MegaRAC explained

The MegaRAC from American Megatrends is a product line of baseboard management controller (BMC) firmware packages and formerly Service Processors providing complete Out-of-band, or Lights-out remote management of computer systems independently of the Operating System status or location to troubleshoot computers and assure continuity of service. MegaRAC Service Processors came in various formats - PCI cards, embedded modules and software-only.

History

The MegaRAC remote management controller was introduced in 1998 for Dell, that later developed the DRAC. The second generation card, MegaRACG2 (2002), provided console, KVM graphical redirection, firewall, and battery backup.

Products

AMI currently offers three MegaRAC packages: MegaRAC OneTree, AMI's latest BMC firmware package that is based on OpenBMC;^[1] MegaRAC SP-X, an earlier BMC firmware package that is based on Linux;^[2] and MegaRAC CommunityEdition, an open source BMC firmware package that is based on OpenBMC.

MegaRAC SP Firmware

The MegaRAC SP firmware is composed of four major functionality groups:

• Complete IPMI 2.0 implementation, providing sensor and health monitoring, alerting, event logging Serial over LAN, et cetera. This firmware utilizes Linux 2.6.
• Virtual KVM for redirection of Video, Keyboard and Mouse signals. This uses AMI's proprietary compression technology.
• Virtual Media for redirection of CD/DVD. This is used to utilize a local CD/DVD to install an Operating system or software on a remote host.
• DMTF compliant management infrastructure, implementing CIM, SMASH and WS-MAN.

The MegaRAC SP firmware is marketed to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), not end-users.

References

• Encyclopedia: American Megatrends Offers MegaRAC Remote Assistance Card to Channel Market. encyclopedia.com. Cengage Learning. 2010-06-21.
• Web site: MegaRAC G2. scmagazineus.com. Haymarket. 2010-06-18. dead. https://archive.today/20130201233624/http://www.scmagazineus.com/megarac-g2/printreview/915/. 2013-02-01.
• Web site: AMI MegaRAC: An almost perfect product. https://web.archive.org/web/20110607155300/http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/1001912/ami-megarac-an-perfect-product. unfit. June 7, 2011. theinquirer.net . Register . 2010-06-21.
• Web site: AMI Debuts MegaRAC SP Service Processor Firmware Stack for AST2000. edageek.com 2007. Online Destiny LTD . 2010-06-21.
• Web site: AMI announces MegaRAC SP Software Support for ServerEngines Pilot Server Management Controller. serverengines.com . Server Engines . 2010-06-21.
• Web site: AMI introduces MegaRAC SP for Winbond WPCM450 . Nuvoton 2008 . 2010-06-21.
• Web site: American Megatrends introduces MegaRAC PM for the Renesas H8S/2462 Baseboard Management Controller. AMI 2009. 2010-06-21.
• Web site: American Megatrends Celebrates Twelve Years of Success with MegaRAC . ami.com . AMI 2009. 2010-06-21.

Notes and References

1. Web site: MegaRAC OneTree Unveils Powerful New OpenBMC Features and Enhancements . Berhe . Adonay . July 10, 2023 . November 16, 2023 .
2. Web site: MegaRAC SP-X: The Foundation for Powerful Server Management – Part I . . June 21, 2018 . November 16, 2023 .