diff --git a/confluent_server/confluent/consoleserver.py b/confluent_server/confluent/consoleserver.py
index c93b1c50..b809926f 100644
--- a/confluent_server/confluent/consoleserver.py
+++ b/confluent_server/confluent/consoleserver.py
@@ -306,6 +306,8 @@ class ConsoleHandler(object):
                 self.reconnect = None
             self.connectstate = 'connecting'
             eventlet.spawn(self._connect)
+        else:
+            self._console.ping()
 
 
 
diff --git a/confluent_server/confluent/plugins/hardwaremanagement/ipmi.py b/confluent_server/confluent/plugins/hardwaremanagement/ipmi.py
index 9d687c79..e564fbdf 100644
--- a/confluent_server/confluent/plugins/hardwaremanagement/ipmi.py
+++ b/confluent_server/confluent/plugins/hardwaremanagement/ipmi.py
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import eventlet.greenpool as greenpool
 import eventlet.queue as queue
 import pyghmi.constants as pygconstants
 import pyghmi.exceptions as pygexc
+import random
 console = eventlet.import_patched('pyghmi.ipmi.console')
 ipmicommand = eventlet.import_patched('pyghmi.ipmi.command')
 import socket
@@ -203,12 +204,18 @@ class IpmiConsole(conapi.Console):
         self.bmc = connparams['bmc']
         self.port = connparams['port']
         self.connected = False
+        self.checker = None
         # Cannot actually create console until 'connect', when we get callback
 
     def __del__(self):
         self.solconnection = None
 
     def handle_data(self, data):
+        if self.checker:
+            # if we got data from remote, delay the ping check
+            self.checker.cancel()
+        self.checker = eventlet.spawn_after(290 + random.random() * 30,
+                                            self.ping)
         if type(data) == dict:
             if 'error' in data:
                 self.solconnection = None
@@ -245,8 +252,14 @@ class IpmiConsole(conapi.Console):
             self.connected = True
         except socket.gaierror as err:
             raise exc.TargetEndpointUnreachable(str(err))
+        if self.checker:
+            self.checker.cancel()
+        self.checker = eventlet.spawn_after(290 + random.random() * 30,
+                                            self.ping)
 
     def close(self):
+        if self.checker:
+            self.checker.cancel()
         if self.solconnection is not None:
             # break the circular reference here
             self.solconnection.out_handler = _donothing
@@ -261,6 +274,12 @@ class IpmiConsole(conapi.Console):
     def send_break(self):
         self.solconnection.send_break()
 
+    def ping(self):
+        rsp = self.solconnection.ipmi_session.raw_command(netfn=6,
+                                                          command=0x4b,
+                                                          data=(1, 1))
+        self.solconnection._got_payload_instance_info(rsp)
+
 
 def perform_requests(operator, nodes, element, cfg, inputdata):
     cryptit = cfg.decrypt