This article explores the core elements of HP's systems management solution and how they work with Opengear console servers.

Opengear offers a variety of connectivity methods to access HP Integrated Lights-Out (iLO and iLO 2) securely from a remote location. Our solutions provide an aggregate gateway to remote sites, branch offices, co-location facilities and data centers both in-band and out-of-band. The unique blend of security filters offered in our software and hardware platforms gives administrators enhanced access control and log file granularity for audit trails. Best of all, our solutions are low cost - starting at just a few hundred dollars.

We make managing HP servers easier, more secure from anywhere in the world. To manage HP systems at the remote site we offer our small form factor ACM5000 and IM4004-5 products. For the larger branch office site, colocation, or data center we offer our IMG4216-25 and IM4200 line of products. When HP iLO virtual console is not ideal for remote management administrators can implement true KVM over IP with our IP-KVM product line. Contact our sales team today for assistance in finding which product best fits your Dell management application.

HP BMC

Hpbmc is a utility for performing action(s) on a Baseboard Management Controller (BMC). Hpbmc was originally designed for HP Integrity Servers using the Open IPMI driver however it can work with other models - for a complete matrix of HP servers and BMC support click here. HP servers include an on-board BMC that complies with the industry standard IPMI specification. The on-board BMC monitors the server for critical events by communicating with various sensors on the system board, and sends alerts and log events when certain parameters exceed their preset thresholds and performs the following management functions:

• Remote access to the BMC through the system's serial port and integrated network interface card (NIC)
• Fault logging and SNMP alerting
• Access to the system event log (SEL) and sensor status information
• Control of system functions, including power cycling
• Text console redirection for system setup, text based utilities, and operating system (OS) consoles
• Access to the EMS, SAC and Linux serial console interfaces using serial over LAN (SOL)

For more information on BMC configuration and features refer HP's iLO White Paper

For more information on hpbmc commands and syntax refer HP's hpbmc page


HP Integrated Lights-Out (iLO)

So, what is the HP iLO and what can it do for me? From HP iLO PDF:

Basically, there’s a small area on the (ProLiant) motherboard that’s purely dedicated to hardware management: it has its own Ethernet port and draws power from a line connected before the main power switch of the computer, so it always remains alive so long as the mains do. This web server (and there are other protocol interfaces) lets you see straight into the computer, even to view the POST boot screen. Want to flash the BIOS on the server? No problem, it can even manage this. All of this is delivered via a web-based interface, which is simplicity itself to use. Power down the server? No problem. Reconfigure the RAID array during the POST setup? Also, no problem. Install an OS from scratch? That’s a piece of cake, too. All I need to know is the IP address of the iLO2 port, and I’m home and dry.

Much of the useable functionality in the HP iLO web GUI only displays if you have the iLO 2 Advanced Pack license. For more information on the iLO 2 Advanced Pack license, see “Obtaining and Activating iLO 2 Advanced Pack Licensing” and the HP website at:
http://h71028.www7.hp.com/enterprise/cache/279991-0-0-0-121.html

Binding the BMC to a Network Interface or Service Processor

(Click here for HP BMC versions and support systems)
To access the BMC via IPMI you must first bind the BMC to an available Network Interface in the BIOS settings. Common security practice is to bind the BMC to the iLO card or secondary NIC and isolate this interterface to a management LAN or sideband. When a switched PDU is not present you can toggle the chassis power using a string of commands found in the industry standard IPMItools. We embed the IPMI toolchain and have developed a nice GUI front end that allows users to simply point and click to reboot a server or while in SSH trigger a hotkey with a simple keystroke to power cycle the server. The BMC also provides Serial Over LAN (SOL) that creates a virtual serial port on the motherboard. SOL works best at slow speeds, low traffic and when the latest patches and BMC firmware is applied and can often be the source of headaches.

The BMC is a bit fragile in how it can handle DOS attacks and can frequently lock up under heavy traffic. That is why console servers are still the defacto choice for serial port access and providing physical secure remote access to BIOS, EMS, SSH, alerting, monitoring and more. Our console servers take it a bit further by living on both the management LAN and production LAN, we can tunnel RDP, VNC, X, monitor UPS systems, correlate switched PDU outlets or BMC power via IPMI and wrap this up in a low cost solution that includeds Out-Of-Band access.


Opengear Alternatives to buying an iLO 2 Advanced Pack license

Opengear console servers and SDTConnector client ship preconfigured with support for HP BMCs and iLO. They provide the ideal solution for securely accessing and controlling these service processors and HP servers and storage devices. Our solution is provides the best possible gateway for total server management via management LAN and serial port access. We also have a flexible, scalable KVM over IP solution that can meet even the most demanding needs in our IP-KVM product.



Opengear Applications

For enterprises with distributed branch offices our IM4004-5 and IMG4216-25 products provide a powerful integrated solution. In the smaller branches with only a few racks of servers and network devices to administer, the our small form factor ACM5000 offers a single point of local and remote access to all the serial consoles, network consoles, service processors and power units at the site. In larger branches with racks of servers to administer, the IM4200 can serve as the management LAN gateway that securely isolates the service processors.

For Centralized Monitoring of Distributed HP Servers and systems we have our CMS6100.
Opengear Centralized Monitor is a powerful system that centrally monitors your network of distributed downstream console servers and their managed devices. This enables you to identify and resolve IT infrastructure problems before they affect critical business processes. Our simple interface allows users to Point-Click-Connect through to HP iLO cards, VNC, RDP, Serial Console, and much more.



For the SMB customer the ACM5000 family + SDTConnector offers integrated out-of-band management fabric foriLOs/BMCs and remote access to HP tools as well as management of non-HP serial console equipment. It also delivers alternate connectivity for the out of band access with broadband, cellular and dial-up support. And for data center customers with racks of serial console devices to administer, the IM4248-2 (with its redundant power supplies, Ethernet failover, authentication and logs of all activity) provides a most reliable solution, while the CM4148 provides a most affordable solution.

The SDTConnector software client that is supplied with each console server ships preconfigured with support for HP BMCs, iLO and associated virtual KVM tools, and it provides a simple centralized solution for administration access to such distributed networks. With an IM4200 at each distributed location, all the iLO, IPMI and SOL access to each remote HP server is securely tunneled thru SSH over the one selectable remote network port. SDTConnector then gives the system administrator secure access to all these local and remote servers and sites from the one screen on his/her desktop, and the appropriate tool for accessing a particular server can then be opened with a simple point-n-click