What IPMI gives you
Every server has a baseboard management controller (BMC). Through it you get the server’s screen and keyboard (KVM), power control and virtual media — all independent from the operating system. It is how you fix a broken boot, a bad firewall rule or a forgotten password.
For security, BMCs are never exposed on a public address. You open the console from your server’s page in the client area, over TLS.
Opening the console
- In the client area, open your server and choose KVM console.
- An HTML5 viewer opens in a new tab — no Java, no plugin.
- Click into the screen to send keystrokes. Special combinations (Ctrl+Alt+Del, F-keys) are in the viewer’s toolbar.
The console sends a US keyboard layout. If a character comes out wrong, use the viewer’s on-screen keyboard or type the password with a US layout in mind.
Power actions
- Graceful shutdown — asks the OS to shut down cleanly (ACPI).
- Reset — a hard reboot, like pressing the reset button.
- Power off / on — cuts and restores power; use it when the machine no longer responds at all.
Boot menu and BIOS
Reset the server from the console and watch the POST screen: it shows the key for the boot menu (often F11) and for BIOS setup (usually Del). Press it while the logo is displayed.
To boot your own ISO, see Installing your own OS.