2025-10-07 –, Main
This talk introduces an open platform and proof-of-concept for developing OpenBMC firmware on Arm servers using the Neoverse Fixed Virtual Platform (FVP). Co-developed by Arm and 9elements, the platform enables early development and validation of BMC features—such as telemetry, RAS logging, and Redfish—before silicon is available. The session highlights system architecture, SBMR-defined interfaces, and key lessons from enabling server manageability in a virtualized Arm environment.
This session presents a virtualized development platform that brings OpenBMC to Arm’s Neoverse Fixed Virtual Platform (FVP). Co-developed by Arm and 9elements, the platform supports early firmware bring-up, testing, and standards validation without requiring physical hardware.
The talk covers the high-level architecture, which includes a virtual BMC and an Auxiliary Satellite Management Controller (SatMC), and demonstrates how the platform enables critical server manageability features defined by Arm’s Server Base Manageability Requirements (SBMR), including:
- The SBMR-defined side-band interface using MCTP/PLDM
- In-band host communication via IPMI and Redfish
- Out-of-band Redfish and IPMI access
- Use cases such as RAS event logging, boot progress reporting, and telemetry collection
The presentation also highlights a hybrid development configuration that pairs the virtual host with a physical ASPEED AST2600 EVK acting as the BMC. Attendees will gain insight into how virtual infrastructure can accelerate OpenBMC development, streamline integration workflows, and validate standards-based manageability features on Arm servers— even before silicon is available.
Samer El-Haj-Mahmoud is a Distinguished Engineer and System Architect at Arm Architecture and Technology Group (ATG). He has 25 years of experience specializing in server firmware and system design, remote management, and industry standards. His current work focuses on system architecture for Arm-based servers and PCs. Samer has a long history of contribution to industry standards and related open source projects, including the UEFI Forum, DMTF, OCP, CXL, UCIe, OpenBMC, TianoCore, and the Arm System Architecture Advisory Council (SystemArchAC).