BMC
A BMC (baseboard management controller) is the small dedicated chip on a server motherboard that runs IPMI or Redfish for remote management.
A BMC, or baseboard management controller, is a small independent computer built into a server motherboard that runs whether or not the main system is powered on. It has its own processor, firmware, and network port, so it keeps working after the host CPU crashes or the OS shuts down. IPMI is the protocol it has spoken longest. Newer firmware also speaks Redfish, a REST API that does the same job over HTTPS.
Every server board of the last twenty years carries one, usually under a vendor name. Dell calls it iDRAC, HPE calls it iLO, Lenovo calls it XCC, and Supermicro just calls it the BMC. It draws a few watts of standby power straight from the power supply while the server is otherwise off. Plug ethernet into the dedicated management port and browse to its address. You get a remote screen, keyboard, and mouse, plus power control and sensor readings, before the operating system has loaded.
Quality varies more than a spec sheet shows. Check whether virtual media and full Redfish support are included or licensed separately, because a locked-down controller turns a five-minute remote fix into a drive to the data center.
Sources
Source | Publisher |
|---|---|
Intel Server Boards and Server Platforms Server Management Guide | Intel |
DMTF | |
NVIDIA |
- Publisher
DMTF
- Publisher
NVIDIA
Last verified August 29, 2026.
- baseboard management controller
- iDRAC
- iLO
- XCC
- Redfish
- out-of-band management
- lights-out management
- service processor
- virtual media