Platform Management; Management Architecture Overview; Tiered Server Management Model - Intel SE7520AF2 Technical Product Specification

Intel® Server Board SE7520AF2 TPS
6.

Platform Management

The Intel® Server Board SE7520AF2 has been designed to support different levels of platform
management: Onboard Platform Instrumentation, optional Intel® Management Module –
Professional Edition and Intel® Management Module – Advanced Edition.
Integrated onto the baseboard is a "mini" Baseboard Management Controller (mBMC); the
mBMC enables entry level platform management features referred to as Onboard Platform
Instrumentation. In addition, the baseboard provides an Intel® Management Module Connector
(IMM) which offers the option to upgrade to the Professional or Advanced Editions of Server
management with one of two optional Intel® Management Modules (IMM).
This chapter will provide an overview of the integrated platform management architecture as
well as details of the features and functionality of the onboard platform instrumentation. Refer to
the Technical Product Specification for the Intel® Management Modules for a description of
their features and functionality.
6.1

Management Architecture Overview

6.1.1

Tiered Server Management Model

To provide the flexibility of different management features, the baseboard supports a three
tiered server management model. The features offered with the second tier build upon the
features of the first, and the features of the third tier build upon the features of the second.
− Tier 1 – Onboard Platform Instrumentation (Default)._ Essential server management
functions are provided by default and are built into the baseboard. This tier is Intelligent
Platform Management Interface Specification, v1.5 compliant, although some
functionality may be implemented in a manner different from the Professional and
Advanced management models. These functions are provided by a combination of BIOS
and the National Semiconductor* PC87431x Mini Baseboard Management Controller
(mBMC).
− Tier 2 – Professional (Optional)._ The Professional management model utilizes the
feature set of a fully Intelligent Platform Management Interface Specification, v2.0
compliant Sahalee Baseboard Management Controller (BMC). On the Intel® Server
Board SE7520AF2 the Sahalee BMC is located on an optionally installed Intel®
Management Module (IMM) that plugs into a dedicated server management connector
on the baseboard. When an IMM is installed, the mBMC is automatically converted from
an autonomous controller to an I2C based I/O device, allowing the Sahalee BMC to
completely manage the system.
− Tier 3 – Advanced (Optional)._ Like the Professional management model, the
Advanced management model is implemented using yet an alternate IMM which has a
Sahalee BMC integrated onto it. In addition to the features provided with the
Professional management module, the Advanced module supports a number of network
based Out Of Band (OOB) management capabilities including the availability of a
dedicated management NIC for faster network access and support of a full TCP/IP
software stack.
Revision 1.2
Intel order number C77866-003
Platform Management
149