Magellan: Automated BMC Discovery with OpenCHAMI

1️⃣ How Magellan Works#

Magellan simplifies the process of discovering and managing BMCs by automating discovery, data collection, and system integration.

🛠 Example Workflow#

1. Scan a Subnet for BMC Nodes
   Magellan automatically discovers all BMC nodes in a given subnet.

   ./magellan scan --subnet 172.16.0.0 --subnet-mask 255.255.255.0 --format json --cache data/assets.db

2. List Discovered Hosts
   View a list of discovered nodes stored in the cache.

   ./magellan list --cache data/assets.db

3. Collect System Information
   Query hardware details, firmware versions, and system state from discovered nodes.

   ./magellan collect --cache data/assets.db --timeout 5 --username $USERNAME --password $PASSWORD --host https://example.openchami.cluster:8443 --output logs/ --cacert cacert.pem

   Note: Replace $USERNAME and $PASSWORD with your BMC credentials.

2️⃣ What Happens at Boot?#

When a node boots up, Magellan automates hardware discovery and inventory collection in a structured sequence:

1. Discovery Phase

   • Magellan scans the network for active BMCs using Redfish API queries.
   • Identifies hardware based on IPMI, Redfish, and manufacturer data.

2. Inventory Collection

   • Queries CPU, memory, firmware, and system state information from each discovered node.
   • Stores the data in JSON format for structured processing.

3. SMD Integration

   • Sends collected data directly to OpenCHAMI’s System Management Database (SMD) for centralized tracking.
   • Ensures inventory information is always up to date across the cluster.

4. Firmware Auditing (Optional)

   • Verifies firmware versions and flags outdated components.
   • Supports automated firmware updates through Redfish when enabled.

🔗 Next Steps#

• Explore OpenCHAMI’s Magellan Repo → GitHub: OpenCHAMI/magellan
• Learn About Redfish-Based Discovery → DMTF Redfish Documentation
• Automate Your Hardware Inventory with OpenCHAMI 🚀

💡 Why Magellan Matters#

✔️ Eliminates manual inventory tracking – Automates BMC discovery at scale.
✔️ Integrates directly with OpenCHAMI’s SMD – Ensures real-time hardware inventory updates.
✔️ Reduces operational overhead – No need for manual node registration.
✔️ Leverages industry-standard Redfish APIs – Works seamlessly across multiple vendors.

By using Magellan, OpenCHAMI administrators can simplify BMC discovery, automate system inventory, and improve infrastructure visibility—all with a single command-line tool.

🚀 Want to learn more? Join the OpenCHAMI community and contribute to the future of automated hardware discovery!