How a KVM console works
KVM is a device that gives a hosting customer (the owner of an account with a paid plan) the ability to remotely manage their dedicated or VPS server. These devices can be built into the computer's motherboard or connected via USB, and may or may not have a dedicated port.
The main KVM varieties:
Depending on which manufacturer's hardware the server is built on, KVMs go by different names:
DELL Power Edge - iDRAC;
Hewlett Packard - iLO;
Supermicro - IPMI;
Fujitsu - iRMC;
IBM Lenovo - Intel ATM.
Data centers usually have a limited number of these devices, so it is recommended to check availability before ordering. The KVM console has its own web interface, accessible at a specific IP address. Once the server is handed over, the hosting provider gives the customer a unique https address, which they can then open in their browser, enter a login / password, and thereby gain remote control — from the BIOS level all the way to operating system boot (keyboard, mouse and monitor effectively become connected).
KVM lets you power the server on and off, reboot it, monitor problems, gives access to the boot menu and allows you to fix network configuration errors. More advanced devices such as iLO and iDRAC let you see the state of the disks, memory, CPU, hardware RAID controller and more.
Console availability terms
Depending on the platform of the rented server and the country it is located in, IP-KVM is provided to the user for a fee or free of charge, for a limited time or permanently.
We work with many data centers, and each has its own rules: in the Netherlands, France and Germany, IPMI is provided with the order on a permanent basis.