Have you ever experienced a server crash in the middle of a night, and wished you could somehow fix it without visiting the data center? This is specifically what out-of-band management tools, such as iLO, DRAC, or IPMI, allow you to do. These tools give you the ability to remotely manage and even repair servers in a way the OS is not running. Pretty cool?
For example, if your home pc crashes, you would just walk over, and hit the restart button. But if you have a tool like HP iLO, Dell DRAC, Intel IPMI, you can do it from where ever you have internet connection.
• HP iLO (Integrated Lights-Out): The HP iLO software enables you to power servers on or off, monitor hardware health, and install software remotely, essentially a remote server control.
• Dell DRAC (Dell Remote Access Controller): The DRAC tool provides a remote server console (visual display), the ability to access the BIOS, or even read error logs from a distance. If you manage several Dell servers, the DRAC tool really simplifies things.
• IPMI (Intelligent Platform Management Interface): IPMI works on most brands of servers and allows you to check system health (temperature, fan speed, and power consumption) regardless of whether the primary OS is running.
Here’s why administrators love them:
So, the next time someone mentions OOB management, you'll have an open forum on technology jargon with classmates and know that it is just a fancy word for repairing a server or hardware when you don't have to leave your bed.
What is Out-of-Band Management?
So, out-of-band (OOB) management is a mechanism to access your server independent of the main OS going down. OOB management is like having a spare copy of your house keys that works, even if the door breaks.For example, if your home pc crashes, you would just walk over, and hit the restart button. But if you have a tool like HP iLO, Dell DRAC, Intel IPMI, you can do it from where ever you have internet connection.
Top Three Tools: iLO, DRAC, and IPMI
Let's simplify what each of these tools can do:• HP iLO (Integrated Lights-Out): The HP iLO software enables you to power servers on or off, monitor hardware health, and install software remotely, essentially a remote server control.
• Dell DRAC (Dell Remote Access Controller): The DRAC tool provides a remote server console (visual display), the ability to access the BIOS, or even read error logs from a distance. If you manage several Dell servers, the DRAC tool really simplifies things.
• IPMI (Intelligent Platform Management Interface): IPMI works on most brands of servers and allows you to check system health (temperature, fan speed, and power consumption) regardless of whether the primary OS is running.
Why Do These Tools Matter?
No data center administrator wants to physically drive to the data center when a server is off and all they need to do is press a power button, and these big three tools stop that from happening. These tools allow total remote control of a server and effectiveness.Here’s why administrators love them:
- Restart or shut down servers remotely.
- Check hardware health and status.
- Access BIOS or console when the OS fails.
- Update firmware without using a physical server.
In Summary
While iLO, DRAC, and IPMI are out-of-band tools, these tools are the unsung heroes of server management in IT. They save time for IT teams to move fast, allow for a reduced length of downtime, and allow technicians to work from any location.So, the next time someone mentions OOB management, you'll have an open forum on technology jargon with classmates and know that it is just a fancy word for repairing a server or hardware when you don't have to leave your bed.