Re: [Freeipmi-devel] [SPAM] - RE: Retrieving BIOS information via IPMI - Email found in subject

[Al Chu]

I've seen it on a few other motherboards, where the privilege level you
set is seemingly irrelevant.  So it may simply be an issue until the
vendor fixes it.

Al

On Wed, 2014-01-08 at 12:47 -0500, Vinny Vallarine wrote:
> Ah, figured that was it initially but tried it using the wrong window 
> (running a different tool) and -l was not recognized.   Sorry!
> 
> In either case:
> 
> ./bmc-info -l ADMIN -h 192.168.123.72 -u ADMIN -p ADMIN --get-system-info
> ./bmc-info -l OPERATOR -h 192.168.123.72 -u ADMIN -p ADMIN --get-system-info
> ./bmc-info -l USER  -h 192.168.123.72 -u ADMIN -p ADMIN --get-system-info
> 
> all return 
> "ipmi_cmd_get_system_info_parameters_system_firmware_version_first_set:  
> privilege level insufficient"
> 
> I've found this post:
> http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/freeipmi-devel/2011-11/msg00008.html
> 
> does this ring any bells?  My IPMI firmware is 2.34 and freeipmi package is 
> at rev 1.3.4 so much latter then the rev mentioned in the article.
> 
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Vinny
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Al Chu [mailto:address@hidden 
> Sent: Wednesday, January 08, 2014 12:05 PM
> To: Vinny Vallarine
> Cc: Rob Swindell; address@hidden
> Subject: RE: [SPAM] - RE: [Freeipmi-devel] Retrieving BIOS information via 
> IPMI - Email found in subject
> 
> Try them as command line parameters.
> 
> bmc-info -l admin ...
> 
> Al
> 
> On Wed, 2014-01-08 at 07:59 -0500, Vinny Vallarine wrote:
> > Not entirely sure what you mean by this.  Could you clarify?  
> > 
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Al Chu [mailto:address@hidden
> > Sent: Tuesday, January 07, 2014 5:25 PM
> > To: Vinny Vallarine
> > Cc: Rob Swindell; address@hidden
> > Subject: RE: [SPAM] - RE: [Freeipmi-devel] Retrieving BIOS information 
> > via IPMI - Email found in subject
> > 
> > On Tue, 2014-01-07 at 17:13 -0500, Vinny Vallarine wrote:
> > > Sorry, totally left that out.  Now,
> > > 
> > > ./bmc-info -h 192.168.123.72 -u ADMIN -p ADMIN --get-system-info
> > 
> > Try adjusting the privilege level of the tool. e.g.
> > 
> > -l operator
> > -l admin
> > 
> > Al
> > 
> > > Returns:
> > > 
> > > ipmi_cmd_get_system_info_parameters_system_firmware_version_first_set: 
> > > privilege level insufficient
> > > 
> > > I assumed "ADMIN" (default) should be all I would need but does not seem 
> > > so. 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Rob Swindell [mailto:address@hidden
> > > Sent: Tuesday, January 07, 2014 5:02 PM
> > > To: Vinny Vallarine; Al Chu
> > > Cc: address@hidden
> > > Subject: RE: [SPAM] - RE: [Freeipmi-devel] Retrieving BIOS 
> > > information via IPMI - Email found in subject
> > > 
> > > Did you try with the  "--get-system-info" option? The value you're 
> > > looking for is "System Firmware Version", not "Firmware Revision".
> > > 
> > > -Rob
> > > 
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Vinny Vallarine [mailto:address@hidden
> > > Sent: Tuesday, January 07, 2014 11:41 AM
> > > To: Rob Swindell; Al Chu
> > > Cc: address@hidden
> > > Subject: RE: [SPAM] - RE: [Freeipmi-devel] Retrieving BIOS 
> > > information via IPMI - Email found in subject
> > > 
> > > Rob, thanks for the info.  I've been able to verify that running:
> > > 
> > > ./bmc-info -h 192.168.123.72 -u ADMIN -p ADMIN returns:
> > > 
> > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~
> > > Device ID             : 32
> > > Device Revision       : 1
> > > Device SDRs           : unsupported
> > > Firmware Revision     : 2.34
> > > Device Available      : yes (normal operation)
> > > IPMI Version          : 2.0
> > > Sensor Device         : supported
> > > SDR Repository Device : supported
> > > SEL Device            : supported
> > > FRU Inventory Device  : supported
> > > IPMB Event Receiver   : supported
> > > IPMB Event Generator  : supported
> > > Bridge                : unsupported
> > > Chassis Device        : supported
> > > Manufacturer ID       : Super Micro Computer Inc. (10876)
> > > Product ID            : 1591
> > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> > > 
> > > Unfortunately, "Firmware Revision     : 2.34" is the firmware of the 
> > > "BMC".  I've confirmed this logging into the BIOS directly and looking 
> > > through the screens. 
> > > 
> > > Any additional ideas would be appreciated.  I'll continue to look through 
> > > things...
> > > 
> > > 
> > > Thanks,
> > > 
> > > Vinny
> > > 
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Rob Swindell [mailto:address@hidden
> > > Sent: Monday, January 06, 2014 7:31 PM
> > > To: Al Chu; Vinny Vallarine
> > > Cc: address@hidden
> > > Subject: [SPAM] - RE: [Freeipmi-devel] Retrieving BIOS information 
> > > via IPMI - Email found in subject
> > > 
> > > The IPMI "Get System Info Parameters" command  (IPMI 2.0, section 22.14b) 
> > > allows a remote management console/utility/library to query the "System 
> > > Firmware version". This version information would be the primary "BIOS" 
> > > version (legacy or UEFI) on a server.
> > > 
> > > The Free-IPMI "bmc-info" command used with the "--get-system-info" option 
> > > can be used to query the BMC and display this detail if it's available.  
> > > While this command is not vendor-specific, not all BMC vendors may 
> > > implement support for this IPMI command or this specific "System Info 
> > > Parameter" (1).
> > > 
> > > Of course there are underlying Free-IPMI library functions available to 
> > > exercise this command and return the data to an application.
> > > 
> > > -Rob
> > > 
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: address@hidden
> > > [mailto:address@hidden On 
> > > Behalf Of Al Chu
> > > Sent: Monday, January 06, 2014 11:38 AM
> > > To: Vinny Vallarine
> > > Cc: address@hidden
> > > Subject: Re: [Freeipmi-devel] Retrieving BIOS information via IPMI
> > > 
> > > Yes, if you look at the tool bmc-info, you'll see it output various 
> > > firmware/system information.  Underneath the covers, these are calls to 
> > > various IPMI device queries.
> > > 
> > > Al
> > > 
> > > On Mon, 2014-01-06 at 14:20 -0500, Vinny Vallarine wrote:
> > > > Ah, interesting.  So if the Vendor(s) we're interfacing with use the 
> > > > same rev number for all their device firmware, I may be able to simply 
> > > > query for the IPMI firmware version number, correct?  Assuming this is 
> > > > part of the IPMI spec?
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: Al Chu [mailto:address@hidden
> > > > Sent: Monday, January 06, 2014 12:50 PM
> > > > To: Vinny Vallarine
> > > > Cc: address@hidden
> > > > Subject: RE: [Freeipmi-devel] Retrieving BIOS information via IPMI
> > > > 
> > > > On Mon, 2014-01-06 at 12:41 -0500, Vinny Vallarine wrote:
> > > > > Thanks Al.  
> > > > > 
> > > > >  
> > > > > 
> > > > > I'd be content at the moment to be able to retrieve the BIOS 
> > > > > version number.  Sounds like something as simple as that would 
> > > > > be Vendor specific, correct?
> > > > 
> > > > Yes & no.
> > > > 
> > > > My recollection is that nothing in the IPMI spec allows you to 
> > > > specifically retrieve the "BIOS" version.  However, many vendors flash 
> > > > all of their device firmware (BIOS + IPMI firmware, etc.) with the same 
> > > > image.  So many of the device/system versions retrieved via IPMI may in 
> > > > fact be identical to the BIOS version. 
> > > > 
> > > > >  
> > > > > 
> > > > > We're interfacing with SuperMicro main boards. I know they have 
> > > > > specific tools to do exactly what I need to do so I'm assuming 
> > > > > they've added the needed extensions.
> > > > > 
> > > > 
> > > > You may be in luck.  There is an extensions for Supermicro firmware 
> > > > versions in ipmi-oem.  However, again, it's not necessarily the BIOS 
> > > > version.
> > > > 
> > > > Al
> > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > > I'll check out your suggestions to see what is configurable and 
> > > > > what the vendors have added.
> > > > > 
> > > > >  
> > > > > 
> > > > >  
> > > > > 
> > > > > Thanks,
> > > > > 
> > > > >  
> > > > > 
> > > > > Vinny
> > > > > 
> > > > >  
> > > > > 
> > > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > > From: Al Chu [mailto:address@hidden
> > > > > Sent: Monday, January 06, 2014 12:24 PM
> > > > > To: Vinny Vallarine
> > > > > Cc: address@hidden
> > > > > Subject: Re: [Freeipmi-devel] Retrieving BIOS information via 
> > > > > IPMI
> > > > > 
> > > > >  
> > > > > 
> > > > > Hi Vinny,
> > > > > 
> > > > >  
> > > > > 
> > > > > The IPMI specification does not support the ability to 
> > > > > retrieve/modify BIOS options per se.  The IPMI specification 
> > > > > does allow modification of various motherboard parameters, many 
> > > > > of which may happen to be readable/modifiable/managed by the BIOS.
> > > > > 
> > > > >  
> > > > > 
> > > > > So if you are looking to use IPMI for querying the BIOS, it 
> > > > > really depends on what you would like to query.  Not everything 
> > > > > in the BIOS will be queryable.
> > > > > 
> > > > >  
> > > > > 
> > > > > For example, the chassis subsection of IPMI allows the 
> > > > > configuration of a number of boot options.  Many of these 
> > > > > configuration options are likely in the BIOS (see 
> > > > > ipmi-chassis-config tool to get an idea of what is configurable).
> > > > > General device information is available through various device 
> > > > > queries and that may also be in the BIOS (see bmc-info tool for 
> > > > > examples of info that is available).  I believe some vendors 
> > > > > support reading of the SEL in the BIOS for hardware analysis (see 
> > > > > tool ipmi-sel for example).
> > > > > 
> > > > >  
> > > > > 
> > > > > As an aside, various vendors have added extensions to IPMI to 
> > > > > retrieve/set BIOS settings, but these are on a vendor by vendor 
> > > > > (many times motherboard by motherboard) basis.  If you look 
> > > > > through the tool ipmi-oem, you can see what some vendors have 
> > > > > supported.
> > > > > 
> > > > >  
> > > > > 
> > > > > If one of the tools supports what you would like to do, then we 
> > > > > can perhaps dig into the API from that point.
> > > > > 
> > > > >  
> > > > > 
> > > > > Al
> > > > > 
> > > > >  
> > > > > 
> > > > >  
> > > > > 
> > > > > On Mon, 2014-01-06 at 10:20 -0500, Vinny Vallarine wrote:
> > > > > 
> > > > > > My company is looking for an IPMI package that we can 
> > > > > > interface
> > > > > with.
> > > > > 
> > > > > > I’ve just downloaded your freeIPMI package.  What we need to 
> > > > > > do is
> > > > > 
> > > > > > query multiple machines and retrieve their BIOS revision 
> > > > > > numbers as
> > > > > 
> > > > > > well as specific BIOS settings.  I’ve looked through your
> > > > > 
> > > > > > documentation but don’t see an API that would allow me to do 
> > > > > > that
> > > > > via
> > > > > 
> > > > > > your libraries.  Could you let me know how this can be done 
> > > > > > through
> > > > > 
> > > > > > your libraries?  I’m looking for the interface/methods that I 
> > > > > > can
> > > > > call
> > > > > 
> > > > > > to accomplish this.
> > > > > 
> > > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > > >  
> > > > > 
> > > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > > > Thanks,
> > > > > 
> > > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > > >  
> > > > > 
> > > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > > >  
> > > > > 
> > > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > > > Vincent Vallarine
> > > > > 
> > > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > > > Innovative Defense Technologies, LLC
> > > > > 
> > > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > > > 401.741.4571 (Mobile)
> > > > > 
> > > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > > > address@hidden
> > > > > 
> > > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > > > www.idtus.com
> > > > > 
> > > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > > >  
> > > > > 
> > > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > > 
> > > > > > Freeipmi-devel mailing list
> > > > > 
> > > > > > address@hidden
> > > > > 
> > > > > > https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/freeipmi-devel
> > > > > 
> > > > > --
> > > > > 
> > > > > Albert Chu
> > > > > 
> > > > > address@hidden
> > > > > 
> > > > > Computer Scientist
> > > > > 
> > > > > High Performance Systems Division
> > > > > 
> > > > > Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
> > > > > 
> > > > >  
> > > > > 
> > > > > 
> > > > --
> > > > Albert Chu
> > > > address@hidden
> > > > Computer Scientist
> > > > High Performance Systems Division
> > > > Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
> > > > 
> > > --
> > > Albert Chu
> > > address@hidden
> > > Computer Scientist
> > > High Performance Systems Division
> > > Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
> > > 
> > > 
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Freeipmi-devel mailing list
> > > address@hidden
> > > https://lists.gnu.org/mailman/listinfo/freeipmi-devel
> > --
> > Albert Chu
> > address@hidden
> > Computer Scientist
> > High Performance Systems Division
> > Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
> > 
> --
> Albert Chu
> address@hidden
> Computer Scientist
> High Performance Systems Division
> Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
> 
-- 
Albert Chu
address@hidden
Computer Scientist
High Performance Systems Division
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory