vPro (etc) Network cards and embedded management

One of the questions often asked on here is what is/whether to buy a vPro network card.

The advice from myself - and others - is usually a flat nope.

vPro basically has additional hardware and coding that allows additional remote administration.

Unless you're in a corporation, any added "remote management" type items should be eschewed as they ultimately increase the potential pathways for hackers.

And it's not just network cards that fall foul of this. Almost all HP servers have a remote management board - an iLO (integrated Lights-Out) card that allows lots of remote goodness from powering servers on and off, to viewing their power usage, general health and even remote control.

But...then you find out things like they can be accessed with 29 "A"'s...

https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/ne...ion-on-hpe-ilo4-servers-with-29-a-characters/

So the advice still stands...if you don't need it, don't get it. It's kinda hard to hack something that doesn't phyiscally exist

So true, sadly the word 'Pro' tends to make some think that it just has to be better......

I think I'd like to borrow this (and credit ofc) for the Unofficial Hardware FAQs thread I did a while ago. If that would be alright?

Would someone feel able/ mind doing a small bit of text on the "which wifi card do I need for my desktop?" topic? People buying £100 wifi USB adapters because they think it will make their home's internet connection faster, etc.. needing to check the router isn't just 150mbps N before spending the cash on an AC1750 wifi card.. or whatever other bear traps are out there.

Oussebon said:

I think I'd like to borrow this (and credit ofc) for the Unofficial Hardware FAQs thread I did a while ago. If that would be alright?

Would someone feel able/ mind doing a small bit of text on the "which wifi card do I need for my desktop?" topic? People buying £100 wifi USB adapters because they think it will make their home's internet connection faster, etc.. needing to check the router isn't just 150mbps N before spending the cash on an AC1750 wifi card.. or whatever other bear traps are out there.

Click to expand...

I will if you like?

My knowledge of networking extends as far as plugging things in and restarting them until they work if there's a problem. So I'll take any offers, especially from experts such as your good self

I'll absolutely defer to Ubuysa on that one. I'm good at the hardware level and in an enterprise/business network but I suspect his networking knowledge far exceeds mine

PS feel free to reuse anything. I'm a huge believer that knowledge is to be shared, not hoarded.

Remember I'm old. :wheelchair: I'll start with semaphore and work up from there....

Have you got a link to that thread Oussebon, to save me searching for it? Belay that, I've found it.....

All done, check it out and let me know if it's ok. https://www.pcspecialist.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?55624-Unofficial-Hardware-FAQs&p=417545&viewfull=1#post417545

This excellent, thanks guys I've edited in a few more bits to the post. Hopefully it's still broadly accessible.

Also updated the i5 vs i7 section to take account of 8th Gen.

+ edited in your note about SSDs and general PC performance.

Oussebon said:

This excellent, thanks guys I've edited in a few more bits to the post. Hopefully it's still broadly accessible.

Also updated the i5 vs i7 section to take account of 8th Gen.

+ edited in your note about SSDs and general PC performance.

Click to expand...

Happy to have helped.

Nice post chaps. Excellent work.