subject: The Basics of Out of Band Management [print this page] Out of band management is sometimes referred to as lights-out management or LOM. This function allows an administrator to access a computer when it is unresponsive such as when the computer is asleep, hibernating or turned off. Out of band management is a supplementary function to in-band management that may not be functional when the computers operating system is not operational or present.
Of course, out of band management is a function of computer administration when in band management is not possible. A serial console interface may become the only means to remedy a problem with misconfigurations, network failures or troubleshooting. Console servers were developed so that an administrator could access many serial devices from a centralized location. They still allow a user to maintain security because network ports are not used for out of bound management.
In the case of troubleshooting or other issues, a network manager has access to an individual device that has a unique physical connection to the console server. A secure modem or network connects the network manager either locally or remotely to make troubleshooting easier by not having to deal with numerous network connections of each device.
There are many tasks included in out of bound management. They may be: booting to a command-based operating system for diagnostic applications, repairing utilities or running commands; configuring scheduled software update advertisements and deployments so that computers wake up before running; powering off or on one or more computers; reconfiguring the settings on an individual computer; re-imaging a computer; and restarting a nonfunctioning computer. These tasks can use a remote technology to connect to a computers management controller.
However, an Internet-based client management may not support some out of band management. Still, there are some features and options provided with out of band management. AMT provisioning configures and enables AMT-based computers for this function. Enhanced inventory data provide hardware data from an AMT chip. The enhanced network discovery method recognizes computers with a management controller.
IDE redirection enables a computer to boot from an image file or a locally connected device rather than from the disk IDE interface. An out of band management console performs from a manager console or a command prompt to initiate management tasks. Power control authorizes power and restart capabilities for one or more computers. Security-based management is a management that integrates with an internal key infrastructure. Serial-over-LAN capabilities encloses data from a virtual serial point and sends it over the existing network connection established by the console.
Sometimes out of band management is sometimes more advantageous than in-band management since the network interface does not have to be functional to manage the device. Also not all network equipment in this function supports management through the same means.
