How to work on IPMI and IPMITOOL
Article ID: 295328
Updated On:
Products
Issue/Introduction
The Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) is a standardized computer system interface used by System Administrators for out-of-band management of computer systems and monitoring of their operation. Out-of-band is also referred to the LOM (Lights-Out Management) involves the use of a dedicated management channel for device maintenance.
A number of options are available to manage the device remotely. There are vendor-specific server management technologies available. HP’s Integrated Lights-out or iLO, Dell’s Dell Remote Access Controller or DRAC and IBM’s Remote Supervisor Adapter (RSA) are a few to list. The above-listed modules are vendor specific and proprietary. IPMI whereas is vendor-neutral and cross-platform. It is available on Linux distros. The functionality of IPMI can be accessed via IPMItool. IPMItool is a command prompt, which is used to manage IPMI-enabled devices. IPMItool helps in managing the system hardware components, monitoring the system health independent of the operating system.
Environment
Resolution
Install IPMI and IPMItool with yum using the following command:
[root@anm ~]# yum install OpenIPMI OpenIPMI-tools
Ensure that the server is set to start during the startup and the start of the IPMI service.
[root@anm ~]# chkconfig ipmi on [root@anm ~]# service ipmi start
There are some IPMItool commands which can be used in day-to-day operations.
1. Man and help info for IPMItool:
ipmitool help man ipmitool
2. Check the firmware version:
ipmitool mc info
3. Reset the management controller:
ipmitool mc reset [ warm | cold ]
4. Show field-replaceable-unit details:
ipmitool fru print
5. Show the sensor output:
ipmitool sdr list ipmitool sdr type list ipmitool sdr type Temperature ipmitool sdr type Fan ipmitool sdr type ‘Power Supply’
6. Chassis commands:
ipmitool chassis status ipmitool chassis identify [] # turn on front panel identify light (default 15s) ipmitool [chassis] power soft # initiate a soft-shutdown via acpi ipmitool [chassis] power cycle # issue a hard power off, wait 1s, power on ipmitool [chassis] power off # issue a hard power off ipmitool [chassis] power on # issue a hard power on ipmitool [chassis] power reset # issue a hard reset
7. Modify boot device for the next reboot:
ipmitool chassis bootdev pxe ipmitool chassis bootdev cdrom ipmitool chassis bootdev bios
8. Logging:
ipmitool sel info ipmitool sel list ipmitool sel elist # extended list (see manpage) ipmitool sel clear
9. For remote access, setup the user and network settings at either boot time on the iLO or on the DRAC card itself or from the OS through the IPMI tool.
Display or reset password for default root user (userid ’2′):
ipmitool user list 1 ipmitool user set password 2
10. Display or configure lan settings:
ipmitool lan print 1
ipmitool lan set 1 ipsrc [ static | dhcp ]
ipmitool lan set 1 ipaddr {YOUR DESIRED IP}
ipmitool lan set 1 netmask {YOUR NETMASK}
ipmitool lan set 1 defgw ipaddr 10.0.1.1
After configuring the lan settings confirm that it is possible to connect remotely using the ‘lan’ interface of IPMItool.
The following is an example of connecting remotely using the ‘lan’ interface of IPMItool:
[root@anm ~]# ipmitool -I lan -U root -H {YOUR DESIRED IP} chassis status
11. Hanging BMC:
ipmitool bmc reset cold
12. Change system state:
ipmitool -H <ip> -U <user> chassis power <status|on|off|cycle|reset>
13. Get debug info:
ipmitool lan print ipmitool -H <ip> -U <user> shell # get ipmitool shell, type 'help' ipmitool -H <ip> -U <user> sel list # Show system event log ipmitool -H <ip> -U <user> sdr # List sensor data
14. Get the SOL console:
modprobe lanplus # If not yet loaded ipmitool -H <IP> -U <user> -I lanplus sol activate
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