A preboot or out-of-band platform management specification that enables a device, such as an intelligent Ethernet controller, to autonomously scan ASFcompliant sensors on the motherboard for voltage, temperature, or other excursions and to send Remote Management and Control Protocol (RMCP) alerts according to the Platform Event Trap (PET) specification. ASF was intended primarily for out-of-band management functions for client desktops. ASF is defined by the Distributed Management Task Force (DMTF).
The process that verifies the identity of a user in a communication session, or a device or other entity in a computer system, before that user, device, or other entity can access system resources. Session authentication can work in two directions. A server authenticates a client to make access-control decisions. The client can authenticate the server as well. With Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), the client always authenticates the server.
A device used to manage chassis environmental, configuration, and service functions, and receive event data from other parts of the system. It receives data through sensor interfaces and interprets this data by using the sensor record (SDR) to which it provides an interface. The BMC provides another interface to the system event log (SEL). Typical functions of the BMC measure processor temperature, power supply values, and cooling fan The BMC can take autonomous action to preserve system integrity.
A trusted organization that issues public key certificates and provides identification to the owner of the certificate. A public key Certificate Authority issues certificates that state a relationship between an entity named in the certificate, and a public key that belongs to that entity, which is also present in the certificate.
A specification that sets standards for accessing technical support information about computer hardware and software. DMI is hardware and operating system (OS) independent, and can manage workstations, servers, or other computing systems. DMI is defined by the Distributed Management Task Force (DMTF).
A certification of the source of digital data. A digital signature is a number derived from a public key cryptographic process. If the data is modified after the signature was created, the signature becomes invalid. For this reason, a digital signature can ensure data integrity and detection of data modification.
A consortium of over 200 companies that authors and promotes standards for the purpose of furthering the ability to remotely manage computer systems. Specifications from the DTMF include the Desktop Management Interface (DMI), the Common Information Model (CIM), and the Alert Standard Format (ASF).
A grouping of hosts that is identified by a name. The hosts usually belong to the same Internet Protocol (IP) network address. The domain also refers to the last part of a fully qualified domain name (FQDN) that identifies the company or organization that owns the domain. For example, "sun.com" identifies Sun Microsystems as the owner of the domain in the FQDN "docs.sun.com."
The unique name assigned to a system or group of systems on the Internet. The host names of all the systems in the group have the same domain name suffix, such as "sun.com." Domain names are interpreted from right to left. For example, "sun.com" is both the domain name of Sun Microsystems, and a subdomain of the top-level ".com" domain.
A distributed name resolution system that enables computers to locate other computers on a network or the Internet by domain name. The system associates standard Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, such as "00.120.000.168," with host names, such as "www.sun.com." Machines typically get this information from a DNS server.
An industry-standard type of local area network (LAN) that enables real-time communication between systems connected directly through cables. Ethernet uses a Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Detection (CSMA/CD) algorithm as its access method, wherein all nodes listen for, and any node can begin transmitting data. If multiple nodes attempt to transmit at the same time (a collision), the transmitting nodes wait for a random time before attempting to transmit again.
A signal that sends a "soft" reset to the processor in a domain. XIR does not reboot the domain. An XIR is generally used to escape from a hung system in order to reach the console prompt. A user can then generate a core dump file, which can be useful in diagnosing the cause of the hung system.
A consistent method by which information is organized and stored on physical media. Different operating systems typically have different file systems. File systems are often a tree-structured network of files and directories, with a root directory at the top and parent and child directories below root.
A basic Internet protocol based on Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) that enables the retrieving and storing of files between systems on the Internet without regard for the operating systems or architectures of the systems involved in the file transfer.
Describes a component that is safe to remove or add while the system is running. However, before removing the component, the system administrator must prepare the system for the hot-plug operation. After the new component is inserted, the system administrator must instruct the system to reconfigure the device into the system.
Describes a component that can be installed or removed by simply pulling the component out and putting a new component into a running system. The system either automatically recognizes the component change and configures it or requires user interaction to configure the system. However, in neither case is a reboot required. All hot-swappable components are hot pluggable, but not all hot-pluggable components are hot swappable.
A hardware-level interface specification that was designed primarily for out of- band management of server systems over a number of different physical interconnects. The IPMI specification describes extensive abstractions regarding sensors. This enables a management application running on the operating system (OS) or in a remote system to comprehend the environmental makeup of the system and to register with the system's IPMI subsystem to receive events. IPMI is compatible with management software from heterogeneous vendors. IPMI functionality includes Field Replaceable Unit (FRU) inventory reporting, system monitoring, logging, system recovery (including local and remote system resets and power on and off capabilities), and alerting.
The basic network layer protocol of the Internet. IP enables the unreliable delivery of individual packets from one host to another. IP does not guarantee that the packet will be delivered, how long it will take, or if multiple packets will be delivered in the order they were sent. Protocols layered on top of IP add connection reliability.
In Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), a unique 32-bit number that identifies each host or other hardware system on a network. The IP address is a set of numbers separated by dots, such as "192.168.255.256,"which specifies the actual location of a machine on an intranet or the Internet.
A web application launcher. With Java Web Start, applications are launched by clicking on the web link. If the application is not present on your system, Java Web Start downloads it and caches it onto your system. Once an application is downloaded to its cache, it can be launched from a desktop icon or browser
Technology that provides the capability for out-of-band communication with the server even if the operating system is not running. This enables the system administrator to switch the server on and off; view system temperatures, fan speeds, and so forth; and restart the system from a remote location.
A directory service protocol used for the storage, retrieval, and distribution of information, including user profiles, distribution lists, and configuration data. LDAP runs over Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and across multiple platforms.
A tree-like, hierarchical system for classifying information about resources in a network. The MIB defines the variables that the master Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) agent can access. The MIB provides access to the server's network configuration, status, and statistics. Using SNMP, you can view this information from a network management station (NMS). By industry agreement, individual developers are assigned portions of the tree structure to which they may attach descriptions that are specific to their own devices.
A number that identifies an object's position in a global object registration tree. Each node of the tree is assigned a number, so that an OID is a sequence of numbers. In Internet usage the OID numbers are delimited by dots, for example, "00.128.45.12." In the Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP), OIDs are used to uniquely identify schema elements, including object classes and attribute types.
The location (socket) to which Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) connections are made. Web servers traditionally use port 80, the File Transfer Protocol (FTP) uses port 21, and Telnet uses port 23. A port enables a client program to specify a particular server program in a computer on a network. When a server program is started initially, it binds to its designated port number. Any client that wants to use that server must send a request to bind to the designated port number.
A program that takes uninitialized system hardware and probes and tests its components at system startup. POST configures useful components into a coherent, initialized system and hands it over to the OpenBoot PROM. POST passes to OpenBoot PROM a list of only those components that have been successfully tested.
An industry-standard client/server interface that enables a server to boot an operating system (OS) over a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) network using Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). The PXE specification describes how the network adapter card and BIOS work together to provide basic networking capabilities for the primary bootstrap program, enabling it to perform a secondary bootstrap over the network, such as a TFTP load of an OS image. Thus, the primary bootstrap program, if coded to PXE standards, does not need knowledge of the system's networking hardware.
A cryptographic method that uses a two-part key (code) that is made up of public and private components. To encrypt messages, the published public keys of the recipients are used. To decrypt messages, the recipients use their unpublished private keys, which are known only to them. Knowing the public key does not enable users to deduce the corresponding private key.
A protocol that enables client-to-server communication on a network to be encrypted for privacy. SSL uses a key exchange method to establish an environment in which all data exchanged is encrypted with a cipher and hashed to protect it from eavesdropping and alteration. SSL creates a secure connection between a web server and a web client. Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) uses SSL.
To facilitate dynamic discovery of features, the Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) includes this set of records. They include software information, such as how many sensors are present, what type they are, their events, threshold information, and so on. The sensor data records enable software to interpret and present sensor data without any prior knowledge about the platform.
A network protocol that enables files and printers to be shared across a network. The SMB protocol provides a method for client applications to read and write to files on and request services from server programs in the network. The SMB protocol enables you to mount file systems between Windows and UNIX systems. The SMB protocol was designed by IBM and subsequently modified by Microsoft Corp. Microsoft renamed the protocol the Common Internet File System (CIFS).
A device used to manage chassis environmental, configuration, and service functions, and receive event data from other parts of the system. It receives data through sensor interfaces and interprets this data by using the sensor data record (SDR) to which it provides an interface. The SP provides another interface to the system event log (SEL). Typical functions of the SP are to measure processor temperature, power supply values, and cooling fan status. The SP can take autonomous action to preserve system integrity.
A simple protocol used to exchange data about network activity. With SNMP, data travels between a managed device and a network management station (NMS). A managed device can be any device that runs SNMP, such as hosts, routers, web servers, or other servers on the network.
An Internet protocol that provides for the reliable delivery of data streams from one host to another. TCP/IP transfers data between different types of networked systems, such as systems running Solaris, Microsoft Windows, or Linux software. TCP guarantees delivery of data and that packets will be delivered in the same sequence in which they were sent.
A connectionless transport layer protocol that adds some reliability and multiplexing to the Internet Protocol (IP). UDP enables one application program to deliver, via IP, datagrams to another application program on another machine. The Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) is usually implemented over UDP.