Accessing the Management Firmware

This chapter includes the following sections:

CIMC Overview

The Cisco Integrated Management Controller (CIMC) is the management service for the E-Series M6 Servers. CIMC runs within the server. You can use a web-based GUI or the SSH-based CLI to access, configure, administer, and monitor the server.

You can use CIMC to perform the following server management tasks:

  • Power on, power off, power cycle, reset, and shut down the server

  • Configure the server boot order

  • View server properties, router information, and chassis status.

  • Manage remote presence

  • Create and manage local user accounts, and enable remote user authentication through the Active Directory.

  • Configure network-related settings, including NIC properties, IPv4, VLANs, and network security.

  • Configure communication services, including HTTP, SSH, IPMI over LAN, SNMP, and Redfish.

  • Manage certificates

  • Configure platform event filters

  • Monitor power supply, fan, temperature, voltage, current, LED and storage sensors.

  • Update CIMC firmware

  • Update BIOS firmware

  • Install the host image from an internal repository

  • Monitor faults, alarms, and server status

  • Set time zone and view local time.

  • Collect technical support data in the event of server failure

Most tasks can be performed in either the GUI interface or CLI interface, and the results of tasks performed in one interface are displayed in another. However, you cannot:

  • Use the CIMC GUI to invoke the CIMC CLI

  • View a command that has been invoked through the CIMC CLI in the CIMC GUI

  • Generate CIMC CLI output from the CIMC GUI

CIMC GUI

The CIMC GUI is a web-based management interface for E-Series Servers and the NCE. You can launch the CIMC GUI and manage the server from any remote host that meets the following minimum requirements:

  • Java 1.6 or later

  • HTTP and HTTPS enabled

  • Adobe Flash Player 10 or later

CIMC CLI

TheCIMC CLI is a command-line management interface for E-Series M6 Servers. You can launch the CIMC CLI in the following ways:

  • By the serial port.

  • Over the network by SSH.

  • From the router. Use one of the following commands as appropriate:

    • hw-module subslot slot/subslot session imc—Use for E-Series Servers installed in a Cisco Catalyst 8300 Edge Series platform.

A CLI user can have one of the three roles: admin, user (can control but cannot configure), and read-only.

Logging In to the CIMC GUI

Before you begin

  • Make sure that you have configured the IP address to access CIMC.

  • If not installed, install Adobe Flash Player 10 or later on your local machine.

Procedure

Step 1

In your web browser, enter the IP address that you configured to access CIMC during initial setup.

Step 2

If a security dialog box displays, do the following:

  1. (Optional) Check the check box to accept all content from Cisco.

  2. Click Yes to accept the certificate and continue.

Step 3

In the log in window, enter your username and password.

Tip

 

When logging in for the first time to an unconfigured system, use admin as the username and password as the password.

Step 4

Click Log In.

The Change Password dialog box appears.

Note

 

The Change Password dialog box only appears the first time you log into CIMC. It does not appear for subsequent reboots.

Step 5

In the New Password field, enter your new password.

Step 6

In the Confirm Password field, enter the password again to confirm it.

Step 7

Click Save Changes.

The Server Summary page appears, which is the CIMC home page. See CIMC Home Page.

CIMC Home Page

Figure 1. CIMC Home Page

What to Do Next

If you purchased E-Series Server Option 1 (E-Series Server without a preinstalled operating system or hypervisor), configure RAID. See Managing Storage Using RAID.


Note

The RAID feature is applicable to E-Series Servers and the SM E-Series NCE. The RAID feature is not applicable to the EHWIC E-Series NCE and the NIM E-Series NCE.