Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI)
The Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) specification defines a set of common interfaces to computer hardware and firmware which system administrators can use to monitor system health and manage the system.
IPMI operates independently of the operating system (OS) and allows administrators to manage a system remotely even in the absence of the OS or the system management software, or even if the monitored system is not powered on. IPMI can also function when the OS has started, and offers enhanced features when used with the system management software.
IPMI version 1.5 and later can send out alerts via a direct serial connection, a local area network (LAN) or a serial over LAN (SOL) connection to a remote client. System administrators can then use IPMI messaging to query platform status, to review hardware logs, or to issue other requests from a remote console through the same connections. The standard also defines an alerting mechanism for the system to send a simple network management protocol (SNMP) platform event trap (PET).
| Key Features |
| IPMI 2.0 Compliant (IPMI over LAN) |
Shares LAN controller with main board and uses out-of-band
bandwidth. |
Supports hardware monitor for: CPU / system temperature;
system fan & CPU fan status; and system voltage |
Supports Event Log information for hardware
monitor events |
Supports remote management when system dead or in power
standby |
Remote power control:
a. Control through OS: Shutdown; Reboot; and Power cycle
b. Control directly through buttons on chassis: Reset;
Power down; Power up; and Power cycle |
| Supports SNMP trap (multiple destinations) |
Console Redirection (text only) through LAN (SOL - Serial Over LAN)
Supports DOS, BIOS setup, Windows 2003, Linux |
| OS independent |
| User, password security control |