Intelligent Platform Management Interface#Baseboard management controller

A baseboard management controller (BMC ) is a specialized microcontroller on the motherboard of many computers systems - embedded - especially servers. The BMC manages the interface between the software for system management or to the hardware in the Intelligent Platform Management Interface ( IPMI).

About the appropriate sensors the BMC receives data on system parameters such as temperature, rotational speed of the fan, operating system status, etc. The BMC returns these sensor values ​​and can not send over the network alarm messages to the system administrator if parameters are beyond a specified interval, and thus a failure of the system suspect leave. The administrator can now be removed to access the computer and for example make a reboot, if the operating system has crashed.

As physical interfaces to the BMC serve SMBusse, a console via the serial interface address and data lines as well as the Intelligent Platform Management Bus ( IPMB ), through which the BMC IPMI requests from other management controller can work in the system.

The BMC communicates with the BMC Management Utility (BMU ) on a remote client via IPMI protocols. The BMU is typically a command line program and usually requires a password for access to the BMC. The connection to the BMC over a network can also be made encrypted. In the case of a serial data connection, no encryption is used, since this compound is already accepted as safe.

Because of the closed structure of BMCs questions regarding its safety to date are largely unanswered.

Swell

• Zhuo, Haihong, Yin Jianwen, & Rao, Anil V.: Remote Management with the Baseboard Management Controller in Eighth - Generation Dell PowerEdge Servers (PDF, 253 kB)
• Bruce Schneier: The Eavesdropping System in Your Computer