PowerStore: Unable to connect to a node using Serial Over LAN (SOL) with IPMI

When connected to a node using Serial Over LAN (SOL) with IPMI, the connection may become unresponsive, or you may see one of the following errors.

Example:

C:\User>ipmitool -I lanplus -H 128.221.1.252 -C 3 -U console -P <SVC_TAG> sol activate Error activating SOL payload: Unspecified error

 
 Example: 

C:\User>ipmitool -I lanplus -H 128.221.1.252 -C 3 -U console -P <SVC_TAG> sol activate Error: Unable to establish IPMI v2 / RMCP+ session

 

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There are different issues that can cause this. The resolution section describes a few.

The laptop can be physically connected to the PowerStore on either Service LAN Port, or both (using a small switch or hub).  
ATTENTION: Never connect multiple appliances to the same hub or switch for Service LAN Port access.

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There are a few flags that can be used to help you better understand the issue.

-v: High-level verbose information.

C:\User>ipmitool -I lanplus -H 128.221.1.252 -C 3 -U console -P <SVC_TAG> -v sol activate Loading IANA PEN Registry... IANA PEN registry open failed: No such file or directory > RAKP 2 HMAC is invalid Error: Unable to establish IPMI v2 / RMCP+ session

-vvv: Low-level verbose information.

C:\User>ipmitool -I lanplus -H 128.221.1.252 -C 3 -U console -P <SVC_TAG> -vvv sol activate Loading IANA PEN Registry...  IANA PEN registry open failed: No such file or directory >> Sending IPMI command payload >>    netfn   : 0x06 >>    command : 0x38 >>    data    : 0x8e 0x04 BUILDING A v1.5 COMMAND >> IPMI Request Session Header >>   Authtype   : NONE >>   Sequence   : 0x00000000 >>   Session ID : 0x00000000 >> IPMI Request Message Header >>   Rs Addr    : 20 >>   NetFn      : 06 >>   Rs LUN     : 0 >>   Rq Addr    : 81 >>   Rq Seq     : 00 >>   Rq Lun     : 0 >>   Command    : 38 << IPMI Response Session Header  <<   Authtype                : NONE <<   Payload type            : IPMI (0) <<   Session ID              : 0x00000000 <<   Sequence                : 0x00000000 <<   IPMI Msg/Payload Length : 16 << IPMI Response Message Header <<   Rq Addr    : 81 <<   NetFn      : 07 <<   Rq LUN     : 0 <<   Rs Addr    : 20 <<   Rq Seq     : 00 <<   Rs Lun     : 0 <<   Command    : 38 <<   Compl Code : 0x00 >> Sending IPMI command payload >>    netfn   : 0x06 >>    command : 0x54 >>    data    : 0x0e 0x00 0x80 BUILDING A v2 COMMAND Local RqAddr 0x20 transit 0:0 target 0x20:0 bridgePossible 0 >> Sending IPMI command payload >>    netfn   : 0x06 >>    command : 0x54 >>    data    : 0x0e 0x00 0x80 [[Truncated]]   BUILDING A v2 COMMAND Local RqAddr 0x20 transit 0:0 target 0x20:0 bridgePossible 0 Unable to Get Channel Cipher Suites >> SENDING AN OPEN SESSION REQUEST <> Console generated random number (16 bytes)  05 4c 2e 81 11 28 a9 cd 42 cb 69 ca fb 46 c0 97 >> SENDING A RAKP 1 MESSAGE <> rakp2 mac input buffer (65 bytes)  a4 a3 a2 a0 32 00 00 00 05 4c 2e 81 11 28 a9 cd  42 cb 69 ca fb 46 c0 97 bd 65 51 ec 38 f8 4a af  69 68 40 68 67 1a b4 82 7c b5 28 bd c3 04 c2 b9  ec 47 54 08 37 1f 25 b0 14 07 63 6f 6e 73 6f 6c  65 >> rakp2 mac key (20 bytes)  70 61 73 73 77 6f 72 64 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00  00 00 00 00 >> rakp2 mac as computed by the remote console (20 bytes)  4a a0 85 43 36 5a dd 1d 9e 9c 9a 14 0b b6 99 51  47 f4 e4 0c > RAKP 2 HMAC is invalid Error: Unable to establish IPMI v2 / RMCP+ session

 

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Error Activating SOL payload

This may indicate that an existing session is still active.
Deactivate the SOL session with:

C:\User>ipmitool -I lanplus -H 128.221.1.252 -C 3 -U console -P <SVC_TAG> sol deactivate

Then activate the SOL session again with: 

C:\User>ipmitool -I lanplus -H 128.221.1.252 -C 3 -U console -P <SVC_TAG> sol activate [SOL Session operational. Use ~? for help]

 

Incorrect password

C:\User>ipmitool -I lanplus -H 128.221.1.252 -C 3 -U console -P <SVC_TAG> -v sol activate Loading IANA PEN Registry... IANA PEN registry open failed: No such file or directory Get Auth Capabilities error Error issuing Get Channel Authentication Capabilities request Error: Unable to establish IPMI v2 / RMCP+ session

 
Ensure you have the correct password. Passwords are based on the appliance that you are connected to. Each appliance has a different Dell Service Tag, and a different password.
 

RAKP 2 HMAC is invalid.

C:\User>ipmitool -I lanplus -H 128.221.1.252 -C 3 -U console -P <SVC_TAG> -v sol activate Loading IANA PEN Registry... IANA PEN registry open failed: No such file or directory > RAKP 2 HMAC is invalid Error: Unable to establish IPMI v2 / RMCP+ session

Ensure that the IPMI Service LAN port is not connected to a switch or hub, as this error commonly indicates duplicate IPs.

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