So,

You’ve apt-get install ipmitool on a remote linux box to send some commands off to an xserve but it doesnt work.

You get errors like:

Authentication type NONE not supported


Error: Unable to establish IPMI v2 / RMCP+ session

Try this:

ipmitool -L OPERATOR -I lanplus -U <username> [-P <password>] -H <ip.address.of.bmc> chassis status

This should work for you.