Baseboard Management Controller
In order to perform autonomous
The BMC is a service processor integrated into the motherboard design, providing a management solution independent of the main processor. The monitored server can communicate with the BMC through one of three defined interfaces, which are based on a set of registers shared between the platform and the BMC.
Note – In these servers, the SP has software that emulates a BMC.
The BMC is responsible for:
■Managing the interface between server management software and platform management hardware
■Interfacing to the system sensors, such as fan speed and voltage monitors
■Providing access to the system event log
■Providing autonomous monitoring, event logging, and recovery control
■Acting as a gateway between the management software and the IPMB/ICMB
■Monitoring the system watchdog timer
■Facilitating the
The BMC provides the intelligence behind IPMI. In these servers, the SP serves as the BMC, providing access to sensor data and events through the standard IPMI interfaces.
Manageability
IPMI defines a mechanism for server monitoring and recovery implemented directly in hardware and firmware. IPMI functions are available independent of the main processors, BIOS, and operating system.
IPMI monitoring, logging, and access functions add a
IPMI provides the foundation for smarter management of servers by providing a methodology for maintaining and improving the reliability, availability and serviceability of expensive server hardware.
28 Sun Fire V20z and Sun Fire V40z Servers, Server Management Guide • May, 2004
