devluigi06/ipmi-fanpilot repository overview

⁠IPMI-FanPilot - Docker Hub Repository

⁠Short Description (max 100 characters)

Simple web-based IPMI fan controller for Dell, Supermicro, HP servers

⁠Full Description

⁠Overview

IPMI-FanPilot is a lightweight, web-based application for controlling server fan speeds via IPMI. Designed for homelab and enterprise environments, it provides intuitive fan speed management without requiring command-line expertise.

⁠Key Features

• Web-Based Interface: Modern, responsive dashboard accessible from any browser
• Cross-Platform Support: Works on Windows, Linux, Docker
• Encrypted Credentials: AES-256 encrypted storage of IPMI credentials
• Manual & Auto Modes: Set specific fan speeds or use automatic mode
• Multi-Server Support: Compatible with Dell, Supermicro, HP, Lenovo, IBM
• Docker Ready: Secure, production-ready container with security patches
• No Configuration Needed: Credentials auto-generated and encrypted
• Health Monitoring: Built-in health checks for reliability

⁠Supported Servers

• Dell PowerEdge: R620, R640, R650, R720, R730, R750 (12G-13G)
• Supermicro: Any model with IPMI 2.0 support
• HP ProLiant: iLO-equipped servers
• Lenovo ThinkSystem: XCC-equipped servers
• IBM System X: IMM-equipped servers

Note: Direct fan control via IPMI may be limited or blocked on newer 14G/15G Dell servers with recent iDRAC firmware by design (security restriction from Dell).

⁠Quick Start

⁠Docker (Recommended)

docker pull dev-luigi/ipmi-fanpilot:latest
docker run -p 3000:3000 dev-luigi/ipmi-fanpilot:latest

Access at: http://localhost:3000⁠

⁠Docker Compose

version: '3.8'
services:
  ipmi-fanpilot:
    image: dev-luigi/ipmi-fanpilot:latest
    ports:
      - "3000:3000"
    volumes:
      - ipmi-data:/app
    restart: unless-stopped

volumes:
  ipmi-data:

Run with: docker-compose up -d

⁠Direct Installation

git clone https://github.com/dev-luigi/IPMI-FanPilot.git
cd IPMI-FanPilot
npm install
node server.js

⁠Usage

1. Open http://localhost:3000⁠ in your browser
2. Enter IPMI credentials (IP, username, password)
3. Click "Save" to encrypt and store credentials
4. Adjust fan speed with the dial (0-100%)
5. Click "Confirm" to apply or "Auto Mode" for automatic control
6. View command history and status messages

⁠Security Features

• AES-256 Encryption: Credentials encrypted with unique IV per save
• Non-Root Container: Docker image runs as non-root user
• Security Patched: All vulnerabilities (CVE-2024-21538, CVE-2025-9230+) fixed
• Input Validation: Protection against IPMI command injection
• Health Checks: Automatic container health monitoring
• Network Isolation: Designed for internal networks only

⁠Requirements

• Hardware: Any IPMI 2.0-compatible server
• Network: Direct network access to server IPMI interface
• Software: Docker OR Node.js 18+
• Tools: ipmitool (included in Docker image)

⁠System Requirements

• CPU: 1 core (shared or dedicated)
• RAM: 256 MB minimum (512 MB recommended)
• Storage: 50 MB for Docker image (~45 MB)
• Network: Local network access to IPMI (port 623 UDP/TCP)

⁠Environment

⁠API Endpoints

⁠Supported IPMI Commands

• Manual Mode: Set fan speed 0-100%
• Auto Mode: Server controls fan speed automatically
• Preset Speeds: 20%, 30%, 50%, 70%, 100%

⁠Limitations

• R740XD / 14G-15G Servers: Fan control disabled in recent iDRAC firmware (Dell security restriction)
• Network-Only: Requires network access to IPMI BMC
• Single Server: Current version manages one server at a time
• Windows Only Start: start.bat requires Windows (use Docker for Linux)

⁠Troubleshooting

Cannot connect to IPMI:

• Verify iDRAC/BMC IP address and credentials
• Check network connectivity: ping <idrac-ip>
• Ensure port 623 is accessible
• Confirm ipmitool is installed

Credentials not saving:

• Verify all fields are filled (IP, username, password)
• Check application has write permissions
• Inspect browser console for errors (F12)

Commands not executing:

• Verify IPMI credentials are correct
• Check server logs for error details
• Confirm ipmitool is in system PATH

⁠File Structure

IPMI-FanPilot/
├── server.js              # Main Node.js application
├── package.json           # Dependencies
├── package-lock.json      # Locked versions
├── Dockerfile             # Docker configuration
├── .gitignore             # Git ignore rules
├── README.md              # Full documentation
├── SECURITY.md            # Security guidelines
├── LICENSE                # License
└── public/
    └── index.html         # Web interface

⁠Performance

• Startup Time: < 2 seconds
• Response Time: < 100ms per command
• Memory Usage: ~30-50 MB running
• Network Latency: Depends on IPMI network

⁠Compliance & Legal

• License: MIT
• Author: Luigi Tanzillo (@dev-luigi)
• Status: Open Source
• Support: Community-driven (GitHub Issues)

⁠Known Issues

• Some Dell R740XD/14G servers block IPMI fan control (firmware restriction)
• Requires local network access - not suitable for internet-facing deployments
• Single connection at a time (not concurrent)

⁠Future Roadmap

• Multi-server management dashboard
• Temperature monitoring and graphing
• Scheduled fan control
• Authentication system
• Email/webhook notifications
• Prometheus metrics export
• Web UI dark mode
• Mobile app

⁠Getting Help

• GitHub: https://github.com/dev-luigi/IPMI-FanPilot⁠
• Documentation: See README.md in repository
• Issues: Report bugs on GitHub Issues
• Security: Email [email protected]⁠ for security concerns

⁠Development

Built with:

• Node.js 18+
• Express.js 4.18
• ipmitool
• AES-256 Encryption

⁠Statistics

• Lines of Code: ~500
• Dependencies: 1 (Express.js)
• Image Size: 45 MB
• Startup Time: 2 seconds

⁠Docker Image Details

• Base Image: node:18-alpine3.20
• OS: Alpine Linux 3.20
• Size: ~45 MB (compressed ~15 MB)
• User: nodejs (non-root)
• Health Check: Every 30 seconds
• Restart Policy: Configurable

⁠Tags Available

• latest - Most recent stable version
• 1.0.0 - Specific version tags
• slim - Minimal variant (future)
• alpine - Alpine-based variant (current)

⁠Contributing

Contributions welcome! Please:

1. Fork the repository
2. Create a feature branch
3. Test your changes
4. Submit a pull request

⁠Disclaimer

This application is provided "AS-IS" without warranty. The author is not responsible for:

• Server damage or malfunction from improper fan control
• Data loss or security breaches
• Warranty voidance on enterprise hardware
• Any other damages from misuse

Always test in non-production environments first. Keep servers monitored when making fan adjustments.

⁠Related Projects

• IPMI Tools
• Server Management Dashboards
• Homelab Tools
• IoT Applications

⁠License

MIT License - See LICENSE file for details

Last Updated: November 2025
Current Version: 1.0.0
Maintained By: Luigi Tanzillo (@dev-luigi)