Networking Appliances
MicroBMC
pfSense Based BMC Module
- Open-Source, Low-cost, RESTful BMC based on pfSense security gateway software
- Targeted at NFV edge appliances
- TI ARM Cortex-A8 module
- Security and extensibility of pfSense are foundational to MicroBMC
- Alpha sampling now, Production and open collateral posting Q1 2017
- Development Kit available


MicroBMC
pfSense Based BMC Module
General Technical Specifications |
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Form Factor: | 27mm x 54mm Module |
CPU: |
TI AM3352 ARM Cortex-A8, including crypto accelerator, 300 or 600 MHz (The following specs are for ADI’s TI A8 based MicroBMC module) Intel Quark X1000 module under development (implementation-dependent specs may vary from the following) |
DRAM: | 256 or 512MB DDR3, memory down |
Ethernet: |
Integrated on-board 3-port managed GbE switch Two external 1GbE switch ports on module connector for external management port and connection to main system CPU |
Flash: | eMMC on-board, 4GB (custom build options support up to 64GB) |
Voltage Monitoring: |
8x motherboard power supply voltage monitoring analog inputs Expandable with optional analog MUX on motherboard |
Fan Control: | 2x independent PWM output / tachometer inputs fan channels |
PSU Monitoring: | 4x PSU powergood inputs |
GPIO: | 8x user-defined digital I/O pins |
RTC: | Yes, for timestamp of FRU EEPROM event log entries |
Virtual Media: | USB device connection to host CPU for USB boot over LAN |
CPU Status Monitoring: | Sleep S3, S4, S5 indicators
PROCHOT#, THERMTRIP# thermal indicators |
CPU Power State Control: |
Reset button control Power button control |
Heartbeat Monitoring: | Software GPIO on host CPU drives watchdog input on µBMC |
I2C: |
Bus 0 (master). Onboard FRU EEPROM, connectivity for motherboard discrete thermal sensors and other devices Bus 1 (master). Access to PECI SMBus slave inside host CPU. Used for monitoring CPU die temperature. |
SPI: | Used to access host CPU boot flash for remote BIOS updates |
EEPROM: | 32kB I2C EEPROM on board, for management event logging |
Power: | 3.3VDC and 5VDC |
Temperature: | Operating: 0-70C Storage: -20-85C |
MicroBMC
pfSense Based BMC Module
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MicroBMC Specification |
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MicroBMC Development Kit User Manual |
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pfSense Information |
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List of pfSense Features |