HP's Integrated Lights-Out 4 (ILO4) on MicroServer Gen9 implements serial-over-LAN functionality, but the free license tier restricts console access after POST. The serial interface remains accessible though - we just need to bypass the Java-based Remote Console dependency.

• Ubuntu/Linux host with screen or minicom installed
• MicroServer's ILO IP address and credentials
• SSH access to your Ubuntu system

# First, set serial console redirection in ILO BIOS:
1. Power on server and press F9 for System Utilities
2. Navigate to: System Configuration > BIOS/Platform Configuration (RBSU) > Serial Port Options
3. Set "Serial Port" to "COM2"
4. Set "Serial Console" to "On"
5. Set "Serial Port Emulation" to "VT100+"
6. Set "Active Console" to "Serial Port"
7. Save and reboot

The magic happens through ILO's SSH interface - no Java required:

# Basic connection command:
ssh -oKexAlgorithms=+diffie-hellman-group1-sha1 [USER]@[ILO_IP] -p 22

# For persistent serial session:
screen /dev/ttyS0 115200

To capture the entire boot sequence including POST and GRUB:

#!/bin/bash
# Serial console capture script
ILO_IP="192.168.1.100"
USER="admin"
PASS="yourpassword"

sshpass -p "$PASS" ssh -oKexAlgorithms=+diffie-hellman-group1-sha1 \
$USER@$ILO_IP 'start /system1/console1' | tee boot_capture.log

• Timeout errors: Append -o ConnectTimeout=30 to SSH command
• GRUB not showing: Edit /etc/default/grub and add:

  GRUB_TERMINAL=serial
  GRUB_SERIAL_COMMAND="serial --speed=115200 --unit=0 --word=8 --parity=no --stop=1"

• Login prompt missing: Configure /etc/inittab to spawn getty on ttyS0

For environments where SSH isn't ideal:

# Using socat for raw TCP connection:
socat tcp:[ILO_IP]:23 -,raw,echo=0,escape=0x0f

# Python minimal implementation:
import socket
s = socket.socket(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM)
s.connect((ILO_IP, 23))
while True:
    print(s.recv(1024).decode())

The HP MicroServer Gen9's iLO4 interface provides serial-over-LAN functionality that can be extremely valuable for headless server management. Unlike the graphical remote console which requires licensing, the serial terminal remains accessible in the free tier.


First, enter BIOS setup during POST (F9) and configure:
1. System Options → Serial Port → "COM2" (iLO virtual serial port)
2. Remote Console → Serial Console → "Enabled"
3. Virtual Serial Port → "COM2"
4. Boot Options → Console Redirection → "Serial Port A"


In the iLO web interface (https://<ilo-ip>):
1. Network → Serial Over LAN → "Enabled"
2. CLI: set /map1/oemhp_vsp1 mode=vmcom1_por
3. Reboot the iLO: reset /map1


Install necessary packages:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install screen minicom

Create /etc/minirc.ilo config:
# Minicom config for HP iLO4
pu port             /dev/ttyS0
pu baudrate         115200
pu bits             8
pu parity           N
pu stopbits         1
pu rtscts           No


Option 1: Using minicom
minicom -D /dev/ttyS0 -b 115200 -o

Option 2: Using screen (preferred for scripting):
screen /dev/ttyS0 115200

To capture output to file:
screen -L -Logfile console.log /dev/ttyS0 115200


For Ubuntu to use serial console after boot:
Edit /etc/default/grub:
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="console=tty0 console=ttyS0,115200n8"
GRUB_TERMINAL="serial console"

Update grub and enable getty:
sudo update-grub
sudo systemctl enable serial-getty@ttyS0.service



If connection drops, check iLO network latency
For permission issues on /dev/ttyS0, add user to dialout group
Slow response may require adjusting iLO network timeout settings



For automated interactions:
#!/usr/bin/expect -f
set timeout 20
spawn screen /dev/ttyS0 115200
expect "login:"
send "admin\r"
expect "Password:"
send "yourpassword\r"
expect "$"
send "sudo -i\r"
expect "#"
send "hostname\r"