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Article Number: 000126714

PowerStore: Using the IPMITool Utility with SOL (Serial-over-LAN) to connect to PowerStore nodes when network access is not available

Summary: This article shows how to use the IPMITool Utility with SOL (Serial-over-LAN) to connect to PowerStore nodes when network access is not available.

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Article Content

Instructions

Introduction

There are scenarios that may require you to connect directly to a node to determine the node's startup or OS status.

For most situations, connecting directly to a node from a service laptop using a pre-configured IP address, ethernet cable, and a connection to the Service LAN port, and logging in as the "service" user, will be adequate (See PowerStore: SSH and PowerStore Manager access using the Service LAN Ports ).

However, the IPMITool is useful in situations where IP connectivity cannot be established to the node.
The IPMITool works over the same Service LAN port and ethernet cable but requires an IPMITool client on the laptop, and the use of the Serial-over-LAN protocol (via IPMITool) in order to connect to the service container of the node as the "service" user. 


Additionally, when using SOL (Serial-over-LAN), the Node IP addresses are different than the static Node IP addresses used for IP connectivity over the Service port.
  • Node A Serial-over-LAN IP address is 128.221.1.252
  • Node B Serial-over-LAN IP address is 128.221.1.253

The IPMITool is downloaded from dell.com/support, installed on the host, and used similarly to previous midrange storage products, such as Unity.  
 

Procedure

 
  1. Download and install the PowerStore version of the IPMITool from the Dell Product Support pages to your Laptop/Workstation.
 
  1. Disable your Wireless interface on the Laptop/Workstation.
 
  1. Configure your Laptop/Workstation LAN interface with a Static IP on the 128.221.1.0 network:
For Windows, under Network and Sharing Center > Change Adapter Settings > select your Ethernet LAN port, right click and select Properties.
Navigate to Internet Protocol Version 4 under Networking, select Properties, select the Use the following IP address radial button, and enter an IP address and subnet mask (gateway address is nit needed), then click OK to apply the change. Use these details: 
IP address:              128.221.1.249
Subnet mask:          255.255.255.0
 
  1. Using an Ethernet LAN cable, connect from your Laptop/Workstation directly to either Node’s Service LAN port.
  • The laptop can be physically connected to both nodes using a small switch or hub. However, multiple appliances should never be connected to the same hub or switch as the nodes use the same internal IPs. Never connect multiple appliances to the same hub or switch for Service LAN port access.
  • The 1GbE Ethernet Service LAN port is outlined with a Yellow wrench symbol to indicate service, with a triangle pointing to the port. On Node A, this is the lower of the two 1GbE ports. On Node B this is the upper port.

 
  1. On the Laptop/Workstation, open a Command Prompt. If IPMITool was not added to the system environment path variables, change to the directory where the "ipmitool.exe" executable resides. Example:
C:\>cd \IPMItool
 
  1. Create the Serial Over LAN session to either Node using the IPMITool and the proper syntax:
  • Node A SOL IP is 128.221.1.252
  • Node B SOL IP is 128.221.1.253
Example:
ipmitool -I lanplus -C 3 -U console -P <service_tag> -H 128.221.1.252 sol activate
[SOL Session operational.  Use ~? for help]
<Enter the service user password at this blank line>
[SVC:service@1234567-A user]$

 

Notes:

  • The above example connects to Node A. Use .253 IP for Node B.
  • The password (-P) for the IPMITool session to the node is the 7-digit alphanumeric PowerStore Service Tag for your appliance, which can be found on the black pull-tab on the front of the Base Enclosure.
  • Once the "SOL Session operational" message is seen, you may have to press enter in order to see any output.
  • If it does not connect during the first try, arrow up to retry until it succeeds, enter the Service user password at the "blank" line or the password prompt. You will then have access to the Service Shell on the Node, from which Service Scripts or PSTCLI commands can be issued, or the state of the node observed during startup or reboot.
  • If an error is observed when trying to connect with IPMITool, you may try the same command with deactivate at the end, and then try activate again.
  • For PowerStore X systems you will land on the ESXi node.

Article Properties

Affected Product

PowerStore, PowerStore 1000X, PowerStore 1000T, PowerStore 3000X, PowerStore 3000T, PowerStore 5000X, PowerStore 5000T, PowerStore 7000X, PowerStore 7000T, PowerStore 9000X, PowerStore 9000T

Last Published Date

21 Feb 2021

Version

4

Article Type

How To

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