Data Domain: How To Access IPMI/SOL from Windows

Summary: This article explains how to access a Data Domain system over windows using IPMI.

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Instructions

Traditionally, Data Domain systems have been limited to using another Data Domain or a Linux host using ipmitool to access a target Data Domain. That ability has now been extended to Windows hosts using the downloadable tool attached to this article. Running this tool in a command (CMD) window allows the Windows host to connect to the IPMI or Serial over LAN (SOL) interface on a target Data Domain.

Prerequisites:

  • IPMI is configured on the target system
  • IPMI users are configured (by default, IPMI users are not configured on Data Domain)

Steps:

  1. Download the attachment and extract it to a new folder. Naming the folder C:\ipmitool is recommended.
  2. Open a CMD window and go to the new folder containing the ipmitool files.
  3. Run ipmitool.exe.
    • Syntax: 
      ipmitool.exe -I lanplus -U <uername> -P <password> -H <hosname_or_IP> -C 3 sol activate
    • Example: 
      ipmitool.exe -l lanplus -U ipmiuser -P abc123 -H 1.2.3.4 -C 3 sol activate
    • Press SHIFT+~+? to display a list of escape sequences.
    • Press SHIFT+~+. to exit the session. If it does not work, press ENTER and try again until it works.
C:\ipmitool>ipmitool.exe -l lanplus -U ipmiuser -P abc123 -H 1.2.3.4 -C 3 sol activate
[SOL Session operational. Use ~? for help]

Data Domain OS
datadomain.datadomain.com login: sysadmin
Password:
Last login: Sat Mar  7 16:22:25 GMT 2026 from 10.207.117.89 on pts/0


Welcome to Data Domain OS 8.3.0.15-1161254
------------------------------------------
**
** NOTICE: There are 4 outstanding alerts. Run "alerts show current"
**         to display outstanding alert(s).
**
sysadmin@datadomain# ~?
Supported escape sequences:
 ~.   - terminate connection (and any multiplexed sessions)
 ~B   - send a BREAK to the remote system
 ~R   - request rekey
 ~V/v - decrease/increase verbosity (LogLevel)
 ~^Z  - suspend ssh
 ~#   - list forwarded connections
 ~&   - background ssh (when waiting for connections to terminate)
 ~?   - this message
 ~~   - send the escape character by typing it twice
(Note that escapes are only recognized immediately after newline.)

sysadmin@datadomain#
sysadmin@datadomain# ~. [terminated ipmitool]

C:\ipmitool>
For convenience, the commands to access a Data Domain system from a Linux host and a Data Domain system are below.

Access the serial interface from a Linux host

Some Linux systems come with the ipmitool executable, so the following command should already be available:
  • Syntax: 
    # ipmitool -I lanplus -H <hostname or IP addr> -U <username> -P <password> sol activate
  • Example: 
    # ipmitool -I lanplus -H 1.2.3.4 -U ipmiuser -P abc123 sol activate

Access the serial interface from another Data Domain system

This command should be available on all Data Domain systems from the command line:
  • Syntax: 
    # ipmi remote console ipmi-target <hostname or IP addr> user <username> password <password>
  • Example: 
    # ipmi remote console ipmi-target 1.2.3.4 user ipmiuser password abc123

How to set up a Data Domain target system

Depending on the model, the port is either dedicated or shared. To determine the interface name, run: 
# ipmi show hardware
 
Configure the IPMI interface on the system:
  • Syntax: 
    # ipmi config <port_name> ipaddress <IP_address> netmask <netmask> gateway <gateway_IP>
  • Example: 
    # ipmi config bmc-eth0d ipaddress 1.2.3.4 netmask 255.255.255.0 gateway 1.2.3.1
 
Note: If the IPMI interface is shared with a data port, the data port must be configured with an IP address regardless of whether it is used or not. The IP address does not have to be valid as long as it does not interfere with the routing of other interfaces. To configure a shared interface, run:
  • Syntax: 
    # net config <interface_name> <ipaddress> netmask <netmask>
  • Example: 
    # net config eth0d 1.2.3.4 netmask 255.255.255.252
 
By default, there are no existing users on the IPMI controller. New accounts must be created as part of the configuration.
  • Syntax: 
    # ipmi user list
# ipmi user add <username> password <password>
  • Example: 
    # ipmi user add ipmiuser password abc123

Additional Information

Data Domain models that have iDRAC configured can use SOL through the iDRAC. Refer to this article for instructions.
 
For more information about configuring IPMI within Data Domain, check the Administration Guide.

Affected Products

Data Domain

Products

Data Domain

Attachments

ipmitool_for_Windows_pkb_en_US_1.zip

Article Properties
Article Number: 000043086
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 13 Mar 2026
Version:  6
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