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Intelligent Platform Management Interface

Reduce TCO for Mission Critical Server Environments

Reduce enterprise total cost of ownership (TCO) with stronger and more intelligent server management.

Learn how Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) defines common platform instrumentation to enable interoperability, extensibility, and scalability with intelligent hardware for enterprise-wide mission critical applications. Guides, tools, and the latest specification updates and revisions are available below. 


Recent Updates (updated on 02/28/13)


This revision includes clarifications, corrected typos, updated references, ‘AS F’ MultiRecord types, and two new record types to support larger maximum DC output and load currents for power supplies. Refer to the Revision History in the document for more information.

IPMI, V2.0, addenda, errata, and clarifications revision 4, June 12, 2009

This latest revision lists the cumulative addenda, errata, and clarifications against the rev. 1.0 release of the IPMI Second Generation, V2.0, specification. Several important additions, corrections, and clarifications have been made to the specification, including updates to the boot options, Entity IDs, Sensor Types, and the RAKP description. A corresponding markup of the V2.0 specification is also available.

IPMI promoters announcement

Dell, HP, Intel Corporation, and NEC Corporation are pleased to announce the availability of version 2.0 of the Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) specification, which will continue to improve server management and help reduce costs. IPMI helps lower the overall costs of server management by enabling customers to save time, maximize IT resources, and potentially manage multivendor environments in the same way. The current specification defines common interfaces that allow IT managers to receive status alerts, send instructions to industry-standard servers, and run diagnostics over a network versus locally at the server. IPMI, V2.0, is designed to extend customers' IT capabilities and further improve remote management by introducing enhanced security, remote access, and configuration capabilities, while maintaining compatibility with previous IPMI versions. The next-generation IPMI also offers customers more cost-effective implementation options, which can provide greater flexibility and lower the cost of server deployment. Additional features of the new specification include:

  • New authentication and encryption algorithms enhance security for remote management access
  • Serial over LAN supports remote interaction with serial-based applications, BIOS, and operating system
  • SMBus system interface provides low-pin count connection for low-cost management controllers
  • Firmware Firewall supports partitioning and protection of management between blades in modular system implementations
  • IPMI payloads provide infrastructure for Serial Over LAN and OEM value-added redirection capabilities
  • New user login and configuration options enable user access-rights and security configuration capabilities to be tailored to the needs of the user's facility

The IPMI, V2.0, specification is available now.

Contributors agreement

Intel and the contributor’s group are no longer accepting requests for contributors. The adopter’s agreement is available by request via this link: Adopter’s agreement for IPMI.

Thank you for your interest in the IPMI specification.

Adopter's agreement

Before implementing the IPMI, IPMB, or ICMB specifications, you must sign the IPMI Adopter's agreement. To align with industry standards licensing models, the IPMI, V2.0, Second Generation specification licensing model has changed to a Reasonable And Non-Discriminatory (RAND) model. All companies (including existing IPMI, V1.5, adopters) must sign the new IPMI, V2.0, adopter's agreement to implement the IPMI, V2.0, spec. Note that existing IPMI, V1.5, adopters can continue to implement IPMI, V1.5, under the old licensing terms, but to implement the new IPMI, V2.0, features, existing adopters will need to sign the new IPMI, V2.0, adopter's agreement. All new adopters must sign the IPMI, V2.0, agreement as the old IPMI, V1.5, agreement is no longer made available. Please follow the steps below to sign the new IPMI Adopter's agreement:

  1. Download and print two copies of the Adopter’s agreement, keeping one copy for your records.

  2. Complete and sign one copy and send to:

    Intel Corporation
    Tom Slaight
    5200 NE Elam Young Pkwy
    JF5-301
    Hillsboro, OR 97124

    Please check the company listing on the Industry Adopters site for confirmation of receipt and acceptance of agreement.

Dell, HP, Intel Corporation, and NEC Corporation are pleased to announce the availability of version 2.0 of the Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) specification, which will continue to improve server management and help reduce costs. IPMI helps lower the overall costs of server management by enabling customers to save time, maximize IT resources, and potentially manage multivendor environments in the same way. The current specification defines common interfaces that allow IT managers to receive status alerts, send instructions to industry-standard servers, and run diagnostics over a network versus locally at the server. IPMI, V2.0, is designed to extend customers' IT capabilities and further improve remote management by introducing enhanced security, remote access, and configuration capabilities, while maintaining compatibility with previous IPMI versions. The next-generation IPMI also offers customers more cost-effective implementation options, which can provide greater flexibility and lower the cost of server deployment. Additional features of the new specification include:

  • New authentication and encryption algorithms enhance security for remote management access
  • Serial over LAN supports remote interaction with serial-based applications, BIOS, and operating system
  • SMBus system interface provides low-pin count connection for low-cost management controllers
  • Firmware Firewall supports partitioning and protection of management between blades in modular system implementations
  • IPMI payloads provide infrastructure for Serial Over LAN and OEM value-added redirection capabilities
  • New user login and configuration options enable user access-rights and security configuration capabilities to be tailored to the needs of the user's facility

The IPMI, V2.0, specification is available now.

Contributors agreement

Intel and the contributor’s group are no longer accepting requests for contributors. The adopter’s agreement is available by request via this link: Adopter’s agreement for IPMI.

Thank you for your interest in the IPMI specification.

Adopter's agreement

Before implementing the IPMI, IPMB, or ICMB specifications, you must sign the IPMI Adopter's agreement. To align with industry standards licensing models, the IPMI, V2.0, Second Generation specification licensing model has changed to a Reasonable And Non-Discriminatory (RAND) model. All companies (including existing IPMI, V1.5, adopters) must sign the new IPMI, V2.0, adopter's agreement to implement the IPMI, V2.0, spec. Note that existing IPMI, V1.5, adopters can continue to implement IPMI, V1.5, under the old licensing terms, but to implement the new IPMI, V2.0, features, existing adopters will need to sign the new IPMI, V2.0, adopter's agreement. All new adopters must sign the IPMI, V2.0, agreement as the old IPMI, V1.5, agreement is no longer made available. Please follow the steps below to sign the new IPMI Adopter's agreement:

  1. Download and print two copies of the Adopter’s agreement, keeping one copy for your records.

  2. Complete and sign one copy and send to:

    Intel Corporation
    Tom Slaight
    5200 NE Elam Young Pkwy
    JF5-301
    Hillsboro, OR 97124

    Please check the company listing on the Industry Adopters site for confirmation of receipt and acceptance of agreement.

Related Links
IPMI Overview
What is IPMI?
Specifications
Software Tools
Industry adopters
Adopters agreement
SAF-TE