NOTE: iAMT is available for Dell™ Latitude™ D630c computers with iAMT capability only.
Intel Active Management Technology (iAMT), part of Intel Centrino® Pro Technology, is intended to deliver more secure systems management capabilities that reduce IT costs, and allows better discovery, healing, and protection of networked computing assets. With iAMT, PCs can be managed whether the computer is turned on or off, or the operating system is not responding.
NOTE: iAMT can be configured using Dell Client Manager (DCM) 2.1. For complete information about how to configure iAMT, see the Dell Client Manager 2.1 documentation at dell.com\openmanage. For more information about Dell's iAMT implementation, see the Systems Management Administrator's Guide at support.dell.com.
Key benefits of iAMT are:
Reduced desk-side visits
Automation of more management functionality through enablement of systems management console software
Improved security
iAMT Features
Basic Functionality
Ability to discover, track, and inventory assets in the presence or absence of the operating systems. The computer must be connected to the network and to an electrical outlet.
Ability to turn on and off the computer remotely regardless of the state of the operating system.
Advanced Functionality
NOTE: Additional management software is required for the following features.
Ability to do remote issues remediation (1-to-1) through text-based console redirection (serial-over-LAN) and IDE redirection
Hardened security through agent presence (enables detection of removed agents) and network access control (circuit breaker) and software version control
Your computer aids in troubleshooting iAMT by providing the following iAMT-related error messages:
Error Message
Description
AMT mode: Set manageability mode to AMT or none
Alert Standard Format (ASF) mode is enabled instead of iAMT. Set manageability mode to AMT or None in the Management Engine BIOS Extension (MEBx) setup.
MFG_MODE jumper: The security override jumper is installed
Do not populate the MFG_MODE jumper. iAMT will not function properly. Only Manufacturing uses this jumper.
Unable to launch Management Engine (ME). iAMT functionality is broken when DIMM1 is not populated.
Out-of-Band Management
Out-of-Band term refers to the ability to manage the computer in the absence of an operating system or with the operating system in an unusable state, or with the computer turned off. The only requirement for managing such a computer is the iAMT capability as well as computer being connected to the network and to an electrical outlet.
NOTE: Power is supplied to the DIMMs even when the computer is turned off.
Accessing iAMT setup
Intel's MEBx interface controls the Latitude D630c iAMT features and setup options. MEBx is used to:
Turn on or off iAMT
Set iAMT modes
Set iAMT configuration modes
To view the MEBx setup screen, press <Ctrl-P> during system post or system boot. Your default MEBx password is admin.
NOTE: To make configuration setting changes, the default MEBx password must be changed.
Turning off iAMT
iAMT is enabled in the ME firmware by default. However, you may choose to turn off the iAMT feature:
Press <Ctrl-P> to enter the MEBx setup and enter your password.
Select Intel® ME Configuration® Intel ME Features Control® ManageabilityFeature Selection
Select None.
Select Return to Previous Menu twice.
The changes are applied and the computer reboots.
USB Provisioning
iAMT can be provisioned using a USB key and Dell Client Manager. The USB key must:
Be formatted using the FAT16 file system with no system files
Contain only the setup.bin file
NOTE: The USB key should not be bootable.
To provision iAMT using a USB key, insert the USB key into a USB port prior to boot. During POST, the BIOS displays a message, stating that the computer is being provisioned.
Unsupported AMT Features
Your computer does not support all Intel iAMT chipset features, such as:
Remote Firmware Update
ASF
Wake from ME
NOTE: You must always set Idle Timeout to 0x0.
NOTE: You can select the Remote Firmware Update option and the Enable ASF option; however, these options are not functional.
You can update your ME firmware using the updates available at support.dell.com.
