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One year with InterServer's $45 IPMI dedi

General Discussion Locked by jane_ffm 6 replies 513 views
This thread is locked — new replies are not accepted. (Duplicate — see the earlier thread on this)
jane_ffm

Member OP

#1

One year with IPMI on a $45/month dedi from InterServer. Mixed report.

The good:

  • Remote power cycle saved me 3 AM drives to the DC
  • Virtual media for ISO installs, no KVM switch needed
  • SOL (Serial Over LAN) for headless troubleshooting

The Java hell:

  • IKVM requires Java 8u152, specifically
  • Modern browsers block the applet
  • Had to maintain a Windows 7 VM just for console access

Then the board died. IPMI kept pinging; host OS did not. Could not diagnose remotely without video. Drove to DC, swapped in spare Supermicro X11, IPMI MAC changed, had to reconfigure VLAN. Total downtime: 4 hours instead of 48.

Still worth it. But looking at HTML5 alternatives for next refresh.

— Jane @ Contabo

Single mode till I die 💀
ronwit

Member

Budget King

#2

Ahh the java applet hell I know this pain actually
My old provider used aspeed bmc too and basically I had to keep firefox esr portable just for it (´・ω・｀)
Actually found a workaround with javaws and .jnlp file but basically security nightmare
Html5 kvm is the future no question

Have you checked if InterServer offers firmware update? Some aspeed 2500 can do html5 with just flash actually

instant noodles, instant deploys
sofialund

Member

homelab heatstroke

#3

¡the java requirement is absurd in the year 2025! The motherboard red of death you describe is common with the capacitors cheap
The IPMI useful even when fails partial
The VLAN reconfiguration is pain familiar
Vos saved much time with the power cycle remote
The VM windows 7 is security risk big ¡close it when finish!

hot air, steady hand, magic smoke
ME

Member

#4

IPMI is a crutch.
Until it isn't.
Then it is gold.
Four hours beats forty-eight.
HTML5 now.
No more Java.

Doug

Member

New Jersey

#5

The windows 7 vm just for java 8 is cursed

grabs popcorn, checks /r/drama
GU

Member

#6

InterServer actually offers firmware updates? I'd be surprised

Bob

Member

3-2-1 rule

#7

I had the same board death, IPMI alive host dead

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Replies are closed on this thread. Duplicate — see the earlier thread on this.