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Last month we defined Lights-Out Remote Management and learned how to use it for emergency troubleshooting of unresponsive systems, as well as deploying and restoring remote servers. This month, we offer three additional scenarios to illustrate how Lights-Out Remote Management can play a key role in your infrastructure health.

Challenge: Throughout a server’s life, it is necessary to update system BIOS and option ROM, drivers, operating system and applications to support enhancements and address issues. HP ProLiant servers are easily updated remotely using HP Systems Insight Manager (SIM) Version Control and HP ProLiant Support Packs.

However, there is often some non-HP firmware or software used on a system that requires a visit to the server as there is no way to perform the installation remotely. In these cases you just want to be able to insert a floppy, CD or ISO image on the remote server, reboot the server and watch the process as if you were standing in front of the server.

HP solution: With HP Lights-Out products, system administration is even easier than working in front of the server since all the tools are at your fingertips. The HP iLO 2 Integrated Remote Console puts all of these tools – Virtual KVM, Virtual Power and Virtual Media – into a single screen. By connecting to HP iLO 2, or the other Lights-Out processors, from a standard browser or command line on your PC, you can virtually insert a CD or floppy (Virtual Media) on the remote server and use Virtual Power to boot the server over a network. The management processor connects your floppy/CD/flash drive with the server and makes it appear as a local, bootable drive on the server. Better yet, if you have a floppy or CD image on your PC, you don’t even have to insert a diskette/disc/key. And just to verify that the BIOS install proceeds smoothly to a successful completion, your PC can act as the remote system monitor via the HP Lights-Out remote console through the whole process.

Challenge: When a server becomes infected with a virus, worm or other invasive program or software, the first action is typically to disconnect it from the network. The challenge then becomes: how do you fix it without physically visiting it or sending a patch to a person at the remote site?

HP solution: HP Lights-Out technology on HP ProLiant servers allows you to stop the spread of an infectious software or program by disconnecting the host from the network while leaving a path open to administer a patch. This is possible because HP Lights-Out technology provides out-of-band access independent of the OS. Using either the dedicated HP Lights-Out network access and the VLAN enabled HP iLO 2 Shared Network Port, you are able to remotely insert a CD, floppy or USB flash as virtual media and run the installer over the management network.

Challenge: In the past, day-to-day remote administration of servers has typically required the use of at least two different remote consoles: a software based console such as Microsoft Remote Desktop when the operating system is available, and an out-of-band console such as HP iLO or switched KVM over IP when the OS was not available. Previous versions of embedded out-of-band remote console products have not provided the performance necessary for performing routine tasks. However, most customers have typically relied on software-based consoles, such as Microsoft Remote Desktop, when a system is running and out-of-band as a last resort when the system is distressed.

HP solution: Both HP iLO/iLO 2 and HP LO100i/100c RMC provide remote consoles with performance that meets the requirements of routine and emergency system administration. Lights-Out Virtual KVM technology now allows customers to standardise on a single remote control tool for any system task regardless of the state of the operating system. In the event a preference for Microsoft Remote Desktop remains, it can be integrated with HP iLO 2 to automatically switch between the HP iLO 2 IRC Remote Console and Remote Desktop depending on OS state.

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