I recently acquired two Intel NUC5i5MYHE for my home lab. This specific model features Intel AMT/VPRO technology. This means that you can connect to the NUC remotely via IP independent of the operating system installed on it. This has several benefits
– Power On , Power Off , Reset the NUC
– Hardware information
– Remote Console access
My plan was to run the Intel NUC’s headless. I don’t have any monitor or keyboard connected to it. So I needed the AMT / VPRO technology. When I installed the NUC’s the first time they were both connected to my living room TV through HDMI. The NUC only got Mini Display Port 2 interface – so I had to use a mini display port to HDMI adapter. This worked perfectly and I also tested the AMT technology and got the remote console to work.
Once i put the NUC’s in the closet and powered them on the remote console was black. I did not get any picture when connecting. I had just seen this work when connected to my living room TV… Maybe that was the issue I thought, maybe it don’t send anything out of the display port when it does not see a monitor connected. After some google activities I found the following used for MAC minis to run them headless. It is called Fit-Headless and is a small HDMI dongle you plug-in to a HDMI port, then the MAC Mini / NUC will think a monitor is connected and remote console will work.
Of course I could not just connect this to the NUC since I did not have HDMI in it. So I also bought an adapter like this:
The result was perfect. Once I rebooted my Intel NUC’s with the display port to HDMI adapter and Fit-Headless connected I got the console back and it was not black. I use VNC View Plus that can connect directly to the IP address.
So if you want to run the NUC and use Intel AMT / VPRO you need either a monitor connected, or use a dongle that “fakes” it.
Ariel Antigua says
What’s the version of the vPro that is running on your NUCs?
I got a pair of Optiplex 780 that came with vPro, I can power on/off but the console never works, maybe it has the same dependency on the vga port as your NUC in the HDMI display.
Craig W says
Intel NUC5i5MYHE is of the 10th generation Intel AMT. Using SoL does work headless natively, but at the current time you do need a mDP dummy to run headless remote KVM.
Larry says
Any word on whether this has been fix in AMT? I did find minidisplayport headless dongles available for about the same prices as the others. Although have to add to the box already to get KVM to work is a PIA.
Larry Blanco says
Version 0028 of the BIOS now correctly allows you to manage the NUC via remote console on them without having a dongle or monitor connected.
FrankBrix says
Thanks for the update Larry, I will try to update the BIOS and see if it works headless without the dongles.
Jeremy Kuhnash says
The newer BIOS updates now allow remote without a monitor connection. That said each operating system will need to be configured to display when no monitor is detected.
santiago ribaguifi says
@jeremykuhnash:disqus how did you update the BIOS (EFI)? Could I have more details? Thanks!
frankbrix says
I downloaded the latest bios and put it on a USB key. Connect the USB to the NUC – and during reboot you hit F7 on the keyboard. Then you can select to upgrade bios from USB
santiago ribaguifi says
Ok, I get it. But, where can I download the EFI? I cannot find anything at MINIX site. Thanks