Server Management Guide

Introduction
Intel
®
Server Boards and Server Platforms Server Management Guide 1
1 Introduction
The server management hardware that is part of Intel
®
server boards and Intel
®
server platforms serves
as a vital part of the overall server management strategy. The server management hardware provides
essential information to the system administrator and provides the administrator the ability to remotely
control the server, even when the operating system is not running.
The Intel
®
server boards and Intel
®
server platforms offer comprehensive hardware and software based
solutions. The server management features make the servers simple to manage and provide alerting on
system events. From entry to enterprise systems, good overall server management is essential to
reducing overall total cost of ownership.
This User Guide covers the hardware-based server management solutions offered on Intel
®
server
boards and Intel
®
server platforms, specifically the embedded Baseboard Management
Controller (BMC).
There is a separate User Guide that covers the server management software offered on Intel
®
server
boards and Intel
®
Server platforms.
1.1 Industry standards
1.1.1 Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI)
The key characteristic of the Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) is that the inventory,
monitoring, logging, and recovery control functions are available independent of the main processors,
BIOS, and operating system. Platform management functions can also be made available when the
system is in a powered down state.
IPMI works by interfacing with the BMC, which extends management capabilities in the server system
and operates independent of the main processor by monitoring the on-board instrumentation. Through
the BMC, IPMI also allows administrators to control power to the server, and remotely access BIOS
configuration and operating system console information.
IPMI defines a common platform instrumentation interface to enable interoperability between:
 The baseboard management controller and chassis.
 The baseboard management controller and systems management software
 Between servers.
IPMI enables the following:
 Common access to platform management information, consisting of:
– Local access through systems management software.
– Remote access through LAN.
– Inter-chassis access through Intelligent Chassis Management Bus.
– Access through LAN, serial/modem, IPMB, PCI SMBus*, or ICMB, available even if the
processor is down.