
                    authKey=authkey,
                    privKey=privkey,
                    authProtocol=auth_proto,
                    privProtocol=priv_proto,
                ),
                await UdpTransportTarget.create(
                    (host, port),
                    timeout=2,
                    retries=0
                ),
                ContextData(),
                ObjectType(ObjectIdentity(test_oid))
            )

            if errorIndication:
                #print(f"  Failed: {errorIndication}")
                continue

            if errorStatus:
                print(f"  SNMP error: {errorStatus.prettyPrint()}")
                continue

            #print(f"  OK : {auth_name} + {auth_proto} + {priv_name} + {priv_proto}")

            return auth_proto, priv_proto

        except Exception as e:
            print(f"  Exception : {e}")

    return None, None

# Execute SNMP GET and BULK WALK requests
async def snmp(host, port, user, authkey, privkey, auth_proto, priv_proto, start_oid, type="walk"):
    resultats = [] # Reset the results list
    if type=="get":
        #async def run_snmp_get():
            iterator = await get_cmd(
            SnmpEngine(),
            UsmUserData(
                user,
                authKey=authkey,
                privKey=privkey,
                authProtocol=auth_proto,
                privProtocol=priv_proto,
            ),
            await UdpTransportTarget.create((host, port)),
            ContextData(),
            ObjectType(ObjectIdentity(start_oid)),
                        lookupMib=False, # Return numeric OIDs (e.g. 1.3.6.1.4.1.674) instead of MIB names
            )

            errorIndication, errorStatus, errorIndex, varBinds = iterator

            if errorIndication:
                print(errorIndication)

            elif errorStatus:
                print(
                "{} at {}".format(
                errorStatus.prettyPrint(),
                errorIndex and varBinds[int(errorIndex) - 1][0] or "?",
                )
            )

            else:
                for varBind in varBinds:
                    #print(" = ".join([x.prettyPrint() for x in varBind]))
                    return (" = ".join([x.prettyPrint() for x in varBind]))

    if type=="walk":
            snmpEngine = SnmpEngine()
            errorIndication, errorStatus, errorIndex, varBindTable = await bulk_cmd(
                    snmpEngine,
                    UsmUserData(user,
                    authKey=authkey,
                    privKey=privkey,
                    authProtocol=auth_proto,
                    privProtocol=priv_proto,
                    ),
                    await UdpTransportTarget.create((host, port)),
                    ContextData(),
                    0,
                    150,
                    #*varBinds,
                    ObjectType(ObjectIdentity(start_oid)),
                    lookupMib=False, # Return numeric OIDs (e.g. 1.3.6.1.4.1.674) instead of MIB names
            )

            if errorIndication:
                    print(errorIndication)
            elif errorStatus:
                    print(
                        f"{errorStatus.prettyPrint()} at {varBinds[int(errorIndex) - 1][0] if errorIndex else '?'}"
                    )
            else:
                    for varBind in varBindTable:
                        # Workaround: filter BULK results by the requested OID prefix to avoid unrelated entries
                        TEST = str(start_oid + '.').split('10892')[1] # Extract the part after the enterprise branch 10892
                        if TEST in str(" = ".join([x.prettyPrint() for x in varBind])): # Keep only entries matching the requested OID branch
                           #print(" = ".join([x.prettyPrint() for x in varBind]))
                           #return varBind
                           #return (" = ".join([x.prettyPrint() for x in varBind]))
                           resultats.append(" = ".join([x.prettyPrint() for x in varBind]))
            return resultats

            varBinds = varBindTable

def check_host(host, user, authkey, privkey, port=161, auth_proto=usmHMACSHAAuthProtocol, priv_proto=usmAesCfb128Protocol):
    "Check iDRAC reachability with ping, then SNMP."
    # Ping test   
    # Prepare the ping command
    system = platform.system().lower() # Detect the operating system
    ip = host
    if system == "windows":
        cmd = ["ping", "-n", "1", "-w", "100", ip]
    else:
        cmd = ["ping", "-c", "1", "-W", "1", ip]
    
    try:
        result = subprocess.run(
            cmd,
            stdout=subprocess.DEVNULL,
            stderr=subprocess.DEVNULL,
            timeout=2
        )
    except subprocess.TimeoutExpired:
        print("IP address is not responding; iDRAC is unreachable")
        return "pingko" # Return immediately
    else:
        # Check for a failed response
        if result.returncode != 0:
            print("IP address is not responding; iDRAC is unreachable")
            return "pingko" # Return immediately

    # Check the SNMP connection
    try:
        test_conn=asyncio.run(snmp(host, 161, user, authkey, privkey, auth_proto, priv_proto, liste_oid["servicetag"], type="get"))
    except:
        print("SNMP is not responding; iDRAC is unreachable")
        return "snmpko" # Return immediately
    else:
        # Check for an empty SNMP response
        if test_conn is None:
            print("SNMP is not responding; iDRAC is unreachable")
            return "snmpko" # Return immediately


def get_info(host, user, authkey, privkey, port=161, auth_proto=usmHMACSHAAuthProtocol, priv_proto=usmAesCfb128Protocol):
    "Retrieve server hardware information through SNMP."
    dst, subj = "", "SERVER STATUS OK"
    index_alims = []
    index_disques = []
    #########
    # SERVER #
    #########
    for nom, oid in liste_oid.items():
        res = asyncio.run(snmp(host, port, user, authkey, privkey, auth_proto, priv_proto, oid, type="get"))
        #snmp_walk(host, port, user, authkey, privkey, auth_proto, priv_proto, oid)
        for element in res:
            valeur = str(res).replace(' = ','=').split('=')[1]
            #oid = str(res).replace(' = ','=').split('=')[0]
            if nom == "servicetag":
                ObjDisques = Disques() # Create the disk object
                ObjAlims = Alimentations() # Create the power supply object
                ObjServeur = Serveur(ObjDisques, ObjAlims, servicetag=valeur) # Create the server object
            else:
                setattr(ObjServeur, nom, valeur)


    #########
    # DISKS  #
    #########
    res = asyncio.run(snmp(host, port, user, authkey, privkey, auth_proto, priv_proto, liste_oid_disques["emplacement_disque"]))
    for disque_id in res:
        emplacement_disque = str(disque_id).replace(' = ','=').split('=')[1] # Retrieve the disk identifier for each entry
        index_disques.append(emplacement_disque)
        for i in "nom_disque", "status_disques", "status_smart", "modele_disques", "sn_disques":
            res = asyncio.run(snmp(host, port, user, authkey, privkey, auth_proto, priv_proto, liste_oid_disques[i] + "." + emplacement_disque, type="get"))
            setattr(ObjServeur.disques, i + "_" + emplacement_disque, str(res).replace(' = ','=').split('=')[1])

     
    messages = {
        6: "WARNING",
        5: "ERROR",
        4: "WARNING",
        3: "OK",
        2: "WARNING",
        1: "UNKNOWN"
    }
    smart = {
        0: "OK",
        1: "ERROR"
    }
    batterie = {
        1: "UNKNOWN",
        2: "OK",
        3: "ERROR"
    }
    cmos = {
        1: "OTHER",
        2: "UNKNOWN",
        3: "OK",
        5: "ERROR"
    }
    print("SnmpTDell version:", v_script)
    print("Server", ObjServeur.nom_serveur + " " + ObjServeur.modele, "health status:", messages.get(int(ObjServeur.statut_global), "UNKNOWN"))
    subj = "Server " + ObjServeur.nom_serveur + " " + ObjServeur.modele + " health status: " + messages.get(int(ObjServeur.statut_global), "UNKNOWN")
    print("* Service Tag : " + ObjServeur.servicetag.replace(" ",""))
    print("* Service Code : " + ObjServeur.servicecode.replace(" ",""))
    print("* BIOS version : " + ObjServeur.bios_version.replace(" ",""))
    print("* BIOS release date: " + ObjServeur.bios_releasedate.replace(" ",""))
    if ObjServeur.cmos_battery == "No Such Instance currently exists at this OID":
        print("* CMOS battery status: Not available")
    else:
        print("* CMOS battery status: " + cmos.get(int(ObjServeur.cmos_battery.replace(" ","")), "UNKNOWN"))
    if ObjServeur.status_battery == "No Such Instance currently exists at this OID":
        print("* Storage controller battery status: No battery detected on this server")
    else:
        print("* Storage controller battery status: " + batterie.get(int(ObjServeur.status_battery.replace(" ","")), "UNKNOWN"))


    #######
    # PSUs  #
    #######
    res = asyncio.run(snmp(host, port, user, authkey, privkey, auth_proto, priv_proto, liste_oid_alim["ps_status"], type="walk"))
    for alim_id in res:
        emplacement_alim = str(alim_id).replace(' = ','=').split('=')[1] # Retrieve the power supply status
        index_alims.append(str(alim_id).replace(' = ','=').split('=')[0][-1]) # Store the power supply identifiers
        setattr(ObjServeur.alimentations, "ps_status_" + str(alim_id).replace(' = ','=').split('=')[0][-1], emplacement_alim)

    print("* POWER SUPPLIES:")
    for alim_id in index_alims:
        print(" - Power supply " + alim_id + ": " + messages.get(int(getattr(ObjServeur.alimentations, f"ps_status_{alim_id}")), "UNKNOWN"))
        #getattr(ObjServeur.alimentations, f"ps_status_{alim_id}"))

    #########
    # DISKS  #
    #########
    print("* DISKS:")
    for disque_id in index_disques:
        print(" - Disk " + disque_id + ":", 
        getattr(ObjServeur.disques, f"nom_disque_{disque_id}") + ",",
        "SN :",
        getattr(ObjServeur.disques, f"sn_disques_{disque_id}") + ",",
        "Model:",
        getattr(ObjServeur.disques, f"modele_disques_{disque_id}") + ",",
        "SMART status:",
        #getattr(ObjServeur.disques, f"status_smart_{disque_id}") + ",",
        smart.get(int(getattr(ObjServeur.disques, f"status_smart_{disque_id}")), "UNKNOWN") + ",", \
        "Health status:", \
        messages.get(int(getattr(ObjServeur.disques, f"status_disques_{disque_id}")), "UNKNOWN"))
        #getattr(ObjServeur.disques, f"status_disques_{disque_id}"))
        getattr(ObjServeur.disques, f"nom_disque_{disque_id}") + ", " + \
        "SN: " + getattr(ObjServeur.disques, f"sn_disques_{disque_id}") + ", " + \
        "Model: " + getattr(ObjServeur.disques, f"modele_disques_{disque_id}") + ", " + \
        "SMART status: " + smart.get(int(getattr(ObjServeur.disques, f"status_smart_{disque_id}")), "UNKNOWN") + ", " + \
        "Health status: " + messages.get(int(getattr(ObjServeur.disques, f"status_disques_{disque_id}")), "UNKNOWN") + "\n"
    return subj

### READ CONFIGURATION FILE
with open('./conf.ini', 'r') as fichier:
    host = user = authkey = privkey = ""
    flag_mail = False
    for ligne in fichier:
        #print(ligne)
        if (re.search(r"\[.*\]", ligne) and flag_mail == False): # A new iDRAC IP address was found
            host = str(re.search(r"\[(.*?)\]", ligne).group(1))
            print("---------------------- " + host + " ----------------------")
            flag_mail = True
            continue # Continue to the next line
        if (re.search(r"\[.*\]", ligne) and flag_mail == True): # A new iDRAC IP address was found (multiple servers in the configuration)
            #resultat = check_host(host, user, authkey, privkey) # Check ping and SNMP connectivity
            auth_proto, priv_proto = asyncio.run(detect_snmp_protocols(host=host,user=user,authkey=authkey,privkey=privkey)) # Detect authentication and privacy protocols
            resultat = check_host(host, user, authkey, privkey, auth_proto=auth_proto, priv_proto=priv_proto)
            if resultat not in ("snmpko","pingko"):
                #corps, subj = get_info(host=host,user=user,authkey=authkey,privkey=privkey)
                subj = get_info(host=host,user=user,authkey=authkey,privkey=privkey, auth_proto=auth_proto, priv_proto=priv_proto)
                #print("BODY: " + corps + " SUBJECT: " + subj)
            if resultat == "snmpko":
                print("iDRAC unreachable")
            if resultat == "pingko":
                print("iDRAC unreachable")
            host = str(re.search(r"\[(.*?)\]", ligne).group(1))
            print("---------------------- " + host + " ----------------------")
        if re.search(r".* = .*", ligne):
            # Read the client name
            if str(ligne.replace(' = ','=').split('=')[0]) == 'client':
                client = str(re.findall(r"'(.*?)'", str(ligne.replace(' = ','=').split('=')[1]))[0])
            # Read the authentication key
            if str(ligne.replace(' = ','=').split('=')[0]) == 'authkey':
                authkey = str(re.findall(r"'(.*?)'", str(ligne.replace(' = ','=').split('=')[1]))[0])
            # Read the privacy (encryption) key
            if str(ligne.replace(' = ','=').split('=')[0]) == 'privkey':
                privkey = str(re.findall(r"'(.*?)'", str(ligne.replace(' = ','=').split('=')[1]))[0])
            # Read the SNMP username
            if str(ligne.replace(' = ','=').split('=')[0]) == 'user':
                user = str(re.findall(r"'(.*?)'", str(ligne.replace(' = ','=').split('=')[1]))[0])
            # Read the email settings
            if str(ligne.replace(' = ','=').split('=')[0]) == 'mail':
                mail = str(re.findall(r"'(.*?)'", str(ligne.replace(' = ','=').split('=')[1]))[0])
            # Read the email settings
            if str(ligne.replace(' = ','=').split('=')[0]) == 'smail':
                sender = str(re.findall(r"'(.*?)'", str(ligne.replace(' = ','=').split('=')[1]))[0])

    auth_proto, priv_proto = asyncio.run(detect_snmp_protocols(host=host,user=user,authkey=authkey,privkey=privkey)) # Detect authentication and privacy protocols
    resultat = check_host(host, user, authkey, privkey, auth_proto=auth_proto, priv_proto=priv_proto) # Check ping and SNMP connectivity
    if resultat not in ("snmpko","pingko"):
        subj = get_info(host=host,user=user,authkey=authkey,privkey=privkey, auth_proto=auth_proto, priv_proto=priv_proto)
    if resultat == "snmpko":
        print("iDRAC unreachable")
    if resultat == "pingko":
        print("iDRAC unreachable")

• The script reads a conf.ini configuration file containing the iDRAC IP addresses and SNMPv3 credentials of the Dell PowerEdge servers we want to monitor. Each server has its own configuration section, allowing us to monitor multiple servers with a single script:

[192.168.1.100]
authkey = 'd0ntus31t' # Authentication passphrase
privkey = 'd0ntus31t' # Encryption passphrase
user = 'snmptdell' # SNMPv3 username

[192.168.1.101]
authkey = 'SnmpTDellR0CKS' # Authentication passphrase
privkey = 'SnmpTDellR0CKS' # Encryption passphrase
user = 'snmptdell' # SNMPv3 username

[192.168.1.102]
authkey = 'd0nuts31t' # Authentication passphrase
privkey = 'd0nuts31t' # Encryption passphrase
user = 'snmptdell' # SNMPv3 username

Windows

• Open a Windows terminal, navigate to the directory containing the SnmpTDell.py script and the conf.ini configuration file, then execute the following command:

C:\Users\user> py SnmpTDell.py

Linux

• Activate the Python virtual environment created earlier:

john@host:~$ source .snmptdell/bin/activate

• Navigate to the directory containing the SnmpTDell.py script and the conf.ini configuration file, then run the script:

(.snmptdell) john@host:~$ python3 SnmpTDell.py

Monitoring Results

Whether you're running SnmpTDell on Windows or Linux, you should see an output similar to the following, displaying the Dell PowerEdge server hardware health status, including BIOS information, batteries, power supplies, and physical disks:

---------------------- 192.168.1.100 ----------------------
SnmpTDell version: 20261110
Server SERVER01 PowerEdge R740 health status: OK
* Service Tag : DEADBEE5
* Service Code : 45142555000
* BIOS version : 2.22.1
* BIOS release date : ...
* CMOS battery status: OK
* Storage controller battery status: OK
* POWER SUPPLIES:
 - Power supply 1: OK
 - Power supply 2: OK
* DISKS:
 - Disk 1: ..., SN: ..., Model: ..., SMART status: OK, Health status: OK

---------------------- 192.168.1.101 ----------------------
IP address is not responding; iDRAC is unreachable
iDRAC unreachable

---------------------- 192.168.1.102 ----------------------
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