How to use ipmitool command to set BMC watchdog timer ?

Purpose:

This guide is to provide a simple step-by-step method for users to modify the watchdog timer on server with BMC.

Applicable model list :

All products with BMC functions.

 

Requirement :

Environment with available ipmitool utility.

Please refer to How to install IPMItool.

 

Definition:

Following table is IPMI WDT command: ipmitool mc watchdog <command>:

Example:

Get Current BMC's Watchdog setting

# ipmitool mc watchdog get 

Start or Reset BMC's Watchdog  timer countdown

# ipmitool mc watchdog reset

Shut off BMC's Watchdog timer countdown  

# ipmitool mc watchdog off

Watchdog timer setting 

Default ipmitool command doesn't have a parameter to set WDT timer, user may use following "raw" command to set BMC WDT timer

Set BMC watchdog timer setting Command

# ipmitool raw 0x06 0x24 0xWW 0xXX 0x00 0x00 0xYY 0xZZ

0xWW: WDT Timer Use,

When BMC watchdog occurs timeout, it will records a ‘timer use expiration’ flags in BMC sel log for trouble-shooting, please choose suitable "WDT Timer Use" in BMC watchdog setting.

System boot phase	BIOS initial	Extend FW initial (ex: PXE/RAID)	OS booting	Application enable
WDT Timer Use	BIOS FRB2 (0x01)  or BIOS/POST (0x02)		OS Load (0x03)	SMS/OS (0x04)

WDT Timer Use function description:

Command (Hex)	Function	Description
0x01	BIOS FRB2	1. It almost uses in BIOS initial phase, and please don't suggest user to set this parameter in normal BMC watchdog setting 2. When BIOS FRB2 occurs timeout, 2.1. BMC code is Advantech: it will execute system power cycle and forces to switch BIOS bank. 2.2. BMC code is AMI: It will execute system reset,
0x02	BIOS/POST	1. It almost uses in BIOS initial phase,
0x03	OS Load	It almost uses in OS initial phase, when user sets BIOS/watchdog timer as enable. BMC will set this parameter in BMC's WDT Timer Use,
0x04	SMS/OS	It almost uses in system software,

0xXX: WDT action mode

0xYY  0xZZ: Set BMC watchdog timer setting Command

Timer range 0.1(0X0001) ~6553.5(0XFFFF) seconds, 0.1 second is the basic unit.

• 600 sec: 6000 DEC (0.1 sec) = 1770 HEX = 0x70 0x17

Example: setting watchdog timer sets as system SMS/OS level , reset action and timeout 8.5 sec 

# ipmitool raw 0x06 0x24 0x04 0x01 0x00 0x00 0x55 0x00