= IPMI =

IPMI allows us to access a physical server removetly, as if we were in the colo with a monitor and keyboard plugged in. At least in theory. We used to use [wiki:telehouse_serial_access a simple serial cable] to achieve this feat. However, new servers are no longer beings shipped with serial ports and motherboard/bios software no longer support them. Instead, we are expected to use IPMI.

IPMI provides a million ways to connect, but we are enabling two. Both are configured to use a local, non-routable IP address.

 * web-based access (we will setup nginx to proxy from a public address to the non-routable address)
 * serial over LAN access, using ipmiutil which will be run from a server in the cabinet

Unfortunately, IPMI is complex and varies considerably from computer to computer. Here are the steps used to connect john.

== BIOS/Setup ==

When you first boot the computer, IPMI has to be enabled and assigned an IP address. 

We use a non-routable IP address so the only way to connect to IPMI is via a machine in the colo itself. 

Below are the screen shots of the bios and their settings.


[[Image(1.advanced-super-io.png​)]]
[[Image(2.advanced-superio-SOL.png​)]]
[[Image(3.advanced-serial-port-console-redirection.png​)]]
[[Image(4.advanced-serial-console-redirection-first-page.png​ )]]
[[Image(5.advanced-console-redirection-settings-first.png)]]
[[Image(6.advanced-console-redirection-settings-second.png​)]]
[[Image(7.ipmi-settings.png)]]

== Enable http redirections ==

On robideau, we have the following nginx configuration to allow web-based proxying:

{{{
#server {
#  listen 80;
#  server_name ipmi.john.mayfirst.org;
#  root /var/www/html;
#  location /.well-known/acme-challenge {
#    try_files $uri $uri/ =404;
#  }
#  location / {
#    return 301 https://$host$request_uri;
#  }
#}

server {
  listen 443;
  server_name ipmi.john.mayfirst.org;
  location /.well-known {
    root /var/www/html;
  }
  location / {
    access_log off;
    proxy_pass http://192.168.56.3:80;
    proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
    proxy_set_header Host $host;
    proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
    proxy_set_header Upgrade $http_upgrade;
    proxy_set_header Connection "Upgrade";
  }

  ssl on;
  ssl_certificate_key /etc/letsencrypt/live/ipmi.john.mayfirst.org/privkey.pem;
  ssl_certificate /etc/letsencrypt/live/ipmi.john.mayfirst.org/fullchain.pem;

  ssl_ciphers 'AES128+EECDH:AES128+EDH:!aNULL';

  ssl_protocols TLSv1 TLSv1.1 TLSv1.2;
  ssl_session_cache shared:SSL:10m;

  ssl_prefer_server_ciphers on;
  ssl_dhparam /etc/ssl/dhparam.pem;

  add_header Strict-Transport-Security max-age=63072000;
  add_header X-Content-Type-Options nosniff;
}
}}}

The commented out section must be un-commented initially to allow lets encrypt to create a proper initial certificate.

Also, you need to create dlparams with:

{{{
openssl dhparam -out /etc/ssl/dhparam.pem 2048
}}}

And, of course, you need to create a DNS record so that a domain (e.g. `ipmi.john.mayfirst.org`) points to robideau's IP address.

== Setup IPMI ==

Now, you can access the IPMI web configuration.

The default user pass is: ADMIN/ADMIN - case sensitive!

Here are some important changes:

 * Configuration -> Users
 * Change password for ADMIN user. **NOTE** make password 16 characters or less and keep out weird characters. It is possible to lock yourself out with this step.
 * Configuration -> Port
 * Only check off Web port (80) and Ikvm server port (5900)

Now, you can access the "monitor" by clicking Remove Control -> iKVM/HTML5

== So-called Serial access ==

On robideau, or your jump host, install `ipmiutil`.

Then, create a simple bash script to help you remember the command:

{{{
ipmiutil sol -V 4 -a -N 192.168.56.3 -U ADMIN -Y
}}}

You will be prompted for the password.

== Setup Linux ==

After installing linux, edit `/etc/default/grub` and change GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX to:

{{{
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="console=tty0 console=ttyS1,115200n8"
}}}

And add:

{{{
GRUB_TERMINAL=serial
GRUB_SERIAL_COMMAND="serial --unit0 --word=8 --parity=no --stop=1"
}}}