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IPMI is standard which allows remote server management. IPMI cards, known as Baseboard Management Cards (BMCs) are primitive computers in their own right and are operational all the time, so long as the server has a power source. The server itself does not need to be powered on, or the operating system operational for the BMC to work.
The primary benefits of IPMI are:
There are currently 3 IPMI revisions:
SOL is desirable as it allows you to interact with the server as though it were local in cases where the operating system locks up and SSH or telnet access are not available due to the operating system being inoperable. IPMI v1.5 still allows to you to power the system on and off and view sensor output.
More details to come on actually setting IPMI up, this is simply a beginning to the article.
Links:
Debian IPMI howto Supermicro IPMI on Linux Contains errata on the Supermicro Docs Another Linux IPMI doc Supermicro FTP server, Linux IPMI directory (version number in URL subject to change) Linux Remote Serial Console Howto