BMC — Baseboard Management Controller
Definition
A specialized microcontroller embedded in server motherboards that provides out-of-band hardware monitoring and remote management functions.
Context & Usage
BMCs run their own firmware, have dedicated Ethernet ports, and operate independently of the host CPU and OS. They expose IPMI, Redfish, and vendor-specific interfaces (iLO, iDRAC, XClarity Controller). Powered from the server's 5V standby rail — so BMC remains accessible even when the server is "off" (in low-power state).
Examples
- ASPEED AST2500 BMC chip
- Nuvoton WPCM450 BMC
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