> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.ipmideck.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# FAQ

> Common questions about running ipmideck in a homelab.

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Is ipmideck cloud-based?">
    No. ipmideck is fully self-hosted and runs entirely on your own network. It makes no
    external calls, no telemetry, no cloud, no account. It talks directly to your BMCs and
    stores everything locally.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Which BMCs does it work with?">
    Any server with an IPMI 2.0 BMC should connect for sensor monitoring, power control, SEL,
    and FRU. Dell PowerEdge / iDRAC is fully tested; Supermicro, HPE iLO,
    Lenovo XCC, and IBM IMM are experimental. See [Supported Hardware](/en/supported-hardware).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Do I need ipmitool installed?">
    Only for the pip install, where the package shells out to your system `ipmitool`. The
    Docker image bundles everything it needs, so you only need Docker with `--network host`.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Why does Docker need --network host?">
    ipmideck reaches BMCs over UDP port 623 on your local network. Host networking lets the
    container talk to that port directly instead of sitting behind Docker's NAT. See
    [Installation](/en/installation).
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What port does the dashboard run on?">
    3000 by default. Change it in `config.yaml` (`server.port`) or with the
    `IPMIDECK_SERVER_PORT` environment variable.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How long is sensor history kept?">
    One year by default (`data.retention_days: 365`). Override it with
    `IPMIDECK_DATA_RETENTION_DAYS`. Older data is cleaned up on the schedule set by
    `data.cleanup_interval`.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I disable the login?">
    Yes, set `auth.enabled: false` in `config.yaml`, or `IPMIDECK_AUTH_ENABLED=false`. Only
    do this on a trusted, isolated network: with auth off, anyone who can reach the dashboard
    can control your hardware.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Is fan control safe?">
    FanPilot fails safe. Fans are forced to 100% at or above the critical temperature, and the
    control loop runs autonomously in the background even with the dashboard closed. See
    [Security](/en/security) for the full hardware-protection details.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="How do I run multiple servers?">
    Add each BMC from the dashboard. ipmideck manages multiple BMCs from a single instance and
    shows a panoramic status overview of all of them.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>