FW82801EB Intel, FW82801EB Datasheet - Page 100

• Manufacturer Part Number: FW82801EB
• Manufacturer: Intel

Specifications of FW82801EB

• Lead Free Status / RoHS Status: Not Compliant

Functional Description
5.3
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Alert Standard Format (ASF)
The ASF controller collects information from various components in the system (including the
processor, chipset, BIOS, and sensors on the motherboard) and sends this information via the LAN
controller to a remote server running a management console. The controller also accepts
commands back from the management console and drives the execution of those commands on the
local system.
The ASF controller is responsible for monitoring sensor devices and sending packets through the
LAN controller SMBus (System Management Bus) interface. These ASF controller alerting
capabilities include system health information such as BIOS messages, POST alerts, OS failure
notifications, and heartbeat signals to indicate the system is accessible to the server. Also included
are environmental notification (e.g., thermal, voltage and fan alerts) that send proactive warnings
that something is wrong with the hardware. The packets are used as Alert (S.O.S.) packets or as
“heartbeat” status packets. In addition, asset security is provided by messages (e.g., “cover tamper”
and “CPU missing”) that notify of potential system break-ins and processor or memory theft.
The ASF controller is also responsible for receiving and responding to RMCP (Remote
Management and Control Protocol) packets. RMCP packets are used to perform various system
APM commands (e.g., reset, power-up, power-cycle, and power-down). RMCP can also be used to
ping the system to ensure that it is on the network and running correctly and for capability
reporting. A major advantage of ASF is that it provides these services during the time that software
is unable to do so (e.g., during a low-power state, during boot-up, or during an OS hang) but are not
precluded from running in the working state.
The ASF controller communicates to the system and the LAN controller logic through the SMBus
connections. The first SMBus connects to the host SMBus controller (within the ICH5) and any
SMBus platform sensors. The SMBus host is accessible by the system software, including software
running on the OS and the BIOS. Note that the host side bus may require isolation if there are non-
auxiliary devices that can pull down the bus when un-powered. The second SMBus connects to the
LAN controller. This second SMBus is used to provide a transmit/receive network interface.
The stimulus for causing the ASF controller to send packets can be either internal or external to the
ASF controller. External stimuli are link status changes or polling data from SMBus sensor
devices; internal events come from, among others, a set of timers or an event caused by software.
The ASF controller provides three local configuration protocols via the host SMBus. The first one
is the SMBus ARP interface that is used to identify the SMBus device and allow dynamic SMBus
address assignment. The second protocol is the ASF controller command set that allows software
to manage an ASF controller compliant interface for retrieving info, sending alerts, and controlling
timers.
ICH5 provides an input and an output EEPROM interface. The EEPROM contains the LAN
controller configuration and the ASF controller configuration/packet information.
Intel
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82801EB ICH5 / 82801ER ICH5R Datasheet