getting hardware level remote control

Message boards : Number crunching : getting hardware level remote control
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elec999 Project Donor

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Message 2009794 - Posted: 29 Aug 2019, 13:33:14 UTC

Is there anyway to add server level control eg IPMI to a regular desktop? Some crunches sometimes fail and I wish there was a way to reboot them without having to drive to the data center. I was looking at the pdu to do the reboot.
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Ian&Steve C.
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Message 2009798 - Posted: 29 Aug 2019, 13:40:57 UTC - in response to Message 2009794.  

no way to add IPMI functionality

using a switchable PDU that has remote management is an option, but those are pretty expensive. If you are colo, ask the datacenter if they already have something like that.

otherwise you will have to replace your motherboard with one that has IPMI built in already, and you'll pretty much have to get a server board. I'm partial to the supermicro boards, but I think some AsRock Rack baords have the same functionality.

another option, that i've read about some mining folks do, is they programmed a raspberry pi and hooked it up to the power and reset pins on the motherboard. it doesnt sound too terribly difficult, but I've never done it, so you will have to do your own research on how to do it. basic flow would be to write to code of the program to activate these pins on command. VPN/SSH into the rpi, then execute the code when you want to. and then wait for the system to boot.
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Message 2009801 - Posted: 29 Aug 2019, 13:44:26 UTC - in response to Message 2009794.  

That's an interesting question. I don't know if you can add something like a iDRAC 6i iDRAC6 Remote Access Controller Card to a desktop.
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Message 2009838 - Posted: 29 Aug 2019, 16:25:26 UTC

Your CoLo might offer a web portal to access certain features of your computers. Mine offers a web portal that allows me to shutoff, reboot, or start my machines. All of my colocated computers are running Windows Server 2016 as virtual machines on a Dell Server running VMware - so I guess this must be done via the VMWare (software) level.
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Message 2009936 - Posted: 30 Aug 2019, 3:41:28 UTC

Ian's RPi comments sound like a good idea for the HW-level control you mention. Wire up the I/O in parallel with the existing switches, and It'd be like the RPi wasn't even there until you needed it. I may play around with that just for the heck of it. I can't remember if there is a specific function to essentially short the I/O pins on the RPi, though, but there probably is. Been awhile since I've tinkered with one.

Of course, you'll have to hook a RPi Zero up to the RPi in the same fashion to serve as it's own remote HW back up in case the RPi also fails....
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Message 2009963 - Posted: 30 Aug 2019, 10:22:59 UTC
Last modified: 30 Aug 2019, 10:24:21 UTC

Another possibility is having power strips that can be remotely reset. From memory Seti used to use them before the servers got moved down to the colo.
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Message 2010981 - Posted: 6 Sep 2019, 17:00:51 UTC
Last modified: 6 Sep 2019, 17:01:27 UTC

Did you ever get something worked out?
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Message boards : Number crunching : getting hardware level remote control


 
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