Board Management Controller: Difference between revisions
Created page with "A Board Management Controller (BMC) is a chip found on most server and many workstation motherboards, used to provide networked monitoring and control of the system. They generally allow for remote monitoring of power and cooling systems, remote power and reset controls, access to server consoles, and access to "KVM" functions (remote keyboard and mouse input, and viewing the display). On many server motherboards, the BMC doubles as the onboard video controller, providin..." |
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A Board Management Controller (BMC) is a chip found on most server and many workstation motherboards, used to provide networked monitoring and control of the system. They generally allow for remote monitoring of power and cooling systems, remote power and reset controls, access to server consoles, and access to "KVM" functions (remote keyboard and mouse input, and viewing the display). On many server motherboards, the BMC doubles as the onboard video controller, providing a basic, unaccelerated framebuffer for video output over VGA. Most BMCs can also provide fan control, though systems including them usually also offer other ways to control fans. BMCs generally connect to a network via an additional dedicated Ethernet port on motherboard, but some can also connect via onboard Ethernet ports shared with the host. | A '''Board Management Controller''' (BMC) is a chip found on most server and many workstation motherboards, used to provide networked monitoring and control of the system. They generally allow for remote monitoring of power and cooling systems, remote power and reset controls, access to server consoles, and access to "KVM" functions (remote keyboard and mouse input, and viewing the display). On many server motherboards, the BMC doubles as the onboard video controller, providing a basic, unaccelerated framebuffer for video output over VGA. Most BMCs can also provide fan control, though systems including them usually also offer other ways to control fans. BMCs generally connect to a network via an additional dedicated Ethernet port on motherboard, but some can also connect via onboard Ethernet ports shared with the host. | ||
Stock BMC firmware typically complies with the IPMI (Intelligent Platform Management Interface) specification, and the BMC and its user interface are sometimes referred to as "the IPMI". However, IPMI is simply a standard for BMC functionality, and non-IPMI BMC firmware exists. In some cases, motherboard vendors to charge extra for use of a BMC included on a board, often by selling its firmware on a separate removable flash module, or by selling a licensing dongle which enables use of the BMC. | Stock BMC firmware typically complies with the IPMI (Intelligent Platform Management Interface) specification, and the BMC and its user interface are sometimes referred to as "the IPMI". However, IPMI is simply a standard for BMC functionality, and non-IPMI BMC firmware exists. In some cases, motherboard vendors to charge extra for use of a BMC included on a board, often by selling its firmware on a separate removable flash module, or by selling a licensing dongle which enables use of the BMC. | ||
Latest revision as of 10:00, 24 February 2025
A Board Management Controller (BMC) is a chip found on most server and many workstation motherboards, used to provide networked monitoring and control of the system. They generally allow for remote monitoring of power and cooling systems, remote power and reset controls, access to server consoles, and access to "KVM" functions (remote keyboard and mouse input, and viewing the display). On many server motherboards, the BMC doubles as the onboard video controller, providing a basic, unaccelerated framebuffer for video output over VGA. Most BMCs can also provide fan control, though systems including them usually also offer other ways to control fans. BMCs generally connect to a network via an additional dedicated Ethernet port on motherboard, but some can also connect via onboard Ethernet ports shared with the host.
Stock BMC firmware typically complies with the IPMI (Intelligent Platform Management Interface) specification, and the BMC and its user interface are sometimes referred to as "the IPMI". However, IPMI is simply a standard for BMC functionality, and non-IPMI BMC firmware exists. In some cases, motherboard vendors to charge extra for use of a BMC included on a board, often by selling its firmware on a separate removable flash module, or by selling a licensing dongle which enables use of the BMC.
The functionality of a BMC overlaps with the functionality of Intel's AMT, which provides remote administration via the Intel Management Engine. Like the Management Engine, the ability of a BMC to provide remote control of a system over the internet via proprietary firmware has been characterized as a security threat, and some users may avoid connecting their BMC to a network or installing its firmware flash module for this reason. Maintenance of BMC firmware for a board is frequently abandoned by board vendors long before customers have stopped using the board, default credentials for remote management are a well-known issue, and BMC firmware security is often worse than that of the host system's operating system.
OpenBMC is an open-source project maintained by the Linux Foundation, which provides Yocto Linux-based alternative firmware for the BMCs on some motherboards, including the AST2050 BMC found in the ASUS KGPE-D16. While current versions of OpenBMC no longer support the AST2050 (similar to the situation with upstream Coreboot), older versions of OpenBMC can still be used on it.