StarTech.com SV1115IPEXEU User Manual
Page 44
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Instruction Manual
40
IPMI is used to configure and control a device on the motherboard called the BMC
(Baseboard Management Controller) using a dedicated serial port. Once the computer
is configured for IPMI management, the serial port on the host computer is normally
reserved by the BIOS solely for that purpose and cannot be accessed or recognized by
the operating system. It is therefore unlikely that a serial port provided by an add-in
card will be able to act as an IPMI port, so you must use a serial port integrated on
the motherboard of the host computer. If the computer you are managing only has
a single serial port, you must add an additional port (or ports) via an add-in card if
you need a serial port for other purposes (i.e. modem). Enabling IPMI support usually
requires enabling options in the host computer’s BIOS setup software, and the
instructions will vary considerably from make to make and model to model. Normally,
a password will be created by the BIOS that allows the IPMI feature to be accessed; this
password is exclusive to the IPMI feature and does not correspond to a password or
account in the host computer’s operating system.
If the Host Computer Does Not Support IPMI
If the host computer you are managing with the SV1115IPEXT does not support IPMI,
StarTech.com offers a non-IPMI solution that also works via serial port and acts as a
power concentrator and a power management device: the 8 Outlet Serial Remote
Power Switch (PM815NAS). For more information about this product, visit www.
startech.com or contact your local StarTech.com dealer.
Connecting the SV1115IPEXT for IPMI Control
You can use either serial port on the SV1115IPEXT to send IPMI access; your choice will
determine the type of cable you will use to make the connection. The DTE Serial port
on the front panel requires the use of a null modem serial cable. The DCE Serial port on
the rear panel requires the use of a straight through serial cable.
Connect a female end of a serial cable to the serial port that is configured for IPMI
access on the host computer. Connect the opposite end (male if connecting to the DCE
Serial port, female if connecting to the DTE Serial port) to the SV1115IPEXT
Serial port
(DTE)
Serial port
(DCE)
.