What is IPMI?

NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: AUDREY RASMUSSEN ON NETWORK/SYSTEMS
MANAGEMENT
06/29/05
Today's focus: What is IPMI?

Dear networking.world@gmail.com,

In this issue:

* IPMI embedded management interface specification
* Links related to Network/Systems Management
* Featured reader resource
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Today's focus: What is IPMI?

By Audrey Rasmussen

Earlier this month, I wrote about agent and agentless management
approaches. That article elicited a few responses from readers,
which I shared with you in a subsequent issue. I have just
received another response, this time from a reader who sent me
his thoughts on Intelligent Platform Management Initiative, a
hardware manageability interface specification that embeds
management in the hardware.

IPMI is a message-based interface between CPUs and hardware
devices of different types. It enables remote out-of-band
management, which allows administrators to contact a server even
when the operating system is not operational. Many hardware
manufacturers have adopted IPMI, and servers are shipping with
this embedded capability. So the question is, do you even know
that IPMI is on your servers? And if so, are you taking
advantage of it?

Here's what our reader, a consultant, had to say about IPMI in
his response to the reader-feedback newsletter: "One reader
suggested agentless was not good because of network overhead.
Generally speaking, my issues are usually not in the network
(most of our customers are over provisioned on their links),
rather, the overhead of [operating system]-based agents on the
server it's installed on. While it might have the smarts to only
send relevant information, and so reduce network traffic, it's
consuming memory and CPU cycles.

"Actually, most of our customers are using new PowerEdge servers
from Dell that come with IPMI. What's really neat with this is
that the agent is prebuilt into the motherboard, so it meets my
concerns of not stealing memory/CPU cycles (I'm told it runs on
a [baseboard management controller] which has its own [real-time
operating system]). But the difference is that it also has the
smarts to only wake up when it needs to - to send me alerts
based on thresholds I set - so reducing network traffic."

He goes on to say, "[Another] reader talked about the lack of
data leading up to a server crash if you use agentless - well,
here comes IPMI again. It has what's called an event log that
captures hardware-based events - like a fan kicking in due to a
temperature spike (happens a lot in some of our customers'
closets) - or someone popping the chassis to take a look
inside... Best thing is that the event log is in the BMC - so
it's always going to be there and is a great way to show the
server failure isn't at the application level."

The reader continues: "Admittedly, IPMI is all well and good for
hardware. You invariably also need agents to track
application-level issues. So the two worlds are best used
together. And given IPMI is free with Dell servers, there's
really no excuse not to use it."

As a parting note, this particular reader mentioned Dell
servers, but IPMI also ships on a variety of servers delivered
by other hardware manufacturers. So the key here is not
necessarily the brand, it's the IPMI functionality. So if you
weren't aware of, or are not using IPMI, check to see if it is
on your newer servers. And if it is, take advantage of it.

RELATED EDITORIAL LINKS

Agent or agentless monitoring? It's your choice
Network World, 06/08/05
http://www.networkworld.com/nlnsm2903

Mailbag: Agents and agentless management
Network World, 06/15/05
http://www.networkworld.com/nlnsm2904

CA launches security pack for SMB
Network World, 06/27/05
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2005/062705-ca-smb.html?rl
_______________________________________________________________
To contact: Audrey Rasmussen

Audrey Rasmussen is a vice president with Enterprise Management
Associates <http://www.enterprisemanagement.com/> in Boulder,
Colorado, a leading industry analyst firm focusing exclusively
on all aspects of the management of information technology.
Audrey has more than 25 years of experience working with
distributed systems, applications and networks. Her current
focus at EMA is system management, application management and
enterprise management technologies. Reach her at
<mailto:rasmussen@enterprisemanagement.com>.
_______________________________________________________________
Business Continuity - is it practical?
A Special Report produced by Network World, sponsored by NSI

All forward thinking network executives must consider the
possibilities of system loss. So what are the options for a
comprehensive data protection and recovery strategy? Download
the special report Cost-effective Application Protection and
Recovery and read about creating a plan and factoring cost along
with other insightful and timely information.
http://www.fattail.com/redir/redirect.asp?CID=107413
_______________________________________________________________
ARCHIVE LINKS

Archive of the Network/Systems Management newsletter:
http://www.networkworld.com/newsletters/nsm/index.html

Management Research Center:
http://www.networkworld.com/topics/management.html
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