The ASUS IPMI Expansion Card-SI is an out-of-band management adapter for servers and workstations, adding remote power control, sensor monitoring, and KVM-over-LAN capabilities via an ASPEED AST2600A3 chipset. It installs in any PCIe 3.0 x1 slot and suits datacentre administrators, system integrators, and anyone needing hands-free server management without relying on the host operating system.
Why This Product
-
IPMI 2.0 with out-of-band remote access
— Control and monitor servers over the network even when the OS is offline or unresponsive. Includes web UI, KVM over LAN, and virtual media passthrough for full remote administration.
-
Integrated environmental monitoring
— Tracks 8 chassis fans, power supply voltage and temperature, and general sensor readings. Sends alerts when hardware approaches dangerous thresholds.
-
Dedicated Ethernet and VGA
— Independent RJ45 LAN port and D-sub VGA output keep management traffic separate from the host system and allow remote video access at 1920×1200.
-
Compact PCIe 3.0 x1 form factor
— Requires only a single x1 slot, leaving PCIe bandwidth and physical space for graphics cards, NVMe, or other expansions.
At a Glance
|
Chipset
|
ASPEED AST2600A3
|
|
Interface
|
PCIe 3.0 x1
|
|
Management Protocol
|
IPMI 2.0
|
|
System RAM
|
384 MB
|
|
Video RAM
|
64 MB
|
|
Max VGA Resolution
|
1920 × 1200 @ 60 Hz
|
|
Warranty
|
1 year
|
Compatibility
-
✓ Any server or workstation with an available PCIe 3.0 x1 slot and Windows 10 (64-bit) or Linux (CentOS, Red Hat, Ubuntu).
-
✓ Supports daisy-chaining and network bonding for redundant management paths in clustered or high-availability environments.
-
Note: Requires connection to the motherboard's power supply pins (6-pin connector) and sensor headers to enable full monitoring; basic IPMI functions work without these, but environmental data will be limited.
-
✗ Not suitable for systems without PCIe slots, such as embedded or ARM-based single-board computers.
Best For / Trade-offs
Best for:
-
Datacentre operators needing reliable out-of-band management at scale
-
System integrators building custom or mixed-vendor server solutions
-
Teams managing servers remotely or across geographically distributed sites
-
Environments where sensor monitoring and predictive alerting reduce downtime
Trade-offs:
-
Single-slot constraints:
Systems with no spare PCIe x1 slots or where every slot is occupied.
-
Rackmount-only deployments:
Requires cabling to fans and PSU, which may be impractical in sealed or pre-cabled chassis.
-
Mac or ARM systems:
Driver and firmware are built for Windows 10 64-bit and Linux only; macOS and ARM architectures are unsupported.
-
Temporary or test setups:
1-year warranty and the need for careful internal cabling make it more suitable for permanent installations.
Description
ASUS IPMI expansion card with dedicated Ethernet controller, VGA port, PCIe 3.0 x1 interface and ASPEED AST2600A3 chipset to provide the intelligence for IPMI architectures
-
IPMI 2.0 compliant
-
Out-of-band and in-band remote management with ASPEED AST2600A3 chipset
-
Sensor monitoring with notifications of potentially dangerous readings or failure
-
Control and monitoring of up to 8 chassis fans
-
BIOS and BMC firmware update via web console or Linux tool
-
Monitoring of power supply unit voltage and temperature
Specifications
General
|
Brand
|
ASUS
|
|
Form Factor
|
Plug-in card
|
|
Dimensions
|
162 mm × 68.95 mm (6.4 in × 2.7 in)
|
Chipset & Memory
|
Chipset
|
ASPEED VIDEO PROCESSOR AST2600A3-GP
|
|
System RAM
|
384 MB
|
|
Video RAM
|
64 MB
|
|
ROM
|
64 MB
|
Connectivity & Interfaces
|
PCIe Interface
|
3.0 x1
|
|
Ethernet Ports
|
1 × RJ45
|
|
VGA Output
|
1 × D-Sub
|
|
USB 2.0 Connectors
|
1
|
|
Fan Headers
|
8
|
|
PSU Connector
|
1 × 6-pin
|
|
Temperature Sensor Headers
|
3
|
Management & Features
|
Management Protocol
|
IPMI 2.0
|
|
Remote Access
|
KVM over LAN, Web UI
|
|
Virtual Media Support
|
Yes
|
|
Network Bonding
|
Supported
|
|
Watchdog Timer
|
32-bit
|
|
Max VGA Resolution
|
1920 × 1200 @ 60 Hz
|
|
Supported Operating Systems
|
Windows 10 64-bit, CentOS, Red Hat, Ubuntu
|