GbE, baseboard mgmt controller, and sys mgmt firmware in one chip

The new Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) Controller- BCM5725 from Broadcom also packs management controller to support design of servers for large data center and cloud computing environments.

The BCM5725 device replaces baseboard management controller, GbE controller and system management firmware.

"Broadcom is delivering cost-effective, open and standards-based system management technologies to support emerging trends such as cloud computing," said Greg Scherer, Broadcom's vice president of server and storage strategy. "We are enabling a new class of networking products, such as Open Compute Project AMD Open 3.0 Modular Server, through our advanced Ethernet controllers with enhanced manageability and features."

"Integrating the system management functionality into the Ethernet controller highlights the trend that IDC is tracking of increasing intelligence at every point in the flow of IP traffic, and IDC believes that this feature will help accelerate adoption of non-proprietary, open hardware in line with the goals of the Open Compute Project," said Abhi Dugar, IDC Research Manager for Cloud and Mobile Infrastructure Semiconductors.

BCM5725 Key Features
Integrated 10/100/1000BASE-T and transceiver
IEEE compliant with IEEE 802.3az-2010
Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE)
x1 PCI Express+ v2.1 at 5.0 GT/s or 2.5 GT/s
SMASH 2.0/WS-Management and IPMI 2.0/DCMI 1.5 standards based system management
TruManage technology that enables a comprehensive set of system management features, including:
Asset tracking of hardware/software inventory, and sensors-based monitoring
Power control (graceful and ungraceful) and boot control (one-time and persistent boot configurations)
User account management (accounts, roles and privileges)
Alerts and indications; event and audit logs
BIOS management
Management firmware update
Text console and media redirections
Power consumption reporting and power capping

Availability: now in samples volume production slated for Q413.