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In an effort to lower TCO, much attention and effort has been focused on server management software standards such as Desktop Management Interface(DMI), Simple Network Management Protocol(SNMP), Component Information Model(CIM) and Windows Management Interface(WMI), however, no standards to date have focused on server platform management hardware. IPMI defines a common interface and bus protocol for platform management hardware, which helps lower TCO by improving server platform management functionality and compatibility.
As part of an ongoing commitment to create open specifications that enable the adoption of new technologies, Intel is currently working with Dell, HP and NEC on the first version (v0.9) of the IPMI specification, which will support the Wired for Management (WfM) initiative. WfM is part of a broad-based industry effort, led by Intel, to integrate all of the pieces of the enterprise architecture in a way that provides greater control and manageability for IT professionals, while reducing TCO for large organizations.
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TCO is a big issue for corporations today. Major issues identified in the enterprise IT space are: asset management, better/more accurate system monitoring, and access to failure logs (events that occurred prior to system failure). Good overall server management technology is key to reducing TCO by increasing platform availability, serviceability and reliability. The foundation for strong overall server management lies in platform instrumentation, namely, the monitoring of a server's physical characteristics such as temperature, voltage, fans, power supplies etc., as well as access to important hardware inventory information.
Servers based on IPMI will help reduce TCO by providing common access to platform management information. The interfaces defined by the specification are designed such that the information can be easily accessed by management software from the system side, as well as by an I2C-based management bus. The bus operates autonomously so critical sensors and events can be monitored and logged even if the processor goes down and system management software is not available. The bus also enables devices such as Emergency Management Cards to easily access platform management information.
IPMI also enables robust and flexible solutions to be implemented, which support a wide range of servers and configurations. The specification is scalable from entry-level to high-end servers providing support for a wide range of sensors, events, and messages across all segments of the server marketplace. The specification is expandable from single to multiple systems to address the requirements of increasingly popular complex configurations such as server clusters and rack mount systems. The internal management bus can be extended externally to the chassis to manage multiple servers or peripheral chassis, containing components such as RAID drives or power supplies, through a dedicated "out of band" connection. The external bus enables a server to be managed by another connected server even if it has no system management software or the processor is down.
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While all server system vendors offer basic platform instrumentation, most of their solutions are proprietary and limited in their scalability, extensibility, and portability making it difficult to maintain continuity from one generation of server to the next. IPMI enables very efficient porting to new server designs. The specification's interface de-couples platform management hardware from server management software allowing hardware advancements to be implemented without impacting server management software. This architecture enables vendors to quickly develop differentiated solutions that can be brought to market very quickly. The specification also facilitates the development of cross-platform management applications enabling the system vendor to support various operating systems and management software standards.
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To ensure the participation of the industry in developing the new specification, Intel, Dell, HP and NEC have made the v0.9 specs available on the web for industry review and feedback. Following industry input, Intel, Dell, HP and NEC plan to release version 1.0 of the specification in the Q2/Q3 '98 time frame. Industry implementation of IPMI v1.0 will be royalty-free.
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Common Ground for Server Management Hardware; Read the Top Story from Intel's Marketing Directory for High-End Servers, Kevin Soelberg.
For more information on Intel's Wired for Management (WfM) Initiative, please visit the WfM technology page in Platform Solutions.
Stay tuned to this page as information unfolds around Server Platform Management Hardware.
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* Legal Information © 1998 Intel Corporation
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