Open Source Firmware Conference 2025

Developing OpenBMC Firmware on Arm Servers Using the Arm Fixed Virtual Platform (FVP)

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.

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