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16.
IPMI server management
Server management through IPMI is a standard method for controlling and monitoring the
server. The iLO firmware provides server management based on the IPMI version 2.0
specification, which defines the following:
•
Monitoring of system information such as fans, temperatures, and power supplies
•
Recovery capabilities such as system resets and power on/off operations
•
Logging capabilities for abnormal events such as over-temperature readings or fan failures
•
Inventory capabilities such as identification of failed hardware components
IPMI communications depend on the BMC and the SMS. The BMC manages the interface
between the SMS and the platform management hardware. The iLO firmware emulates the BMC
functionality, and various industry-standard tools can provide the SMS functionality. For more
information, see the IPMI specification on the Intel website at http://www.intel.com.
The iLO firmware provides the KCS interface, or open interface, for SMS communications. The
KCS interface provides a set of I/O mapped communications registers. The default system base
address for the I/O-mapped SMS interface is 0xCA2, and it is byte aligned at this system address.
The KCS interface is accessible to the SMS software running on the local system. Examples of
compatible SMS software applications follow:
•
IPMI version 2.0 Command Test Tool—A low-level MS-DOS command-line tool that
enables hex- formatted IPMI commands to be sent to an IPMI BMC that implements the
KCS interface. You can download this tool from the Intel website at http://www.intel.com.
•
IPMItool—A utility for managing and configuring devices that support the IPMI version 1.5
and version specifications. IPMItool can be used in a Linux environment. You can download
this tool from the IPMItool website at http://ipmitool.sourceforge.net/index.html.
•
FreeIPMI—A utility for managing and configuring devices that support the IPMI version 1.5
and version 2.0 specifications. You can download FreeIPMI from the following website:
http:// www.gnu.org/software/freeipmi/.
•
IPMIUTIL—A utility for managing and configuring devices that support the IPMI version 1.0,
1.5, and version 2.0 specifications. You can download IPMIUTIL from the following website:
http://ipmiutil.sourceforge.net/
When emulating a BMC for the IPMI interface, iLO supports all mandatory commands listed in
the IPMI version 2.0 specification. The SMS should use the methods described in the
specification for determining which IPMI features are enabled or disabled in the BMC (for
example, using the Get Device ID command).
If the server OS is running, and the iLO driver is enabled, any IPMI traffic through the KCS
interface can affect iLO driver performance and system health. Do not issue any IPMI commands
through the KCS interface that might have a negative effect on iLO driver monitoring. This
restriction includes any command that sets or changes IPMI parameters, such as Set Watchdog
Timer and Set BMC Global Enabled. Any IPMI command that simply returns data is safe to
use, such as Get Device ID and Get Sensor Reading.
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