At its core, IPMI (Intelligent Platform Management Interface) is an open standard (specifically IPMI 2.0) for out-of-band server management, while iDRAC (Dell) and iLO (Hewlett Packard) are proprietary implementations that extend IPMI functionality. Think of IPMI as the foundation protocol, with vendor-specific solutions building additional features on top.

// Example IPMI command via ipmitool
ipmitool -I lanplus -H 192.168.1.100 -U admin -P password power status

// Equivalent iDRAC REST API call (Dell)
GET https://<iDRAC-IP>/redfish/v1/Systems/System.Embedded.1

// Equivalent iLO REST call (HPE)
GET https://<iLO-IP>/redfish/v1/Systems/1

For cross-vendor scripts, stick with IPMI commands via ipmitool. However, when automating Dell-specific workflows, leverage iDRAC's Redfish endpoints. For HPE hardware, iLO's PowerShell cmdlets often provide the most robust control:

# HPE iLO PowerShell example
$cred = Get-Credential
Connect-HPiLO -Server 192.168.1.101 -Credential $cred
Get-HPiLOPowerMeter | Select-Object AveragePower

While IPMI 2.0 supports AES-128 encryption, iDRAC 9 and iLO 5 implement TLS 1.2+ by default. Always disable IPMI over LAN if not needed, and configure vendor-specific security features:

# Disabling IPMI LAN channel (Dell)
racadm config -g cfgIpmiLan -o cfgIpmiLanEnable 0

# Enabling iLO TLS 1.2 only (HPE)
Set-HPiLOSSOSetting -Setting TLSProtocol -Value "TLS_1.2"

Modern implementations expose RESTful endpoints for programmatic control. Here's how to reboot a server using each protocol's API:

// IPMI via Redfish (generic)
POST /redfish/v1/Systems/1/Actions/ComputerSystem.Reset
{
  "ResetType": "GracefulRestart"
}

// iDRAC specific implementation
POST /redfish/v1/Systems/System.Embedded.1/Actions/ComputerSystem.Reset
{
  "ResetType": "GracefulRestart",
  "@Redfish.SettingsApplyTime": "Immediate"
}

// iLO extended properties
POST /redfish/v1/Systems/1/Actions/ComputerSystem.Reset
{
  "ResetType": "GracefulRestart",
  "Oem": {
    "Hpe": {
      "PostState": "PowerOn"
    }
  }
}

When working with enterprise servers, three terms frequently surface in remote management discussions: IPMI, iDRAC, and iLO. While they serve similar purposes, their implementations and capabilities differ significantly.

Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) is an open standard (IEEE 748) for out-of-band server management. It provides:

// Example IPMI command to check system status
ipmitool -H 192.168.1.100 -U admin -P password chassis status

Major server manufacturers have built proprietary solutions on top of IPMI:

Dell's iDRAC (Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller)

iDRAC offers enhanced features beyond base IPMI:

# Using racadm (iDRAC CLI tool) to configure
racadm -r 192.168.1.101 -u root -p calvin set BIOS.SysProfileSettings.PerfProfile PerfOptimized

HP's iLO (Integrated Lights-Out)

iLO provides similar functionality with HP's unique additions:

# Example iLO REST API call (via curl)
curl -k -H "Content-Type: application/json" -X POST \
-d '{"Action": "ResetServer"}' \
https://ilo-address/redfish/v1/Systems/1/Actions/ComputerSystem.Reset/

Choose IPMI when working with cross-vendor environments or custom servers. Use iDRAC/iLO when you need:

• Advanced hardware monitoring
• Vendor-specific diagnostics
• Integrated lifecycle management

Common issues and their solutions:

# For IPMI connection problems:
ipmitool -I lanplus -H hostname -U username -P password mc reset cold

# For iDRAC authentication issues:
racadm config -g cfgUserAdmin -o cfgUserAdminPassword -i 2 newpassword