How do I get access to IPMI on my dedicated server?

You request IPMI (iDRAC on Dell, iLO on HPE) from support. It costs nothing: we set it up for you on request as soon as it's available for your server. You then get a WireGuard VPN for out-of-band management. Through that VPN you reach your server's management interface, even when the operating system no longer responds.

What you need

• A WireGuard client on your own computer. See wireguard.com/install.
• Optionally ipmitool for the command line.

Request access

1. Open a ticket and ask for IPMI access to your dedicated server.
2. Support sends you the VPN configuration through a one-time link, along with the IP address of your server's management interface.
3. Open the link and save the configuration straight away. A one-time link only works once.
4. Import the configuration into your WireGuard client and turn the connection on.

Open the management interface

With the VPN on, you have two options:

• In the browser: go to https://<management-ip>.
• With ipmitool: for example ipmitool -I lanplus -H <management-ip> -U <user> chassis status.

Replace <management-ip> with the address you got from support.

Why through a VPN?

The management interface is never reachable directly from the internet. That is on purpose. Anyone who can reach it can power off your server, take over the console and boot a different operating system. Management interfaces also get updates less often than a regular server. Behind the VPN, only someone with your configuration can reach it.

Check

With the VPN on, https://<management-ip> opens the IPMI, iDRAC or iLO login screen. If it doesn't, turn the VPN off and on again and retry. Still not working? Open a ticket.

See also My dedicated server has a hardware or disk problem: what now?