What is BMC and How to generate BMC Logs

What is BMC and How to generate BMC Logs

BMC (Baseboard Management Controller)

Info
The Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) is a specialized microcontroller embedded on a server’s motherboard that enables remote management and monitoring of the server's hardware, even when the server is powered off or the operating system is not functioning. The BMC is part of the Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) standard, which provides a framework for managing servers.

Key Functions of a BMC

The BMC performs several critical functions in server management:

Remote System Monitoring: It allows us to monitor server health, including parameters like temperature, fan speeds, voltage, and other critical system performance indicators.
Remote Power Management: We can remotely control the power state of the server, performing actions such as power on, off, or reboot.
System Recovery and Maintenance: In cases of system crashes or failures, the BMC can be used to access the system remotely for recovery and maintenance tasks.
Logging: BMCs keep logs of system events and alerts, which are crucial for diagnosing and resolving hardware issues.
Firmware Updates and Configuration: It enables remote updating and configuration of system firmware, improving the efficiency of managing large numbers of servers.

Generation of BMC Logs

To collect the BMC logs, please follow the steps below:

Log in to the IPMI Web Interface

  1. Access the BMC IP through a browser
  2. Enter your login credentials (username and password).
  1. In the BMC or IPMI web interface, go to the System Logs or Event Logs section.
  2. Navigate to SEL (System Event Log) or Maintenance Logs.

Download or Save the Logs

  1. Look for an option to Export, Download, or Save the logs.
  2. Save the logs in the available format (.csv, .txt, or .log).

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