The short answer: iLO Standard, included with every HPE ProLiant, covers health monitoring, the web interface, the RESTful API, power control and the remote console before the operating system loads. An iLO Advanced licence adds the full remote console once the OS is running, virtual media, directory and two-factor login, email alerts and remote syslog, power history and capping, console recording, and group actions across servers. If you manage servers without standing next to them, you almost certainly want it.
iLO Standard vs iLO Advanced on ProLiant Gen11 (iLO 6)
| Feature | iLO Standard | iLO Advanced |
|---|---|---|
| Web interface, RESTful API, SSH CLI, IPMI | Included | Included |
| Active Health System, agentless management, server health summary | Included | Included |
| Virtual power button and virtual serial port | Included | Included |
| Silicon Root of Trust and the security dashboard | Included | Included |
| Integrated Remote Console | Before the OS loads only | Full, including after the OS is running |
| Virtual media (mount an ISO remotely) | Not included | Included |
| Directory login (LDAP/Active Directory), Kerberos, two-factor authentication | Not included | Included |
| Email alerts and remote syslog | Not included | Included |
| Power history graphs and dynamic power capping | Not included | Included |
| Remote console record and playback, multi-user console | Not included | Included |
| iLO Federation group actions (Standard can only discover other iLOs) | Not included | Included |
| Firmware verification, automatic secure recovery, one-button secure erase | Not included | Included |
This follows HPE's iLO 6 licensing guide. On ProLiant Gen12, iLO 7's documentation uses the same feature names, and HPE's setup guide says licences unlock the graphical remote console with multi-user collaboration and video record and playback. Check the iLO 7 licensing guide for your firmware version before relying on a specific feature.
Two features people assume are free
Email alerts and remote syslog both need iLO Advanced. Without the licence, iLO still records hardware events in its own logs, but it won't email you when a drive or power supply fails, or forward events to your logging platform.
Virtual media also needs the licence on rack and tower servers. Without it, installing or reinstalling an operating system remotely isn't practical.
What "non-blade" means
HPE sells iLO Advanced for standalone ProLiant servers separately from iLO Advanced for BladeSystem servers, and its support services are named the same way (for example "iLO Advance Non Blade"). In practice, "non-blade" is the version for rack and tower ProLiants such as the DL360, DL380, ML30 and MicroServer.
How iLO licences work
- Perpetual: the licence doesn't expire. The one-year or three-year term in the product name is the support on the licensed features, not the features themselves.
- Tied to one server: the key stays with the server it's installed on and can't be moved to another.
- Free trial: HPE's current documentation describes a 90-day trial, useful for testing before you buy.
- Common part numbers: BD505A is a one-server licence with three years' support, 512485-B21 the one-year version, and E6U64ABE and E6U59ABE the electronic versions with three and one year respectively. Confirm the current part number when ordering.
Applying the licence
In the iLO web interface, go to Administration > Licensing, enter the 25-character key, select Install and accept the licence terms. Keys can also be applied by script, the CLI, the RESTful API or across a group with iLO Federation.
Where HPE Compute Ops Management fits
HPE Compute Ops Management (COM) is HPE's cloud-based server management service. Its Standard subscription does not include iLO Advanced. Its Advanced subscription, for Gen11 servers and later, includes an iLO Advanced licence that enables the same features, but only while the server is managed by COM. It needs iLO 6 version 1.67 or later, or iLO 7 version 1.13.00 or later. If a server already has a perpetual iLO Advanced licence, HPE suggests the Standard subscription for it.
Do you need iLO Advanced?
- Yes if the server sits somewhere you can't easily get to, if you want to rebuild it remotely, or if you want an email when hardware fails.
- Yes if you use Active Directory logins or two-factor authentication for administrator access.
- Probably not for a single server in the office next to you that you only ever manage in person, although email alerts alone often justify it.
Buying HPE ProLiant and iLO Advanced through Apaxon
Apaxon is an HPE Commercial Traditional Dealer and holds HPE ProLiant Gen11 servers in stock: see rack servers and tower servers. iLO Advanced licences and HPE support services can be quoted with the server; ask Apaxon for a quote. Choosing between vendors? Read HPE ProLiant vs Dell PowerEdge or rack or tower server.
Sources
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