Advanced Micro Devices on Monday announced the release of the Open Platform Management Architecture (OPMA) specification that defines a common hardware interface between the server platform and its server management subsystem. This specification provides hardware vendors with a flexible approach to system management when designing their commercial grade server products.

The OPMA connector provides the interface between manageability components including baseboard management controller devices (BMCs), network interface controllers (NICs), standardized system busses between sensor devices and the system microprocessors. OPMA feature cards contain BMC firmware that communicates with software such as BIOS, drivers, manageability software suites, system management frameworks and operating systems.

Sunnyvale, California-based AMD said the OPMA specification is a collaborative effort of numerous companies. The chipmaker did not elaborate which of the server makers helped to develop the standard; consequently, it is also unclear which server management systems will be supported by OPMA. The only company to publicly adopt the OPMA is Somerset, New Jersey-based Raritan Computer.

The public OPMA specification defines the connector, electrical, mechanical and firmware interfaces for a flexible, modular, card-based platform management subsystem. It is available for download from AMD’s web-site.