Chapter 2: Hardware Information; What Is Smdc - TYAN M3289 User Manual

Chapter 2: Hardware Information

2.1 What is SMDC

The Tyan Server Management Daughter Card (SMDC) is a powerful, yet cost-efficient,
solution for high-end server management hardware packages. The SMDC provides
remote system monitoring and control even when the operating system is absent or
fails, and empowers server boards with advanced industry standard features. It
effectively enables IT Managers to have remote and multi-interface access to monitor,
control, and diagnosing activities.
The SMDC is powered by an intelligent controller known as the Baseboard
Management Control (BMC). The BMC is a standalone mini-CPU that runs on its own
Real Time Operating System (RTOS) to complete a variety of tasks. Backed by
QLogic's reliable ARM7 technology, systems are consistently monitored and
supported.
Unlike regular cards such as AGP cards, network cards or SCSI cards, the SMDC is
not a peripheral card that requires any hardware specific driver. As long as standby
power supports the system, the SMDC will monitor the system.
The Tyan SMDC provides many diverse methods to communicate with the hardware.
There is flexibility to choose among Keyboard Controller Style (KCS), Block Transfer
(BT) style, Intelligent Chassis Management Bus (ICMB), Intelligent Platform
Management Bus (IPMB), Emergency Management Port (EMP) and standard IPMI-
Over-LAN communication as defined in latest IPMI 1.5 specification. The Tyan SMDC
is compatible with all IPMI-compliant software as well as with the Tyan System
Operator™ (TSO) software package. The SMDC hardware is OS-dependent and is
fully compatible with all major Operating Systems.
7
http://www.tyan.com