Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) Guide Using the Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) firmware builit into a WildPackets' network appliance, you can remotely access the appliance as if you were in the same room as the appliance. Using Internet Explorer, you can easily perform tasks such as accessing a remote console, reimaging the appliance, and rebooting and shutting down the appliance. Contents Setting the IP Address for the IPMI Interface Using the Browser to Connect to the Appliance Changing the Default Password Accessing a Remote Console Reimaging the Appliance With the ISO Image Rebooting the Appliance Shutting Down the Appliance Setting the IP Address for the IPMI Interface The IPMI interface on your WildPackets appliance requires its own IP address for communication. You can set this by accessing the BIOS settings for the appliance. NOTE: You must be physically present at the appliance to initially set the IPMI IP address. Once initially set, you can use the IPMI to view or change the setting. To set the IPMI IP address: 1. Locate the IPMI port on the back of your WildPackets appliance, and connect an Ethernet cable from your network to the IPMI port. NOTE: If there is no cable physically connected to the IPMI port, the IPMI port receives a DHCP address through the eth0 port. To determine this address, simply type 'ipmicfg -m' at the command prompt (see Accessing a Remote Console below). If you are using Port Security on your switch, you must attach a cable to the IPMI port on the appliance. Failure to do so could result in a loss of connectivity to the eth0 port, which is generally used as the management interface. 2. Reboot or restart the appliance. 3. Press the [Delete] key multiple times during system boot to enter the BIOS settings. 4. Select IPMI from the Advanced menu. 5. Select LAN Configuration from the IPMI submenu. 6. The IPMI interface is set to DHCP by default. If the interface is connected to a network with a DHCP server, it will have an IP address already. You can also set a static address as well, which is recommended. You will need this IP address in order to remotely access the appliance. 7. Press [F10] to save and exit.
Using the Browser to Connect to the Appliance To connect to the appliance using your browser: 1. From a computer connected to the network, open a browser window in Internet Explorer. 2. Enter the IPMI IP address of the appliance in the address bar of your browser. 3. Once the connection is made, the Login screen appears. 4. Enter the Username and Password, and then click Login (the default Username is ADMIN, and the default Password is ADMIN). The System Information window appears. NOTE: For security reasons, we strongly recommend changing the default password.
Changing the Default Password For security reasons, we strongly recommend changing the default password to the IPMI interface. To change the default password: 1. From the menu bar, select Configuration > Users. The User List window appears.
2. Select the user (ADMIN) and click Modify User. The Modify User window appears. 3. Make your edits in the screen and click Modify. Accessing a Remote Console A powerful feature of using the IPMI interface is the ability to access the console of the appliance remotely, over Ethernet. To access a remote console:
1. From the menu bar, click Remote Control. The Remote Control - Options window appears. 2. Click Launch Console to start the Java applet for the console. 3. Allow the Java applet to start. In a few seconds, the command prompt appears. NOTE: The Keyboard menu in the Java applet contains various options for keyboard operation. For example, choose Keyboard > Soft Keyboard to access a window with a keyboard pictured on it. Using
your mouse to click any 'key' sends the same keyboard stroke to the appliance. This is especially useful if your session becomes unresponsive to the keyboard. Reimaging the Appliance With the ISO Image If you have the WildPackets Omni-Install script for your appliance, you can reimage the appliance remotely using the IPMI interface. The appliance can be reimaged using the ISO CD or ISO CD image. To reimage the appliance: 1. From the Remote Control - Options window, click Launch Console to start the Java applet for the console. 2. Allow the Java applet to start. In a few seconds, the command prompt appears.
3. Click Media from the menu bar. The Virtual Media wizard appears. 4. Browse to the Omni-Install script image file (ISO or Drive), and click Open. 5. Click Connect CD/DVD. NOTE: If you are running the Omni-Install script though the Java applet for the console, you must not close the applet until the Omni-Install script completes. Doing so causes the reimaging process to fail. Depending on the storage size of your appliance, running the Omni-Install script can take up 16 hours (approximately 30 minutes per terabyte of storage size). Rebooting the Appliance To reboot the appliance: 1. From the Remote Control - Options window, click Launch Console to start the Java applet for the console.
2. Allow the Java applet to start. In a few seconds, the command prompt appears. 3. Enter the Reboot command. NOTE: You can also choose Keyboard > Macros > Ctrl+Alt+Del to issue a quick reboot to the appliance. Shutting down the Appliance To shut down the appliance: 1. From the Remote Control - Options window, click Power Control. The Power Control and Status window appears.
2. Select Power Off Server - Orderly Shutdown, and click Perform Action. WildPackets, Inc. 1340 Treat Boulevard, Suite 500 Walnut Creek, California 94597 USA (925) 937-3200 http://www.wildpackets.com Copyright 2011 WildPackets, Inc. All rights reserved.