C H A P T E R  11

Using Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI)

This chapter describes the ILOM's Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) functionality and lists the supported IPMI commands.

This chapter includes the following sections:


11.1 About IPMI

The Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) is an open-standard hardware management interface specification that defines a specific way for embedded management subsystems to communicate. IPMI information is exchanged though baseboard management controllers (BMCs), which are located on IPMI-compliant hardware components. Using low-level hardware intelligence instead of the operating system has two main benefits:



Note - VMware EFX Server does not virtualize the Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) interface. That means that guest operating systems cannot load their BMC interface drivers. Also, IPMI utilities cannot use the BMC interface to interact with the Service Processor.

When run under a guest operating system, IPMI utilities must access the Service Processor over the network instead of using the BMC interface. Error messages that occur when the BMC interface driver fails to load can be safely ignored.



Your ILOM is IPMI v2.0 compliant. You can access IPMI functionality through the command line with the IPMItool utility either in-band or out-of-band. Additionally, you can generate an IPMI-specific trap from the web interface, or manage the server's IPMI functions from any external management solution that is IPMI v1.5 or v2.0 compliant. For more information about the IPMI v2.0 specification, go to:

http://www.intel.com/design/servers/ipmi/spec.htm#spec2.



Note - Your server includes a number of IPMI-compliant sensors that measure things such as voltages, temperature ranges, and security latches that detect when the enclosure is opened. For a complete list of sensors, see your platform supplement.





Caution - Do not use any interface other than the ILOM CLI or WebGUI to alter the state or configuration of any sensor or LED. Doing so could void your warranty.



11.1.1 IPMItool

IPMItool is a simple command-line interface that is useful for managing IPMI-enabled devices. You can use this utility to perform IPMI functions with a kernel device driver or over a LAN interface. IPMItool enables you to manage system field-replaceable units (FRUs), monitor system health, and monitor and manage the system environment, independent of the operating system.

You can download IPMItool from http://ipmitool.sourceforge.net/. Also, a copy of IMPItool and its related documentation is provided on your server Tools and Drivers CD.

When IPMItool is installed, it includes a man page. To view it, type:

man ipmitool


11.2 Supported IPMI 2.0 Commands

TABLE 11-1 lists the supported IPMI 2.0 commands.



Note - When a hard drive is unconfigured in the host OS, the command ipmitool ... sdr elist shows it as "Drive Present, Hot Spare." This means it is inserted but safe to remove.



For details on individual commands, see the Intelligent Platform Management Interface Design Specification, v2.0. A copy is available at:

http://www.intel.com/design/servers/ipmi/spec.htm


TABLE 11-1 Supported IPMI 2.0 Commands

Supported IPMI 2.0 Commands

General Commands

Get Device ID

Cold Reset

Warm Reset

Get Self Test Results

Set/Get ACPI Power State

Reset/Set/Get Watchdog Timer

Set/Get BMC Global Enables

Clear/Get Message Flags

Enable Message Channel Receive

Get/Send Message

Read Event Message Buffer

Get Channel Authentication Capabilities

Get Session Challenge

Activate/Close Session

Set Session Privilege Level

Get Session Info

Set/Get Channel Access

Get Channel Info Command

Set/Get User Access Command

Set/Get User Name

Set User Password Command

Master Write-Read

Set/Get Chassis Capabilities

Get Chassis Status

Chassis Control

Chassis Identify

Set Power Restore Policy

Get System Restart Cause

Set/Get System Boot Options

Set/Get Event Receiver IPMI

System Interface Support

KCS

BT

RCMP

  • Multiple Payloads
  • Enhanced Authentication
  • Encryption

 

PEF and Alerting Commands

Get PEF Capabilities

Arm PEF Postpone Timer

Set/Get PEF Configuration Parameters

Set/Get Last Processed Event ID

Alert Immediate

PET Acknowledge

 

Sensor Device Commands

Get Sensor Reading Factors

Set/Get Sensor Hysteresis

Set/Get Sensor Threshold

Set/Get Sensor Event Enable

Get Sensor Reading

Set Sensor Type

 

FRU Device Commands

Get FRU Inventory Area Info

Read/Write FRU Data SDR Device Commands

Get SDR Repository Info

Get SDR Repository Allocation

Reserve SDR Repository

Get/Add SDR

Partial Add SDR

Clear SDR Repository

Get SDR Repository Time

Enter/Exit SDR Repository Update

Run Initialization Agent

 

SEL Device Commands

Get SEL Info

Get SEL Allocation Info

Reserve SEL

Get/Add SEL Entry

Clear SEL

Set/Get SEL Time

 

LAN Device Commands

Get LAN Configuration Parameters

Suspend BMC ARPs

 

Serial/Modem Device Commands

Set/Get Serial Modem Configuration

Set Serial Modem MUX

Get TAP Response Codes

Serial/Modem Connection Active

Callback

Set/Get User Callback Options

 

Event Commands

Get Event Count

Set/Get Event Destination

Set/Get Event Reception State

Send ICMB Event Message