Acer R700 manual System Management, Baseboard Management Controller

18 1 Description

System Management

ASMe integrates system management features into the hardware and provides additional features through ASMe Server Management software. This section describes the integrated hardware features, Acer Advance Server Management software, and the System Setup Utility and FRU/SDR Load Utility used to configure the hardware features.

Baseboard Management Controller

Acer server boards incorporate a baseboard management controller (BMC), which is a dedicated microcontroller for system management activities. The BMC performs the following functions:

•Monitors system components and sensors, including processors, memory, fans, power supplies, temperature sensors, and chassis intrusion sensors.

•Manages nonvolatile storage for the system event log (SEL), sensor data records (SDRs), and baseboard field-replaceable unit (FRU) inventory.

•Interfaces with the emergency management port (EMP) and LAN1 port to send alerts and interact with remote management systems.

•Provides the main front panel control functions (power on/off, reset, and so on).

Field Replaceable Units and Sensor Data Records

Field replaceable units (FRUs) are major modules in the chassis that contain active electronic circuitry. FRUs can store information-such as board serial number, part number, name, and asset tag-that can be read using the System Setup Utility (see “Viewing FRU Information” on page 64). The BMC stores FRU information for the baseboard in a nonvolatile storage component on the board.

The BMC uses Sensor Data Records (SDRs) to identify the sensors in the system for monitoring. SDRs provide a list of the sensors, their characteristics, location, type, and type-specific information, such as default threshold values, factors for converting a sensor reading into the appropriate units (mV, rpm, degrees Celsius), and information on the types of events that a sensor can generate. The BMC stores SDR information in a nonvolatile storage component on the baseboard.