CentOS - Jun 2008 - how do I manage a Dell PE 860 server via IPMI?

Hi all

I'm trying to get to grips with this one, but just can't figure it out. 
I recently acquired some 2nd hand Dell Poweredge 860 servers, and 
noticed that they have built in remote management interfaces. So, I have 
setup one, and assigned an IP address to it, but have no idea on how to 
access it remotely. Google'ing for an answer didn't bring me more than 
general product information about various different IPMI stuff.

So, how do I actually access these servers remotely? If possible, I'd 
like todo it via another CentOS server at the DC using SSH.

tia :)

-- 

Kind Regards
Rudi Ahlers
CEO, SoftDux

Web:   http://www.SoftDux.com
Check out my technical blog, http://blog.softdux.com for Linux or other
technical stuff, or visit http://www.WebHostingTalk.co.za for Web Hosting stuff

Rudi Ahlers wrote:
> Hi all
>
> I'm trying to get to grips with this one, but just can't figure it 
> out. I recently acquired some 2nd hand Dell Poweredge 860 servers, and 
> noticed that they have built in remote management interfaces. So, I 
> have setup one, and assigned an IP address to it, but have no idea on 
> how to access it remotely. Google'ing for an answer didn't bring me
> more than general product information about various different IPMI stuff.
>
> So, how do I actually access these servers remotely? If possible, I'd 
> like todo it via another CentOS server at the DC using SSH.
do they have teh DRAC 4/p management module?  if so, you configure that 
(can be done from the BIOS setup, I believe) to have an IP, then you can 
access them with a web browser.  this is done via the seperate ethernet 
port on the DRAC card.   change the default DRAC password on first 
access (no, I don't recall what the default is, but if you google for 
site:dell.com drac-4 documentation, I'm sure you'll find it).

if its strictly IPMI, I can't help you, I've never figured out IPMI
either.

Rudi Ahlers wrote:
> Hi all
> 
> I'm trying to get to grips with this one, but just can't figure it
out.
> I recently acquired some 2nd hand Dell Poweredge 860 servers, and 
> noticed that they have built in remote management interfaces. So, I have 
> setup one, and assigned an IP address to it, but have no idea on how to 
> access it remotely. Google'ing for an answer didn't bring me more
than
> general product information about various different IPMI stuff.
> 
> So, how do I actually access these servers remotely? If possible, I'd 
> like todo it via another CentOS server at the DC using SSH.
Dell's usually come with their openmange suite, so you might google for 
that.  I think a java-enabled browser should connect and get an applet 
that looks more or less like vnc for console access.  But you only need 
it when installing remotely or if something is wrong so you can't ssh to 
the main interface.

Dell usually has all their documentation and updates online. If this 
doesn't help you can probably find the full manual.
  ftp://ftp.us.dell.com/sysman/readme_160_A00.txt

-- 
   Les Mikesell
    lesmikesell at gmail.com