--- title: "How to use the IPMI console with a dedicated server" description: "Learn how to access your dedicated server directly through the IPMI (Intelligent Platform Management Interface) console without depending on the operating syste" url: https://docs.us.ovhcloud.com/en/bare-metal-cloud/dedicated-servers/use-ipmi-console lang: en --- > For AI agents: the complete documentation index is available at https://docs.us.ovhcloud.com/en/llms.txt, the full documentation bundle is available at https://docs.us.ovhcloud.com/en/llms-full.txt. # How to use the IPMI console with a dedicated server **Learn how to access your dedicated server directly through the IPMI (Intelligent Platform Management Interface) console without depending on the operating system connectivity state.**   ## Requirements - access to the [OVHcloud Control Panel](https://manager.us.ovhcloud.com/) **Warning:** **NOTE:** This feature might be unavailable or limited on servers of the [Eco product line](https://eco.us.ovhcloud.com/about-us/). Please visit our [comparison page](https://eco.us.ovhcloud.com/compare/) for more information.   ## Topics: - [Access the IPMI console](#access-the-ipmi-console) - [Test and reboot the IPMI](#test-and-reboot-the-ipmi) - [Installing an OS](#installing-an-os) - [Rebooting a server into the BIOS menu](#rebooting-a-server-into-the-bios-menu)   ## Instructions ### Access the IPMI console You can access the IPMI using several different methods1. SSH keys stored on the server will not be used for these connections. Here is a summary: | Method Name | Short Name | Description | Copy-Paste | Virtual ISO reader² | Use Case Example | | ---------------------------- | ------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ---------- | ------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **KVM**³ via **web browser** | **HTML KVM** | Redirection of the video screen to an **HTML canvas**, exactly as if you were physically connecting a keyboard/mouse via USB and a screen via VGA to your dedicated server. | ❌ | ⚠️⁴ | | | **KVM**³ via **Java applet** | **Java KVM** | Same as HTML KVM, except that it uses **Java applet** rather than HTML canvas. | ❌ | ✅ | | | **SoL**⁶ via **web browser** | **JavaScript SoL** | Redirection of a serial connection to the web browser, exactly as if you were physically connecting a serial console via RS-232 to your dedicated server. | ✅ | ❌ | | | **SoL**⁶ via **SSH** | **SSH SoL** | Same as JavaScript SoL, except redirection is done to an SSH gateway. You then connect via your preferred SSH client to a remote SSH server that converts SSH commands to serial commands to the dedicated server. | ✅ | ❌ | | 1 Depending on your dedicated server hardware compatibility (some methods will not be shown in the [OVHcloud Control Panel](https://manager.us.ovhcloud.com/)).\ 2 Feature that enables the user to mount an ISO image stored locally on your machine to your remote dedicated server so you can install an OS via IPMI.\ 3 KVM = Keyboard Video and Mouse\ 4 Depending on your dedicated server hardware compatibility: use Java KVM instead if not compatible.\ 5 If the OS you want to install is not in the list of [operating systems available with OVHcloud Bare Metal servers](https://us.ovhcloud.com/bare-metal/os/), please note that you can also use a custom image: See [Bring Your Own Image (BYOI) / Bring Your Own Linux (BYOLinux), a comparison sheet](https://docs.us.ovhcloud.com/en/bare-metal-cloud/dedicated-servers/bring-your-own-image-versus-bring-your-own-linux.md) for more details.\ ⁶ SoL = Serial over Lan To enable one of these methods, log in to your [OVHcloud Control Panel](https://manager.us.ovhcloud.com/). In the `Bare Metal Cloud` section, select your server from `Dedicated Servers` and click on the `IPMI/KVM` tab. **Tip:** Click the tab for your method of choice. #### KVM via Java applet **Warning:** **NOTE:** Although the IPMI Java applet can be accessed from macOS, there are some compatibility issues. As a result, it is recommended to use a system running either Windows or Linux. We also recommend installing the latest version of Java. You will need to ensure that Java is installed on your desktop for the Java applet to work. If you do not have Java installed, go to the official page to do so. In the **Remote KVM** section, click `From a Java applet (KVM)`. Download the `kvm.jnlp` file when prompted and run it. You will then land on the login page, where you will be prompted to enter your credentials, as you would need to when logging in via a terminal or external software application: #### KVM via web browser In the **Remote KVM** section, click `Via your web browser (KVM)`. Activation can take a few seconds, usually no longer than a minute. You will receive a message confirming that the IPMI connection is available. Click `Access the console (KVM)` to open the console in your web browser. #### SoL via SSH **Note:** For more details about creating SSH key pairs, see this [guide](https://docs.us.ovhcloud.com/en/bare-metal-cloud/dedicated-servers/create-use-authentication-keys-ssh-connections-ovhcloud-server.md). In the **Serial over LAN (SoL)** section, click `Add SSH key`. In the pop-up window, enter the public key you want to use. Then click `Launch SoL session via SSH`. When the session is ready, a success message and a URI will appear so you can connect to the dedicated server via Serial via SSH. Copy that URI to the clipboard. For more details about creating SSH key pairs, see this [guide](https://docs.us.ovhcloud.com/en/bare-metal-cloud/dedicated-servers/create-use-authentication-keys-ssh-connections-ovhcloud-server.md#managing-multiple-ssh-keys-on-your-local-device). **Warning:** **NOTE:** SoL via SSH only provides a secure connection to the server via SoL. Your login credentials will still be required to access your server once the SSH connection is successfully established. #### SoL via web browser In the **Serial over LAN (SoL)** section, click `From your browser (SOL)`. **Note:** If the switch to the pop-up does not happen automatically, you can still click `Go to console (SoL)` button. You can now manage your server.   ### Test and reboot the IPMI Your IPMI may stop responding. If you cannot access it, you can test it first by clicking on `Test the IPMI`, and checking the results of the diagnostic. If everything appears to be normal, you may be experiencing a local technical issue (internet connection, local desktop). If the IPMI encounters any issues, you can reboot it by clicking `Reboot the IPMI`. It will take several minutes for the IPMI to reboot. **Note:** This operation will not affect the applications, data, and services running on your dedicated server.   ### Installing an OS **Tip:** Click each tab across the top to view all content. #### Using IPMI v1 **Warning:** OVHcloud does not guarantee the functionality of any operating systems installed via IPMI. This route should only be taken by an experienced server administrator. 64-bit versions of Java can prevent the `Redirect ISO`/`Redirect CDROM` menus from opening and cause JViewer to crash. To begin, open [IPMI in a Java applet](#access-the-ipmi-console) from the [OVHcloud Control Panel](https://manager.us.ovhcloud.com/). Then, click `Device` from the menu bar and select `Redirect ISO` from the drop-down menu. Next, select the ISO you wish to use from your local computer's file system. Once you have selected your ISO, press the `Ctrl Alt Del` button in the top-right corner of the screen to reboot the server. Press the appropriate `F` key to access the boot options. **Note:** You may need to use the soft keyboard for inputs to register in IPMI. To access this, click the `Keyboard` option from the menu bar at the top of the window. Then, select `Soft Keyboard` from the dropdown menu and click `Show`. Select the **UEFI Virtual CDROM 1.00** option from the boot menu to start the server from the ISO attached previously. Complete the steps required to install the operating system. Do not forget to remove the ISO from the "Redirect ISO" option. #### Using IPMI v2 **Warning:** OVHcloud does not guarantee the functionality of any operating systems installed via IPMI. This route should only be taken by an experienced server administrator. To begin, open [IPMI in a Java applet](#access-the-ipmi-console) from the [OVHcloud Control Panel](https://manager.us.ovhcloud.com/). Then, click `Virtual Media` and select `Virtual Storage`. From the new screen, select `ISO File` from the "Logical Drive Type" drop-down menu. Next, click `Open Image` and navigate to your ISO file. Finally, click `Plug-in` and `OK` to finish. To be able to boot from our ISO file, we need to access the BIOS and switch our boot options. To do so, select `Power Control` and click `Set Power Reset`. **Note:** You may need to use the soft keyboard for inputs to register in IPMI. To access this, click the `Virtual Media` option from the menu bar at the top of the window. Then, select `Virtual Keyboard` from the drop-down menu. During the bootup process, press the `DEL` key when prompted to access the BIOS. You may also press the `F11` key and navigate to the BIOS by selecting the option `Enter Setup`. In the BIOS navigate to the `Boot` tab and change the **UEFI Boot Order #1** to `UEFI USB CD/DVD:UEFI: CDROM virtual ATEN YSOJ`. Lastly, press the `F4` key to save your changes and restart the server. #### Using web browser KVM(latest servers only) **Warning:** OVHcloud does not guarantee the functionality of any operating systems installed via IPMI. This route should only be taken by an experienced server administrator. In the [OVHcloud Control Panel](https://manager.us.ovhcloud.com/), open the [KVM web browser console](#access-the-ipmi-console). Here you have access to the same information and functionalities as in the Java-based IPMI modules. **Note:** Be sure to execute the next steps at a good pace. The process might be cancelled if there are longer pauses between actions. Click on the `Browse File` button and select your image file. Click on `Start Media`. This will prepare the ISO for the installation process. The file size displayed is not the actual size. This is normal, since the file is not fully uploaded in this step. Click on `Power` and select `Reset Server` from the drop-down menu. Wait for the boot selection screen to appear and press the appropriate key to enter the boot menu (`F11` in this example). In the boot menu, select the optical drive (`UEFI: AMI Virtual CDROM0` in this example) and press `Enter`. The ISO file will now be uploaded, then the server will boot from the file.   ### Rebooting a server into the BIOS menu You might want to access the BIOS when configuring or troubleshooting your server. A convenient way to achieve this is by using the tool `ipmiutil` (refer to the [project page](https://ipmiutil.sourceforge.net/) for more information). When the server is in [rescue mode](https://docs.us.ovhcloud.com/en/bare-metal-cloud/dedicated-servers/rescue-mode.md) and you have logged in, install it with the following commands: ```bash apt install ipmiutil ``` Then reboot the server with this command: ```bash ipmiutil reset -b ``` Afterwards, access the [IPMI console](#access-the-ipmi-console) in your [OVHcloud Control Panel](https://manager.us.ovhcloud.com/). You should see the server's BIOS menu displayed.   ## Go further Browse all the [Dedicated Servers guides](https://docs.us.ovhcloud.com/en/bare-metal-cloud/dedicated-servers/landing-page-dedicated-servers.md). Browse the rest of the [OVHcloud US documentation](https://docs.us.ovhcloud.com/en/index.md) for guides on our other products and services. Learn more about [Dedicated Servers](https://us.ovhcloud.com/bare-metal/) on the OVHcloud US website. If you need training or technical assistance to implement our solutions, contact your sales representative or click on [this link](https://us.ovhcloud.com/professional-services/) to get a quote and ask our Professional Services experts for a custom analysis of your project.