IPMIs

IPMI stands for Intelligent Platform Management Interface, a family of standardized specifications for out-of-band management of computer systems. The term IPMIs can refer to the various IPMI implementations produced by different vendors. The framework centers on a baseboard management controller, or BMC, and a defined set of commands and data structures for monitoring and control.

Key functions include monitoring hardware sensors (temperature, voltages, fan speeds), event logging, inventory, and remote power control. Some IPMI implementations also provide remote console access and firmware update capabilities, enabling administrators to manage systems without an operating system running.

Technical architecture: The BMC exposes management services that can be accessed locally via buses such as I2C/SMBus using the KCS (keyboard controller style) or SM-based transports, or remotely over a network using the RMCP protocol family (IPMI over UDP). Client tools include IPMItool, FreeIPMI, and OpenIPMI.

Versions and security: IPMI 2.0 added stronger authentication and integrity checks through RMCP+, including optional encryption. Despite improvements, many deployments rely on legacy configurations and exposed networks, which can pose security risks. Best practices emphasize network isolation, strong authentication, and limiting remote access.

Context: IPMI remains widely deployed in servers and storage systems. Common BMC silicon and implementations come from vendors like ASPEED, Nuvoton, and others. In parallel, the DMTF's Redfish standard offers a modern RESTful interface intended to supplement or replace IPMI in new deployments.