System Board Management Controller (BMC)

Server management is concentrated in the System Board Management Controller (BMC). The BMC and associated circuitry are powered from a 5Vdc standby voltage, which remains active when system power is switched off, but the ac power source is still on and connected.

The BMC supports the Management Workstation Application (MWA), which allows remote server management via a modem, LAN, or direct connection to a manager system. Events monitored by the manager system include over-temperature and over- voltage conditions, fan failure, or chassis intrusion.

Information on the Management Workstation Application (MWA) in the ESMPRO Suite User’s Guide on the ESMPRO Suite 1.9 CD-ROM.

One major function of the BMC is to autonomously monitor system management events, and log their occurrence in the nonvolatile System Event Log (SEL). The events being monitored include overtemperature and overvoltage conditions, fan failure, or chassis intrusion. To enable accurate monitoring, the BMC maintains the nonvolatile Sensor Data Record (SDR), from which sensor information can be retrieved. The BMC provides an ISA host interface to SDR sensor information, so that software running on the server can poll and retrieve the server's current status.

The BMC performs the following:

!Monitors server board temperature and voltage

!Monitors processor presence and controls Fault Resilient Boot (FRB)

!Detects and indicates baseboard fan failure

!Manages the SEL interface

!Manages the SDR Repository interface

!Monitors the SDR/SEL timestamp clock

!Monitors the system management watchdog timer

!Monitors the periodic SMI timer

!Monitors the event receiver

!Controls secure mode, including video blanking, diskette write-protect monitoring, and front panel lock/unlock initiation

!Controls Wake On LAN via Magic Packet support.

External Device Connectors

The external I/O connectors provide support for a PS/2 compatible mouse and a keyboard, for a SVGA monitor, 2 serial port connectors, a parallel port connector, LAN port, two USB ports, and one external-SCSI connector.

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NEC 5800/180Ra-7 manual External Device Connectors, System Board Management Controller BMC

5800/180Ra-7 specifications

The NEC 5800/180Ra-7 is a high-performance server model that represents a significant advancement in the realm of enterprise computing. Launched by NEC, a renowned leader in information technology, this server is designed for critical business applications and is tailored to meet the demanding requirements of modern data centers.

At the heart of the NEC 5800/180Ra-7 is its powerful computing architecture. It is equipped with a robust processor that offers multiple cores and threads, allowing for efficient multitasking and enhanced processing capabilities. This makes it suitable for heavy workloads, including database management, cloud computing, and virtualization services. The server's architecture ensures low latency and high throughput, enhancing the performance of applications running on it.

One of the standout features of the NEC 5800/180Ra-7 is its scalability. It supports a variety of configurations, enabling businesses to expand their resources as needed. This scalability is crucial for organizations that experience fluctuating demands or are in a growth phase, as it allows for easy upgrades without the need for a complete system overhaul.

In terms of memory and storage, the NEC 5800/180Ra-7 comes with a flexible architecture that supports large amounts of RAM and multiple storage options, including SSDs and HDDs. This flexibility ensures that businesses can tailor their server’s memory and storage capacities to fit specific applications and workloads, leading to better performance and faster data access times.

The server also includes advanced redundancy features to ensure high availability. With multiple power supplies, cooling systems, and RAID configurations, the NEC 5800/180Ra-7 minimizes downtime and ensures continuous operation, which is critical for mission-critical applications.

NEC has also integrated smart energy management technology into the 5800/180Ra-7. This technology helps reduce power consumption while maintaining optimal performance levels, making it a more environmentally friendly choice for data centers.

Furthermore, the server is built with security in mind. It includes various security features such as secure boot, TPM (Trusted Platform Module), and hardware-based encryption to protect sensitive data from unauthorized access and cyber threats.

In summary, the NEC 5800/180Ra-7 offers a combination of performance, scalability, energy efficiency, and security. With its advanced features and technologies, it serves as an ideal solution for enterprises looking to enhance their computing capabilities in today’s data-driven landscape. Its design caters to the evolving needs of businesses, making it a reliable choice for diverse applications across various industries.