Chapter 8: Server Management
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8 Server Management Boards
Introduction
The server management features are implemented using three microcontrollers: the Baseboard
Management Controller (BMC), the Intelligent Chassis Management Bus Controller (ICMB)
controller on the Legacy I/O board, and the Hot-Swap Controller (HSC) on the Power Distribution
Board (T-Docking). The firmware of the three microcontrollers is field upgradeable using the
Firmware Update utility.
This chapter describes the boards that are utilized by these microcontrollers to provide server
management functions and status:
• I/O Baseboard
• Sideplane Board
• PCI Hot Plug LED Board
• Legacy I/O Board
• Power Distribution Board (T-Docking)
Baseboard Management Controller (BMC)
The Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) is a microcontroller with associated circuitry that
resides on the Legacy I/O board. The primary purpose of the BMC is to autonomously monitor for
system platform management events, and log their occurrence in the non-volatile System Event Log
(SEL). System platform management events include over-temperature and over-voltage conditions as
well as fan failures.
The following is a list of the major functions of the BMC:
• Access to the monitored information so system management software can poll and retrieve the
present status of the platform.
• Functions for the front-side system controls and indicators. These functions include control of
system power, hard-resets, Power LED displays, cooling fault detection, general fault
detection, and power fault LED displays. The BMC provides this control both when the
system is powered down and is functioning on standby power only, and when the system is
powered up.
• Access to the non-volatile Sensor Data Record (SDR) Repository. Sensor Data Records
provide information that the system management software uses to automatically configure
itself for the number and type of Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) sensors in
the system (e.g. temperature and voltage sensors).
• System Power Control
• Platform Event Paging (PEP) / Platform Event Filtering (PEF)
• Power Distribution Board monitoring
• Temperature and Voltage monitoring
• Fan failure monitoring
