Before proceeding with the remote installation, ensure you have:

• Working IPMI login credentials (default is ADMIN/ADMIN)
• CentOS 5 ISO image downloaded locally
• Java Runtime Environment (JRE) for IPMI console
• Network access to the IPMI interface (dedicated IP recommended)

Access the IPMI web interface (typically https://[IPMI_IP]) and navigate to the Remote Control tab. Here's the exact procedure:

1. Click "Remote Control" → "Console Redirection"
2. Launch the Java-based iKVM viewer
3. Go to "Virtual Media" → "CD-ROM Image"
4. Browse and select your CentOS 5 ISO
5. Click "Plug in" then "OK" to mount

In the same Java console, access the virtual BIOS settings:

- Press Del/F2 during boot to enter BIOS
- Navigate to "Boot" menu
- Set "CD/DVD" as first boot device
- Save changes and exit (F10)

For unattended installations, prepare a kickstart file. Example ks.cfg:

#platform=x86, AMD64, or Intel EM64T
#version=DEVEL
# Firewall configuration
firewall --disabled
# Install OS instead of upgrade
install
# Use CDROM installation media
cdrom
# Root password
rootpw --plaintext yourpassword
# System authorization information
auth  --useshadow  --enablemd5
# System bootloader configuration
bootloader --location=mbr
# Clear the Master Boot Record
zerombr
# Partition clearing information
clearpart --all --initlabel
# Disk partitioning information
part / --fstype="ext3" --size=10000
part swap --size=2048
part /home --fstype="ext3" --size=5000
# Reboot after installation
reboot
%packages
@base
@core
%end

Kernel panic during installation: Try adding these boot parameters when the installer starts:

linux noapic nolapic acpi=off

Virtual Media not detected: Ensure you've properly mounted the ISO and check IPMI firmware version (should be ≥ 1.50 for reliable virtual media).

Once CentOS is installed, configure IPMI monitoring:

yum install OpenIPMI ipmitool
systemctl enable ipmi
ipmitool lan set 1 ipsrc static
ipmitool lan set 1 ipaddr 192.168.1.100
ipmitool lan set 1 netmask 255.255.255.0
ipmitool lan set 1 defgw ipaddr 192.168.1.1

Confirm successful installation by checking:

cat /etc/redhat-release
uname -a
ipmitool sel list

Before proceeding, ensure you have:

• IPMI login credentials (default: ADMIN/ADMIN)
• CentOS 5 ISO image (e.g. CentOS-5.11-x86_64-bin-DVD-1.iso)
• Supermicro server with IPMI 2.0+ support
• Network connectivity to the IPMI interface

First, mount the ISO via IPMI virtual media:

# Example using ipmitool (Linux client)
ipmitool -I lanplus -H 192.168.1.100 -U ADMIN -P ADMIN \
sol activate
ipmitool -I lanplus -H 192.168.1.100 -U ADMIN -P ADMIN \
cdrom get

Then configure virtual CD-ROM redirection:

# For newer Supermicro firmware:
ipmitool -I lanplus -H 192.168.1.100 -U ADMIN -P ADMIN \
cdrom insert http://your-tftp-server/CentOS-5.11-x86_64-bin-DVD-1.iso

When booting from the ISO, you may need special parameters for CentOS 5:

linux ksdevice=link noipv6 text noapic nolapic \
acpi=off pci=noacpi skipddc

For problematic hardware, try these additional parameters:

nomodeset irqpoll noapic pci=nommconf pci=noacpi

Create a kickstart file (ks.cfg) for unattended installation:

# Example minimal kickstart for CentOS 5
install
url --url http://mirror.centos.org/centos/5/os/x86_64
lang en_US
keyboard us
network --device eth0 --bootproto dhcp
rootpw --plaintext yourpassword
firewall --disabled
selinux --disabled
reboot
%packages
@base
%end

If the virtual media fails to attach, try:

# Reset IPMI BMC
ipmitool -I lanplus -H 192.168.1.100 -U ADMIN -P ADMIN \
bmc reset cold

For kernel panic during installation, modify the boot command:

linux rescue nomodeset xdriver=vesa vga=791