Saturday 2 June 2012

IPMI (Intelligent Platform Management Interface )

What is IPMI?

IPMI stands for Intelligent Platform Management Interface. It defines a standardized, message-based interface for easily management of a large number of servers. It also defines standardized records for describing platform management devices and their characteristics.

IPMI provides an intelligent means for extensive monitoring, control, and automatic recovery of servers. The standard is applicable across different server topologies and operating systems, so it doesn't matter if you are using Windows, Linux, Solaris, Mac, or a combination of these systems.

Also, because IPMI runs on different properties, it still functions properly, even if the server itself is running abnormally or out of operation for any reason.

Benefits of IPMI
In System

    Provides the foundation for intelligent platform management:
        Autonomous access, monitoring, logging and control features that function independently from the system processors.
    Provides scalable support for entry to high-end systems
    Supports multi-chassis and modular configuration

In Software

    Speeds instrumentation software porting:
        Makes platform management features "self-descriptive"(Plug 'N Play).
        Software automatically configures to platform management hardware
    Isolates management software from hardware changes
    Enables cross-platform software:
        Standardized platform hardware interface enables management software and driver to work on multiple platforms
    Can be used with any management software stack:
    Supports localization

In Hardware

    Preserves ability to innovate hardware
    Provides standardized interface for extending management features:
        IPMB: for intra-chassis extensions and standardized Emergency Management Card Access
    Facilitates "out-of-band" secondary access:
        Message based interface supports bridging to secondary management interfaces - NIC, RS-232, etc.
    Uses "off-the-shelf" components

Courtesy : http://www.aten.com/IPMI.htm

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