17.2. Integrated Lights-Out

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The iLO is an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) embedded on the system board on select ProLiant servers, as shown in Figure 17-2. iLO consists of an intelligent processor and firmware that provide standard and advanced levels of Lights-Out functionality.

Figure 17-2. iLO chip.


iLO comes in two flavors: Standard and Advanced. iLO Standard provides basic system board management functions, diagnostics, and essential Lights-Out functionality. iLO Advanced provides advanced functionality and can be licensed with the optional iLO Advanced Pack.

17.2.1 iLO Standard

iLO Standard features include the following:

  • Virtual text remote console Embedded hardware remote console capabilities are provided for text mode screens. The operating system independent console supports text modes that display remote host server activities, such as startup and shutdown operations.

  • Virtual power button You can access iLO through a supported browser interface to operate the power button of a remote server to power-up, power-down, or restart the server. A press-and-hold option is available if a momentary press is insufficient to power-off a server with a failed operating system.

  • Control of the unit ID LED A unit ID LED located in the front and rear of the server is monitored and controlled by iLO. iLO can display the status of the unit ID LED, can enable and disable the unit ID LED, and can blink the unit LED to indicate that iLO is engaged in an activity that should not be interrupted (for example, flashing the firmware).

  • Easy to set up and use iLO provides autoconfiguration using Domain Name Service / Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DNS/DHCP). It includes a ROM-Based Setup Utility (RBSU), and is accessible using Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 or later.

  • Always on and running The iLO processor is powered through the auxiliary power plane of the server, so the processor is always powered-on regardless of the state of the server. If the server is powered-off, the processor is still accessible. If the server fails because of an operating system error, monitoring of the server can continue.

    Note

    The server must be plugged into an AC power source for this feature to function.


  • System board management With iLO, you can monitor the system for Power-On Self-Test (POST) error messages. In addition, you can diagnose the system using the events recorded by the IML and iLO event log.

  • Headless server deployment iLO features allow servers to be controlled seamlessly without local keyboards, pointing devices, monitors, or KVM switches.

  • Integration with Insight Manager Efficient, centralized administration is provided through integration with Insight Manager.

17.2.2 iLO Advanced Pack

The following additional features are licensed with the iLO Advanced Pack:

  • USB-based virtual media Enables a remote host server to be powered-on and use standard media from any network location, which saves time and increases efficiency by eliminating the need to visit a host server to insert and use a disk or CD.

  • Virtual graphical remote console Operates independently of the operating system and supports graphic modes, which display remote host server activities such as shutdown and startup operations.

  • Directory integration (firmware version 1.40 or greater) The Integrated Lights-Out integrates with enterprise-class directory services to provide secure, scalable, and cost-effective user management. Directory services, such as Microsoft Active Directory and Novell eDirectory, can be used to authorize directory users with assigned user roles to Integrated Lights-Out processors.

  • Terminal Services integration (firmware version 1.5 or greater) Integrated Lights-Out integrates with Microsoft Terminal Services to provide a high-performance graphical remote console by automatically switching to Microsoft Terminal Services when the operating system is fully loaded and available on the host system. When the operating system is not operational, iLO continues to provide its secure, hardware-based Lights-Out console for end-to-end remote access to the host server.

17.2.2.1 OBTAINING ILO ADVANCED FUNCTIONALITY

The iLO advanced functionality can be licensed by ordering the Integrated Lights-Out Advanced Pack. The iLO Advanced Pack provides a license key that is entered into iLO via the Web browser, to enable the advanced functionality.

For a list of supported operating systems, go to http://www.hp.com/servers/manage.

17.2.3 iLO Device Drivers

The following device drivers that support iLO are included on the HP SmartStart CD and are available on the HP Web site:

  • Advanced Server Management Controller driver Provides system management support and support for management agents.

  • iLO Management Interface driver Allows the system software and SNMP Insight agents to communicate with iLO.

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    HP ProLiant Servers AIS. Official Study Guide and Desk Reference
    HP ProLiant Servers AIS: Official Study Guide and Desk Reference
    ISBN: 0131467174
    EAN: 2147483647
    Year: 2004
    Pages: 278

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