IPMI gives you access to a server's hardware over the network, even when the operating system is off or does not boot. It is the remote screen, keyboard and power button of a dedicated server.
How IPMI works
Server mainboards have a small extra computer called the BMC (baseboard management controller). It has its own network port and its own power supply path, so it keeps running when the main system is switched off or has crashed. IPMI is the standard for talking to it. Hardware vendors give their versions their own names: Supermicro calls it IPMI, Dell iDRAC, HPE iLO. They all do the same job.
What you can do with it
| Function | What it is for |
|---|---|
| KVM over IP (remote console) | See the screen and use keyboard and mouse in your browser, from the BIOS to the login prompt. |
| Power control | Switch the server on or off, or reset it, without opening a ticket. |
| Virtual media | Mount an ISO file as if it were a USB stick and install any operating system or hypervisor. |
| Sensors and event log | Check temperatures, fans, power supplies and hardware errors. |
| Serial over LAN | A text console for servers that are set up without a graphical screen. |
When you need it
Most of the time you work over SSH or RDP. IPMI matters when that path is gone: a firewall rule that locks you out, a kernel update that does not boot, a broken network configuration, or when you want to install your own system such as Proxmox from an ISO. With IPMI you fix it yourself in minutes instead of waiting for a technician.
Keep the IPMI interface safe
Whoever reaches the IPMI interface controls the whole server, so treat it like a root password. Do not leave it open to the whole internet: reach it through a VPN or allow only your own IP addresses. Use a long, unique password and keep the firmware up to date.
IPMI at Evolushost
Our own servers in Vienna and Berlin come with IPMI/KVM access. If you want us to mount an ISO for you or need help reaching the console, ask us in the live chat.