StarTech.com SV1115IPEXT Server User Manual


 
Disk Control Menu
Aside from status information, there are only three buttons in this window. Insert and
Eject will simulate that action, and only one option is enabled at any time, based on the
current state of the emulated disk. USB Replug can be used to force the host to
recognize the disk. It is not needed unless the host OS or hardware does not recognize it
automatically.
Using the IPMI Feature
Background
To offer a more complete remote server control solution, the SV1115IPEXT offers a
power management feature that allows remote hardware restarts and the ability to power
the host computer on and off. You may be able to take advantage of this feature if the
host computer you are managing supports IPMI (Intelligent Platform Management
Interface).
Host Computer Requirements
The host computer must support the IPMI standard version 1.5 to use this option. Most
popular server motherboards now support the IPMI standard. To determine if your
computer supports this IPMI, consult its documentation for more information.
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
Instruction Manual
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