Top 10 Nutanix IPMI Commands Part 1

Nutanix IPMI and BMC Commands Part-1

Nutanix IPMI Intelligent Platform Management Interface is BMC’s hardware interface to manage Nutanix Supermicro hardware through web-console (GUI) and ipmi tool Command line interface from network.

Before going explore the top 10 Nutanix IPMI commands need to understand the technical term and functionality of Nutanix IPMI and BMC.

What is IPMI ?

Nutanix IPMI interface is the Intelligent Platform Management Interface: IPMI that has two type of interfaces one is Web-console and another one is command line interface of server hardware for assistance to configuring, monitoring and troubleshooting of hardware server.

IPMI is based on BMC chip-set to get hardware information to show-off on Web-console and command line interface.

What is BMC ?

The BMC is Baseboard Management Controller that is a micro-controller and the major component of the IPMI sub-system. BMC has both an Ethernet interface and a directly attached interface to the chip-set on the motherboard. Such a configuration allows access to the micro-controller directly (from the Hypervisor) or remotely over LAN (from Controller VM).

Let’s explore the top 10 Nutanix IPMI Commands :

1 Check System Event Log

The BMC contains a central, non-volatile System Event Log ‘SEL’ that can be accessed even after a CPU failure on the server, for example, through the Nutanix IPMI LAN access.

A series of Nutanix IPMI commands permits reading and deleting the SEL. As the memory for the SEL is limited, it must be periodically checked and deleted so that additional events can be documented.

Query SEL events

nutanix@cvm$ ipmitool -H HOSTIP -U ADMIN -P ADMIN -v sel list
   1 | 03/13/2014 | 02:47:10 | Power Supply #0xc8 | Failure detected | Asserted
   2 | 03/13/2014 | 03:20:21 | Power Supply #0xc8 | Failure detected | Deasserted
   3 | 03/13/2014 | 04:22:22 | Power Supply #0xc8 | Failure detected | Asserted

2 Clear the SEL Log

If need to clear old SEL logs to track down the particular issue

nutanix@cvm$ ipmitool -H HOSTIP -U ADMIN -P ADMIN -v sel clear

3 Hardware Sensor Reading

If you need to check hardware sensor reading of CPU, Fan, power supply unit and etc

nutanix@cvm$ ipmitool -H HOSTIP -U ADMIN -P ADMIN sensor list

4 Reset the BMC

If need to reset the BMC configuration

nutanix@cvm$ ipmitool -H HOSTIP -U ADMIN -P ADMIN mc reset cold
OR
nutanix@cvm$ ipmitool -H HOSTIP -U ADMIN -P ADMIN raw 0x06 0x02
# Wait at least one minute for the reset to complete 

Note : No impact on running host, cvm and guest VMs

5 Get serial number of the node

If need to check Nutanix or Nutaix OEM hardware block serial number

nutanix@cvm$ ipmitool -H HOSTIP -U ADMIN -P ADMIN fru

Read more : How to check Block serial number from Prism

6 IPMI policy when the power is restored6

If need to set chassis power state in case of power shortage

nutanix@cvm$ ipmitool -H HOSTIP -U ADMIN -P ADMIN chassis policy
chassis policy <state>    list        : return supported policies  
always-on   : turn on when power is restored    previous    : return to previous state when power is restored    always-off  : stay off after power is restored 

7 Resetting the IPMI Password

If need to reset IPMI password

Visit my post : How To Reset / Change Nutanix IPMI Password

8 Help information for specific commands

If need to know sub-commands of ipmitool

ESXi/AHVipmitool CMD OPT /?
Hyper-Vipmiutil CMD -?

9 Turn on the Locator LED of node

If need to turn on of the nodes’ LED light

nutanix@cvm$ ipmitool -H HOSTIP -U ADMIN -P ADMIN chassis identify force

10 Turn off the Locator LED of node

If need to turn off of the nodes’ LED light

nutanix@cvm$ ipmitool -H HOSTIP -U ADMIN -P ADMIN chassis identify 0

IPMI stores information into the System Event Log (SEL), Sensor Data Record (SDR) repository, and the Field Replaceable Units (FRUs).

Conclusion

Nutanix IPMI command are very helpful in case of troubleshooting and resetting the configuration and password in case of something goes wrong.

Nutanix recommended to run any command wisely on Nutanix platform.
Any wrong command may impact running production environment.


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