IPMI for VPX Systems

X‑ES offers cost- and power-efficient IPMI solutions for many embedded computing modules, including all of our standard 3U VPX and 6U VPX products.

What is IPMI?

The Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) specification is an industry standard for computer subsystems that provide autonomous monitoring and system management capabilities. These subsystems include specialized hardware, such as microcontrollers and temperature and voltage sensors, as well as firmware and software used to communicate with those devices.

The IPMI subsystem often runs independently of the local processor, so it stays on even when the system is down. For this reason, it can be a powerful tool for remote administrators, who can use IPMI to monitor system health, run diagnostics, update software, or reboot the system.

IPMI in VPX Systems

Building on the IPMI standard, the VITA 46.11 standard defines a framework for system management in VPX embedded systems. It supports interoperability at the module, chassis, and system level, and enables the use of commercial IPMI-based software. The goal of VITA 46.11 is to eliminate the need for custom development to implement system management in VPX systems, lowering costs and accelerating deployment.

VITA 46.11 supports the following features:

  • Inventory management
  • Sensor management
  • System configuration
  • Recovery
  • Diagnostic management

These functions are carried out by a network of management entities connected via the Intelligent Platform Management Bus (IPMB). The VPX IPMI architecture has three hierarchical levels—module, chassis, and system—where higher-level management entities have oversight over lower-level entities. The management entity at the module level is the onboard IPMI controller (IPMC), which oversees the local processor and sensors and connects to the chassis manager via IPMB ports on the VPX backplane. The chassis manager oversees all IPMCs within the chassis, and the system manager oversees all chassis managers within the system.

VITA 46.11 defines two tiers of IPMI capabilities. Tier 1 includes basic inventory management and system monitoring capabilities, while Tier 2 includes more advanced features such as sensor and infrastructure management, event logging, and the discovery, reset, and power cycling of field-replaceable units (FRUs).

IPMI Solutions from X‑ES

VITA 46.11 Tier 1 and Tier 2 Support

X‑ES offers IPMI support on 3U VPX, 6U VPX, and 6U cPCI products.

Our standard VPX products, including embedded single board computers (SBCs) and power supplies, support VITA 46.11 Tier 1 and Tier 2 in their default configurations.

Cost- and Power-Efficient

X‑ES products feature an Atmel XMEGA microcontroller as the board-level IPMC. We’ve found that Atmel XMEGA devices, with their small footprint, low power consumption, and low cost, are ideal for products that deliver rich functionality while minimizing SWaP-C.

These microcontrollers feature multiple analog-to-digital converters and I2C-compatible interfaces that can be used for the IPMB and for sensor communication.

Full Software Support

X‑ES Built-In Test (BIT) software includes tests and API functions used to communicate with the IPMI subsystem. BIT IPMI tests provide a quick and easy way to obtain FRU inventory information and check the health of each component in the system.

X‑ES provides an example BIT application that demonstrates the automatic discovery of IPMI resources, giving you a head-start in testing and deployment.

Featured X-ES Products with IPMI Capabilities

XPedite7670 3U VPX SBC

XPedite7670

Intel® Xeon® D-1500 family processor-based 3U VPX SBC with up to 16 GB of DDR4-2133 ECC SDRAM

View XPedite7670
XCalibur4640 6U VPX SBC

XCalibur4640

Intel® Xeon® D-1500 family processor-based 6U VPX SBC with up to 32 GB of DDR4-2133 ECC SDRAM

View XCalibur4640
XCalibur1840 6U VPX SBC

XCalibur1840

NXP (formerly Freescale) QorIQ T4240 processor-based 6U VPX SBC with up to 24 GB of DDR3-2133 ECC SDRAM

View XCalibur1840
XPm2020 3U VPX Power Supply

XPm2020

3U VPX power supply with MIL-STD-704 28 VDC input voltage, MIL-STD-461E/F EMI filtering, and up to 300 W output

View XPm2020
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