HPE iLO: Integrated Lights-Out
iLO is HPE's embedded out-of-band management controller for ProLiant servers. It runs on a separate processor and network port, giving remote power control, virtual console, virtual media, and hardware health monitoring even when the host OS is offline.
iLO sits on the motherboard as an independent controller with its own firmware, web interface, and Redfish API. Administrators use it to boot a server, mount ISO images over the network, watch POST, and read fan, temperature, and power sensors. It works whether the main system is powered on, hung, or shut down.
Advanced functions need a license. The base iLO Standard covers health monitoring, while iLO Advanced unlocks the graphical remote console, virtual media, and directory integration. Recent generations are iLO 4 (Gen8/Gen9), iLO 5 (Gen10/Gen10 Plus), iLO 6 (Gen11), and iLO 7 on ProLiant Compute Gen12.
For imported HPE ProLiant servers, verify whether an iLO Advanced license is present and activated. Without it you lose the remote graphical console, which forces on-site work for OS installs. Ask the supplier to confirm the iLO generation matches the server generation, since firmware is not cross-compatible.
Related
More in Remote management
- iDRAC: Integrated Dell Remote Access ControlleriDRAC is Dell's dedicated out-of-band management controller built into PowerEdge servers. It runs on its own processor and network port, letting admins power-cycle, reinstall, and monitor a server remotely even when the OS is down or the machine is powered off.
- BMC: Baseboard Management ControllerA BMC is a small dedicated processor on a server motherboard that manages the hardware independently of the main CPU and OS. It monitors sensors, controls power, and provides remote access. iDRAC, iLO, and Huawei iBMC are vendor implementations of a BMC.
- IPMI: Intelligent Platform Management InterfaceIPMI is a standardized hardware management interface that lets administrators monitor and control a server through its BMC, independently of the CPU and OS. It handles sensor readings, power control, and remote console over LAN, but is now considered legacy in favor of Redfish.
- Redfish: DMTF management APIRedfish is a modern RESTful API standard from the DMTF for managing servers and datacenter hardware. It uses HTTPS and JSON to expose inventory, sensors, power control, and firmware updates, and is the intended replacement for the older IPMI protocol.
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