Out-of-band management

Lights Out Management (LOM) is the ability for a system administrator to ensure access to a server system, regardless of whether the system is turned on or operating system is installed. The name " Lights Out", dt, " lights out " is because in the data center, the light does not have to burn because there is nobody in it.

Technology

A LOM system consists of two components: on the one hand a hardware module ( " Service Processor " or " LOM module " '), which has independent power and network connections and the health of the server monitors ( power status, temperature, duration of the operating system etc.). Due to the independent links, this module remains active even when the server is shut down or defective. Often monitors a LOM and the functioning of the currently running operating system and automatically starts the host during a prolonged failure occur.

The second component is a software program with which the hardware module to be monitored and controlled. For example, the administrator can remotely can firstly check the state of the server and identify any possible hardware or software problems; on the other hand, it is possible for him to shut down the system or reboot or individual parameters (such as fan speed, warning messages in case of defects ) to configure.

Reasons to use

In a data center may be necessary the personal presence of a system administrator for many reasons; for example, to make input from the keyboard and mouse, or to insert storage media change / to. This is - especially in multi-site environments - a financial cost, because everywhere there an administrator must be available.

Especially in large data centers, it is no longer possible for system administrators to each server on-site support; Rather, solutions are being sought, a large number of systems to manage remotely. This allows an administrator with a LOM system - depending on the configuration via LAN or WAN, saving in these scenarios, cost, time and effort.

Manufacturer

This LOM functionality is usually only available on computer systems that move in a higher price segment and are primarily designed for continuous operation.

Furthermore, many other manufacturers offer LOM systems for their servers, such as

• HP: Integrated Lights- Out ( iLO )
• Fujitsu: RemoteView Service Board (RSB ), Integrated Remote Management Controller ( iRMC )
• Dell: Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller ( iDRAC )
• Apple ( for the Intel Xserve systems )
• IBM: Remote Data Management, Integrated Management Module (IMM )
• Sun Microsystems: Sun Advanced Lights Out Management ( ALOM ), Integrated Lights Out Manager ( ILOM )
• IBM Hardware Management Console ( HMC)

• System Administration