Server Management Boards; Introduction; Baseboard Management Controller (Bmc) - HP Integrity rx4610 User Manual

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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.
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