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Intelligent Platform Management Interface
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<p>The Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) is a set of <a href="/facts/Interface_(computing)/zdfp8unT">computer interface</a> specifications for an autonomous computer subsystem that provides management and monitoring capabilities independently of the host system's <a href="/facts/CPU/Jxp1bqMV">CPU</a>, <a href="/facts/Firmware/62UVKIUK">firmware</a> (<a href="/facts/BIOS/AYYPUogS">BIOS</a> or <a href="/facts/UEFI/w86VGmy2">UEFI</a>) and <a href="/facts/Operating_system/8XTuvMh2">operating system</a>. IPMI defines a set of interfaces used by <a href="/facts/System_administrator/zNhThrh9">system administrators</a> for <a href="/facts/Out-of-band_management/cocV8SxQ">out-of-band management</a> of <a href="/facts/Computer_systems/SQe1aK05">computer systems</a> and monitoring of their operation. For example, IPMI provides a way to manage a computer that may be powered off or otherwise unresponsive by using a network connection to the hardware rather than to an operating system or login shell. Another use case may be installing a custom <a href="/facts/Operating_system/8XTuvMh2">operating system</a> remotely. Without IPMI, installing a custom operating system may require an <a href="/facts/System_administrator/zNhThrh9">administrator</a> to be physically present near the computer, insert a <a href="/facts/DVD/7fJsHJrN">DVD</a> or a <a href="/facts/USB_flash_drive/Jv0qmTCF">USB flash drive</a> containing the OS <a href="/facts/Installation_(computer_programs)/EQzPeYv2">installer</a> and complete the installation process using a monitor and a keyboard. Using IPMI, an administrator can mount an <a href="/facts/ISO_image/LrE8odYa">ISO image</a>, simulate an installer DVD, and perform the installation remotely. </p><p>The specification is led by <a href="/facts/Intel/SMF0gJJX">Intel</a> and was first published on September 16, 1998. It is supported by more than 200 computer system vendors, such as <a href="/facts/Cisco/ocDgQt6T">Cisco</a>, <a href="/facts/Dell/wLlYNTMM">Dell</a>, <a href="/facts/Hewlett_Packard_Enterprise/d9NbClDt">Hewlett Packard Enterprise</a>, and Intel. </p>