Server Management; Baseboard Management Controller (Bmc) - Intel SKA4 Product Manual

Server Management

Server management features are implemented using one microcontroller called the Baseboard
Management Controller (BMC).

Baseboard Management Controller (BMC)

The BMC and associated circuitry are powered from 5V_Standby, which remains active when
system power is switched off. The BMC is IPMI 1.0 compliant.
The primary function of the BMC is to autonomously monitor system platform management events
and log their occurrence in the nonvolatile System Event Log (SEL). The BMC is compliant to the
Intelligent Platform Management Interface Specification, Version 1.0. These events include
overtemperature and overvoltage conditions, fan failure, or chassis intrusion. While monitoring,
the BMC maintains the nonvolatile Sensor Data Record Repository (SDRR), from which run-time
information can be retrieved. The BMC provides an interface to SDRR information, so software
running on the server can poll and retrieve the current status of the platform. A shared register
interface is defined for this purpose.
Field service personnel can retrieve SEL contents after system failure for analysis by using system
management tools like Intel
Platform control (DPC). Because 5V_Standby provides power the BMC, SEL (and SDRR)
information is also available via the interperipheral management bus (IPMB). During monitoring,
the BMC performs the following functions:
•
Baseboard temperature and voltage monitoring
•
Processor presence monitoring and FRB control
•
Baseboard fan failure detection and indicator control
•
SEL interface management
•
Sensor Data Record Repository (SDRR) interface management
•
SDR/SEL timestamp clock
•
Baseboard Field Replaceable Unit (FRU) information interface
•
System management watchdog timer
•
SMI/NMI Status Monitor
•
Front panel NMI handling
•
Event receiver
•
IPMB Management Controller Initialization Agent
•
Secure mode control, front panel lock/unlock initiation, and video blank and diskette write
protect monitoring and control
•
ACPI Support
•
Direct Platform Control (DPC) support
•
Platform Event Paging (PEP) / Platform Event Filtering (PEF)
•
Power distribution board monitoring
•
Speaker beep capability. When the system is powered up, this capability is used to indicate
conditions such as "empty processor slot"
•
Pentium III Xeon processor SEEPROM interface for Processor Information ROM (PIROM)
and Scratch EEPROM access
Baseboard Description
® ®
LANDesk Server Manager, Intel Server Control (ISC), or Direct
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