StarTech.com SV1115IPEXT - Manual (Page 45)

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standard. To determine if your computer supports this IPMI, consult its
documentation for more information.
IPMI is used to configure and control a device on the motherboard
called the BMC (Baseboard Management Controller) using a dedicated
serial port. Once the computer is configured for IPMI management,
the serial port on the host computer is normally reserved by the BIOS
solely for that purpose and cannot be accessed or recognized by the
operating system. It is therefore unlikely that a serial port provided by
an add-in card will be able to act as an IPMI port, so you must use a
serial port integrated on the motherboard of the host computer. If the
computer you are managing only has a single serial port, you must
add an additional port (or ports) via an add-in card if you need a serial
port for other purposes (i.e. modem). Enabling IPMI support usually
requires enabling options in the host computer’s BIOS setup software,
and the instructions will vary considerably from make to make and
model to model. Normally, a password will be created by the BIOS that
allows the IPMI feature to be accessed; this password is exclusive to
the IPMI feature and does not correspond to a password or account in
the host computer’s operating system.
If the Host Computer Does Not Support IPMI
If the host computer you are managing with the SV1115IPEXT does
not support IPMI, StarTech.com offers a non-IPMI solution that also
works via serial port and acts as a power concentrator and a power
management device: the 8 Outlet Serial Remote Power Switch
(PM815NAS). For more information about this product, visit www.
startech.com or contact your local StarTech.com dealer.
Connecting the SV1115IPEXT for IPMI Control
You can use either serial port on the SV1115IPEXT to send IPMI
access; your choice will determine the type of cable you will use to
make the connection. The DTE Serial port on the front panel requires
the use of a null modem serial cable. The DCE Serial port on the rear
panel requires the use of a straight through serial cable.
Connect a female end of a serial cable to the serial port that is
configured for IPMI access on the host computer. Connect the opposite
end (male if connecting to the DCE Serial port, female if connecting to