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Intelligent Platform Management Interface

IPMI

An out-of-band server management standard that allows remote power control, hardware sensor monitoring, and console access independent of the host operating system via a dedicated Baseboard Management Controller (BMC).

Full Definition

Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) defines a hardware-level interface for server management, operating via a dedicated Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) — a separate microcontroller on the server motherboard that remains powered and functional regardless of whether the host OS is running.

Key IPMI capabilities include: remote power on/off/reset; serial-over-LAN console access; hardware sensor polling (CPU temperatures, fan speeds, voltages, power consumption); PXE boot control; and event logging via the System Event Log (SEL). IPMI accesses a dedicated management network port using IPMI-over-LAN transport on UDP port 623.

IPMI has been succeeded conceptually by Redfish (DMTF DSP0266), a REST/JSON-based interface used in modern servers (Dell iDRAC, HPE iLO, Supermicro with Redfish). DCIM platforms integrate IPMI/Redfish to collect per-server power data — essential for accurate PUE and IT load accounting in PODVIEW deployments.

Also Known As

BMCiDRACiLORedfishBaseboard Management Controller

Source Reference

IPMI Specification v2.0 Rev 1.1; DMTF DSP0266 Redfish Specification

Related Terms