Provided by: ipmiutil_3.1.5-1_amd64 
NAME
ipmiutil_serial - configure a system for Serial/EMP management functions, such as Terminal
Mode, and optionally share the port with the Serial Console.
SYNOPSIS
ipmiutil serial [-bcdeflq#rsvxB -m0 -m1 -n ser_chan -u user -p passwd -NUPREFJTVY]
DESCRIPTION
ipmiutil serial is a program that uses an IPMI driver to send IPMI commands which
configure a system to enable EMP/serial Terminal Mode management functions within the
firmware, so that an administrator can use command-line character commands via the serial
port to power cycle the system and perform other functions, even if the system is not
running an OS. This level of access needs to be protected by a username/password login,
which can be specified with this utility. This utility can use either the /dev/ipmi0
driver from OpenIPMI, the /dev/imb driver from Intel, the /dev/ipmikcs driver from
valinux, direct user-space IOs, or the IPMI LAN interface if -N.
OPTIONS
Command line options are described below.
-b Set up and enable the Serial Port EMP parameters for Basic Mode management
functions. This does not set a username or password.
-c Configure and enable the Serial Port EMP parameters for Terminal Mode management
functions, shared with BIOS Console Redirection. Setting a new username and
password for serial access via -u and -p is recommended for security.
-d Disable the serial port access for IPMI commands. The serial port is then only
available for BIOS console and OS functions. A side-effect of this option is that
it sets the default user (1) back to admin access.
-e Enable EMP Terminal Mode without shared BIOS console. The serial port is then only
available for EMP Terminal Mode functions.
-f Specifies the Flow Control for the Serial EMP. 0 means no flow control, and 1
means RTS/CTS flow control (default). This must match the BIOS Serial Console
setting.
-l Show LAN Parameters. This option reads and displays the LAN Parameter configuration
also.
-m0 Switch the Serial Port MUX to Baseboard/BIOS Console operation. Set no other
configuration parameters.
-m1 Switch the Serial Port MUX to Terminal Mode management. Set no other configuration
parameters.
-n ser_chan
Sets the IPMI channel number to use for the EMP serial channel (often 4). Note
that the IPMI channels for LAN, Serial, etc. are numbered differently on each
platform type. The default is to detect the first available IPMI serial channel.
-# Same as -q below.
-q Specify an alternate user number for the EMP Username from the -u option. This is
normally user number 2, 3, or 4, where 3 is the default. The maximum number of
users is 15.
-r Read Only. This option just reads the Serial Parameter configuration without
writing any values.
-s Set up and enable the Serial Port EMP parameters for Shared operation between Basic
Mode management functions and Baseboard (BIOS) Remote Console. This option
switches the Serial Port MUX to Baseboard Console operation.
-t Configure and enable the Serial Port EMP parameters for Terminal Mode management
functions, shared with BIOS Console Redirection. Same as -c, but easier to
remember.
-u username
This specifies a username for the EMP Terminal Mode login. It can be any string,
up to 15 characters. If -u is not used, the default user 1 (null) will be assumed.
The username, if specified, will be set for user 3, unless option -q is specified.
-p password
This specifies a password for the EMP Terminal Mode login. It can be any string,
up to 15 characters. A null password is used if none is specified. This password
applies to user 3 if -u is used, to user 1 otherwise.
-v priv
Set a specific access priVilege for this user, where priv can be: 1=Callback,
2=User, 3=Operator, 4=Admin, 5=OEM, 15=NoAccess The default if not specified or
specified in error, is to use 4=Admin.
-x Causes extra debug messages to be displayed.
-B Set the Baud rate of the serial port to one of the following: 9600, 19,2K, 38.4K,
57.6K, or 115.2K. The default is 19.2K bps.
-N nodename
Nodename or IP address of the remote target system. If a nodename is specified,
IPMI LAN interface is used. Otherwise the local system management interface is
used.
-P/-R rmt_pswd
Remote password for the nodename given. The default is a null password.
-U rmt_user
Remote username for the nodename given. The default is a null username.
-E Use the remote password from Environment variable IPMI_PASSWORD.
-F drv_t
Force the driver type to one of the followng: imb, va, open, gnu, landesk, lan,
lan2, lan2i, kcs, smb. Note that lan2i means lan2 with intelplus. The default is
to detect any available driver type and use it.
-J Use the specified LanPlus cipher suite (0 thru 17): 0=none/none/none,
1=sha1/none/none, 2=sha1/sha1/none, 3=sha1/sha1/cbc128, 4=sha1/sha1/xrc4_128,
5=sha1/sha1/xrc4_40, 6=md5/none/none, ... 14=md5/md5/xrc4_40. Default is 3.
-T Use a specified IPMI LAN Authentication Type: 0=None, 1=MD2, 2=MD5, 4=Straight
Password, 5=OEM.
-V Use a specified IPMI LAN privilege level. 1=Callback level, 2=User level,
3=Operator level, 4=Administrator level (default), 5=OEM level.
-Y Yes, do prompt the user for the IPMI LAN remote password. Alternatives for the
password are -E or -P.
EXAMPLES
ipmiutil serial -t (or -c)
Enables Terminal Mode management functions, shared with BIOS Serial Console
redirection. The user can switch between serial console operations and IPMI
Terminal Mode commands by typing ESC ')' and ESC 'Q'.
ipmiutil serial -s
Enables Basic Mode management functions shared with BIOS Serial Console
redirection. The user can switch between serial console operations and IPMI Basic
Mode management programs on the same serial port.
ipmiutil serial -d
Disables the serial port management functions. This would be used if only the BIOS
Serial Console were used and no BMC serial management functions.
How to login to a Terminal Mode console:
ESC ( (switch to Terminal mode)
[SYS PWD -N ] (login for default user, null psw)
[SYS PWD -U ROOT -N PASSWORD] (syntax example for user 3)
[SYS 000157 ACTIVATE] (activate advanced commands)
[SYS HEALTH QUERY]
[SYS HELP]
[SYS PWD] (logoff)
ESC Q (switch to BIOS console)
See IPMI 1.5 Spec, Appendix E, and Intel TIGPR2U TPS for more information.
DEPENDENCIES
The ipmiutil serial utility is intended to configure the EMP serial port on the server for
shared access between BMC/IPMI functions and BIOS Console Redirection. Some platforms
only support only Basic Mode for BMC/IPMI functions. Basic Mode requires a remote client
application to utilize it (Windows ISC Console/DPC, or a special modified Linux telnet).
There are some platforms which implement Terminal Mode via IPMI v1.5 Appendix E to make
remote management with character commands available on the serial port without a special
remote client application.
For example, Intel TSRLT2 systems would use "ipmiutil serial -s" for Basic Mode shared
functions, but Intel TIGPR2U systems could use "ipmiutil serial -c" to configure Terminal
Mode functions. On your system, run "ipmiutil serial -r" to check whether Serial
Param(29): "Terminal Mode Config" is supported. If not, configure Basic Mode via
"ipmiutil serial -s".
PLATFORM SERIAL PORT CONFIGURATION EXAMPLES
First, enter BIOS Setup for Serial Console Redirection parameters: (these vary by
platform)
Console Redirection = Serial Port B
ACPI Redirection = Disabled
Baud Rate = 115.2K
Flow Control = CTS/RTS
Terminal Type = VT100
Legacy Redirection = Enabled
Note that the Baud Rate can vary, but it must match in all locations where it is used
(BIOS, IPMI, and Linux).
For some non-Intel platforms, the serial console would be COM1 instead of COM2, but should
be enabled in BIOS.
From Linux, run "ipmiutil serial -c" for Terminal Mode shared configuration.
Or, on older Intel TSRLT2 platforms: From Linux, run "ipmiutil serial -s" for Basic Mode
Shared configuration.
LINUX CONFIGURATION FOR SERIAL CONSOLE
If using lilo, in /etc/lilo.conf, add
append="console=ttyS1,19200n8 console=tty0"
(and comment out the "message=" line because it includes graphics)
Note that the append line can be placed in the global section and removed from each kernel
section if there are no other differences.
Or, if using grub, edit /boot/grub/grub.conf as follows:
#Omit the splashimage or gfxmenu
# splashimage=(hd0,0)/grub/splash.xpm.gz
#The serial and terminal lines are not usually needed
# serial --unit=1 --speed=19200 --word=8 --parity=no --stop=1
# terminal --timeout=10 serial console
#Add the console=ttyS* parameter to the kernel line
kernel (hd0,0) /vmlinuz root=/dev/sda2 console=ttyS1,19200n8
Add this line to /etc/initab, if ttyS1 is not already there:
co:2345:respawn:/sbin/agetty ttyS1 19200 vt100
Add this line to /etc/securetty, if ttyS1 is not already there:
ttyS1
SEE ALSO
ipmiutil(8) ialarms(8) iconfig(8) icmd(8) idiscover(8) ievents(8) ifru(8) igetevent(8)
ihealth(8) ilan(8) ireset(8) isel(8) isensor(8) isol(8) iwdt(8)
WARNINGS
See http://ipmiutil.sourceforge.net/ for the latest version of ipmiutil and any bug fix
list.
COPYRIGHT
Copyright (C) 2009 Kontron America, Inc.
See the file COPYING in the distribution for more details regarding redistribution.
This utility is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY.
AUTHOR
Andy Cress <arcress at users.sourceforge.net>
Version 2.2: 17 Feb 2010 ISERIAL(8)