<![CDATA[can someone explain to me why server motherboards are so fucking awful (it could also just be supermicro.]]>can someone explain to me why server motherboards are so fucking awful (it could also just be supermicro. i've had two server motherboards and both were from supermicro)

the cheapest, most cost-reduced, aliexpress tier desktop motherboard easily outperforms both of those supermicro boards, combined, when it comes to things like "fucking booting like a normal PC"

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/topic/a665b024-c1f2-426d-b176-72fbb038147b/can-someone-explain-to-me-why-server-motherboards-are-so-fucking-awful-it-could-also-just-be-supermicro.RSS for NodeFri, 15 May 2026 02:05:07 GMTFri, 24 Apr 2026 19:45:58 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to can someone explain to me why server motherboards are so fucking awful (it could also just be supermicro. on Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:44:27 GMT]]>@whitequark

Bryan Cantrill was at the Dagstuhl I went to earlier in the year. The things he described, both in terms of the things Joylent had to do to replace this nonsense and the original nonsense were terrifying. The fact the thing powers on and executes some instructions with access to RAM at all is a minor miracle.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/david_chisnall/statuses/116461631378843691https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/david_chisnall/statuses/116461631378843691Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:44:27 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to can someone explain to me why server motherboards are so fucking awful (it could also just be supermicro. on Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:43:30 GMT]]>@whitequark Oh, and at least some Lenovos had on-board NICs behind a paywall (and I remember there being problems getting the licenses – you'd buy the board with 4 NICs where two were a "Feature on demand", but then you couldn't buy the unlock codes to make those NICs work).

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/jernej__s/statuses/116461627637964463https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/jernej__s/statuses/116461627637964463Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:43:30 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to can someone explain to me why server motherboards are so fucking awful (it could also just be supermicro. on Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:40:21 GMT]]>@cadey @whitequark I've got a PiKVM v3 and v4, NanoKVM and JetKVM. PiKVM has the most features, JetKVM has the most polished UI. NanoKVM is the cheapest.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/jernej__s/statuses/116461615253979535https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/jernej__s/statuses/116461615253979535Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:40:21 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to can someone explain to me why server motherboards are so fucking awful (it could also just be supermicro. on Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:38:57 GMT]]>@whitequark Hey, if it was a Dell or HP or Lenovo, the remote console itself is locked behind a paywall (on HP you can use it for BIOS config, but it stops working a few minutes after the OS starts booting).

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/jernej__s/statuses/116461609811414186https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/jernej__s/statuses/116461609811414186Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:38:57 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to can someone explain to me why server motherboards are so fucking awful (it could also just be supermicro. on Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:38:56 GMT]]>@whitequark @elly

Is that the BMC where they enabled ssh auth password authentication for root logins and the same root password on every single board?

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/david_chisnall/statuses/116461609742659414https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/david_chisnall/statuses/116461609742659414Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:38:56 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to can someone explain to me why server motherboards are so fucking awful (it could also just be supermicro. on Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:35:10 GMT]]>@whitequark @cadey we had some good luck with PiKVM over here. Better than those tiny MCU based solutions so far. After setting it up the FS can be set to read only making it reliable despite being based on RPi…

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://chaos.social/users/esden/statuses/116461594886804688https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://chaos.social/users/esden/statuses/116461594886804688Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:35:10 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to can someone explain to me why server motherboards are so fucking awful (it could also just be supermicro. on Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:32:50 GMT]]>@cadey @whitequark I did up https://www.printables.com/model/1385674-jetkvm-525-flush-mount-v13 to mount our JetKVM. Major downside is that you need to loop-cable the video (and maybe others).

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://tacobelllabs.net/users/astraluma/statuses/116461585720365771https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://tacobelllabs.net/users/astraluma/statuses/116461585720365771Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:32:50 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to can someone explain to me why server motherboards are so fucking awful (it could also just be supermicro. on Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:28:18 GMT]]>@cadey @whitequark we have a JetKVM and it's pretty great. Pikvm also exists.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://tacobelllabs.net/users/astraluma/statuses/116461567910478686https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://tacobelllabs.net/users/astraluma/statuses/116461567910478686Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:28:18 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to can someone explain to me why server motherboards are so fucking awful (it could also just be supermicro. on Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:24:10 GMT]]>@cadey @whitequark I love how the janky things that I could theoretically do with an SBC, a peripheral or two, and free software are actual products that I can buy instead of cobbling together like a mad person

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://hachyderm.io/users/c0dec0dec0de/statuses/116461551677054786https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://hachyderm.io/users/c0dec0dec0de/statuses/116461551677054786Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:24:10 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to can someone explain to me why server motherboards are so fucking awful (it could also just be supermicro. on Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:23:08 GMT]]>@whitequark Yeah I've been meaning to pick some of them up, I'm also running into the kinds of problems where I realize whey they exist

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://pony.social/users/cadey/statuses/116461547585988883https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://pony.social/users/cadey/statuses/116461547585988883Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:23:08 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to can someone explain to me why server motherboards are so fucking awful (it could also just be supermicro. on Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:22:12 GMT]]>@jernej__s what the ever living fuck

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.treehouse.systems/users/whitequark/statuses/116461543913284858https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.treehouse.systems/users/whitequark/statuses/116461543913284858Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:22:12 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to can someone explain to me why server motherboards are so fucking awful (it could also just be supermicro. on Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:21:59 GMT]]>@whitequark Assuming the board is new enough and you manage to wake up IPMI, you might find out that using virtual media is locked behind a paywall (OTOH, this apparently only applies to HTML5 – if you use Java, virtual media supposedly works without needing to unlock it).

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/jernej__s/statuses/116461543088595006https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/jernej__s/statuses/116461543088595006Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:21:59 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to can someone explain to me why server motherboards are so fucking awful (it could also just be supermicro. on Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:21:30 GMT]]>@cadey no (although it is dawning on me why that specific product category exists)

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.treehouse.systems/users/whitequark/statuses/116461541137384935https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.treehouse.systems/users/whitequark/statuses/116461541137384935Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:21:30 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to can someone explain to me why server motherboards are so fucking awful (it could also just be supermicro. on Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:20:56 GMT]]>@whitequark do you happen to have access to a KVM like the nanokvm?

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://pony.social/users/cadey/statuses/116461538961192954https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://pony.social/users/cadey/statuses/116461538961192954Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:20:56 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to can someone explain to me why server motherboards are so fucking awful (it could also just be supermicro. on Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:20:31 GMT]]>@whitequark Get a JetKVM and use that?

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/jernej__s/statuses/116461537309024614https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/jernej__s/statuses/116461537309024614Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:20:31 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to can someone explain to me why server motherboards are so fucking awful (it could also just be supermicro. on Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:19:41 GMT]]>i feel like my next step is, once again, foregoing any remote administration capacity the manufacturer may have allegedly put into the board and just set an IP camera pointing at the screen

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.treehouse.systems/users/whitequark/statuses/116461534051887064https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.treehouse.systems/users/whitequark/statuses/116461534051887064Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:19:41 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to can someone explain to me why server motherboards are so fucking awful (it could also just be supermicro. on Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:18:17 GMT]]>@whitequark My deepest condolences

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/schrotthaufen/statuses/116461528500726523https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/schrotthaufen/statuses/116461528500726523Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:18:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to can someone explain to me why server motherboards are so fucking awful (it could also just be supermicro. on Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:16:38 GMT]]>@jernej__s @whitequark @grumpybozo Yeah, these are early DDR5s.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/ocdtrekkie/statuses/116461522041703535https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/ocdtrekkie/statuses/116461522041703535Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:16:38 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to can someone explain to me why server motherboards are so fucking awful (it could also just be supermicro. on Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:16:25 GMT]]>i like how half the responses to this are like "you haven't seen even half the ways in which these motherboards suck. you are like a little baby" and honestly i'm both impressed and scared

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.treehouse.systems/users/whitequark/statuses/116461521142994853https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.treehouse.systems/users/whitequark/statuses/116461521142994853Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:16:25 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to can someone explain to me why server motherboards are so fucking awful (it could also just be supermicro. on Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:15:59 GMT]]>@ocdtrekkie @whitequark @grumpybozo Some early DDR5 motherboards also came with stickers warning you that the first boot may take 10-20 minutes without showing anything on the screen.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/jernej__s/statuses/116461519477238996https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://infosec.exchange/users/jernej__s/statuses/116461519477238996Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:15:59 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to can someone explain to me why server motherboards are so fucking awful (it could also just be supermicro. on Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:15:36 GMT]]>@ocdtrekkie @jernej__s @grumpybozo jesus christ

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.treehouse.systems/users/whitequark/statuses/116461517975749347https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.treehouse.systems/users/whitequark/statuses/116461517975749347Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:15:36 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to can someone explain to me why server motherboards are so fucking awful (it could also just be supermicro. on Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:15:27 GMT]]>@schrotthaufen i touch servers only in my free time

truly, if hell on earth exists this is it

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.treehouse.systems/users/whitequark/statuses/116461517352649251https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.treehouse.systems/users/whitequark/statuses/116461517352649251Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:15:27 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to can someone explain to me why server motherboards are so fucking awful (it could also just be supermicro. on Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:14:42 GMT]]>@scherzog @whitequark I could use the excess heat to roast the beans!! 🤯

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/schrotthaufen/statuses/116461514441407229https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/schrotthaufen/statuses/116461514441407229Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:14:42 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to can someone explain to me why server motherboards are so fucking awful (it could also just be supermicro. on Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:14:16 GMT]]>@jernej__s @whitequark @grumpybozo My first AMD EPYC-based servers came with a notice they may take up to 30 minutes to boot the first time. They are a little better now.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/ocdtrekkie/statuses/116461512713653106https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/ocdtrekkie/statuses/116461512713653106Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:14:16 GMT