Are you trying to reset the Supermicro IPMI password?

IPMI provides remote access to multiple users at different locations for networking. The default username and password are ADMIN / ADMIN.

At Bobcares, we get requests to reset the IPMI password as a part of our Server Management Services.

Today, let’s look at how our Support Engineers reset the IPMI password.

 

How to reset the Supermicro IPMI password

Let’s discuss how our Support Engineers reset the password using different methods.

An Overview:

• Reset IPMI Password via the web interface
• Reset IPMI Password via Windows servers
• Reset IPMI Password via Linux servers
• Reset IPMI Password via physical access to the server
• Reset IPMI Password via BIOS Setup
• Reset IPMI Password Using DOS LiveCD/USB
• Reset IPMI Password Using IPMI Module Reset

How to Reset IPMI Password via the web interface

Recently, one of our customers contacted us to change the default admin password. Let’s see how our Support Engineers reset the password from the web interface.

The password can be reset from the panel only if we know the password.

1. First, we log in to the web console using the administrator account.

2. In the menu layout, we select Configuration. Then, select the Users menu.

3. Now we select the ADMIN user then we select the Modify User button.

4. In Modify User, we tick the checkbox Change Password.

5. Now, we enter the password twice.

6. Finally, click on modify. A success confirmation prompt pops up.

How to Reset IPMI Password via Windows servers

We can also reset the IPMI password from the Windows server. Initially, we log in to the server.

1. First, we download the IPMI Configuration utility. We download it based on the OS architecture.

2. Now, we unzip the downloaded file. Next, we open a command prompt as administrator. Then, move to the directory.

3. We reset to the default password using the command,

C:\Users\Administrator\Downloads\64bit>IPMICFG-Windows.exe -fd
Reset to the factory default completed.

Since the factory reset is done, we will assign the IP address, Subnet Mask, and gateway. We turn DHCP off if we are going to use a static IP. Else, we leave DHCP ON. We use the below commands.

C:\Users\Administrator\Downloads\64bit>IPMICFG-Windows.exe -dhcp off
Successfully disable DHCP.
C:\Users\Administrator\Downloads\64bit>IPMICFG-Windows.exe -m x.x.x.x
IP=x.x.x.x
C:\Users\Administrator\Downloads\64bit>IPMICFG-Windows.exe -k 255.255.255.xxx
Subnet Mask=255.255.255.x
C:\Users\Administrator\Downloads\64bit>IPMICFG-Windows.exe -g x.x.x.x
Gatway=x.x.x.x

4. Now, we can log in via default username and password. Now, we can change the password from the panel or leave it as is.

How to Reset IPMI Password via Linux servers

To reset the password for Linux servers, we download the ipmitool. For that, we use the command.

yum -y install ipmitool

Then, we use the below command to reset the admin password.

modprobe ipmi_devintf
ipmitool -I open user set password 2 NEW_PASSWORD

We replace NEW_PASSWORD with the required password.

Thus, we reset the password.

 

How to Reset IPMI Password via physical access to the server

We provide the below steps to our customers if they have physical access to the server.

1. Initially, download the latest IPMICFG utility released by Supermicro.

2. Then, copy the extracted contents to the server.

3. Open a command window as an administrator.

4. Change directory to the ipmicfg-win.exe appropriate for your architecture (32-bit or 64-bit)

5. Get the user ID of the IPMI user whose password you want to set:

ipmicfg-win.exe -user list

6. Set a new password for that user:

ipmicfg-win.exe -user setpwd 2 New_Password

Login to the IPMI web GUI using the password you just set.

How to Reset IPMI Password via BIOS Setup

Follow these steps to access the BIOS during boot to check for default credentials for devices manufactured before November 2019:

1. First, restart the server and press the appropriate key (usually Del, F2, or F10) during boot to enter the BIOS setup.
2. Then, look for a tab or section labeled IPMI Configuration or similar. This location may vary depending on the motherboard model.
3. Here, we will find the default username and password displayed (often ADMIN / ADMIN).
4. If we make any changes, ensure to save them before exiting. Otherwise, exit without saving.

How to Reset IPMI Password Using DOS LiveCD/USB

This method involves creating a bootable USB drive with DOS and using the IPMICFG utility to reset the BMC.

1. First, download Rufus from its official website.
2. Then, insert a USB drive into the computer.
3. Open Rufus and select the USB drive.
4. Now, choose FreeDOS as the partition scheme and start formatting the USB.
5. Then, go to Supermicro’s website and download the IPMICFG utility package.
6. Extract the contents and copy the DOS folder to the bootable USB drive.
7. After that, insert the USB drive into the Supermicro server.
8. Then, restart the server and press the boot menu key (usually F11) to select the USB drive as the boot device.

Once we boot into DOS, we will see a command prompt. So, change the directory to where we copied IPMICFG:

CD IPMICFG

Then, run the following command to reset to factory defaults:

IPMICFG.EXE -fd

Now, we have to wait for a few moments as it resets. After resetting, we may need to disable DHCP and set a static IP address:


IPMICFG.EXE -dhcp off
IPMICFG.EXE -m xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx # Set static IP
IPMICFG.EXE -k 255.255.255.xxx # Set subnet mask
IPMICFG.EXE -g xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx # Set gateway


Finally, set a new password for the ADMIN user:

ipmicfg.exe -user setpwd 2 NEW_PASSWORD

Now, reboot the server to apply changes.

How to Reset IPMI Password Using IPMI Module Reset

This method lets us reset the BMC settings directly using commands locally or through a VPN connection.

1. First, ensure we have access to the server either physically or through a secure VPN connection.
2. If not already installed, download and install the correct version of IPMICFG for the OS.
3. Then, run the following command to reset to factory defaults:

   ipmicfg –fdM

   This command will reset all settings, including user accounts, back to defaults.
4. After resetting, we have to reconfigure network settings as previously described.

Do You need any assistance resetting the Supermicro IPMI password?- We’ll help you]

 

Conclusion

In short, we’ve discussed how our Support Engineers change the IPMI password on Linux and Windows servers, as well as how we change the password on the web interface and the physical server.