Good point about IPMI / ILO - I should have thought of that. Got several machines with it including my home server...
I have no personal experience of Freenas - and maybe BA's advice about staying clear is sound. I mentioned it merely because it's popular, but that doesn't always equate to good :)
(That said, I have used BSD on quite a few occasions and don't find it terrible, just weird. Even when I'm close-shaven.)