LOMcard

A "Lights Out Managment" Card that provides said capability to any [PC] system.

---

Core Idea

Aftermarket LOM for every System

Most Servers integrate a Baseband Managment Controller with and IPMI, LOM and often iKVM into the Mainboard.

• The main difference between Server and Desktop / Workstation Mainboards - aside from being designed with Server Chassis in mind, is the existance of said LOM.
  • The lack of a LOM makes it harder to upcycle and convert older systems into a Server.
    • It also allows to basically use any system as a Server!

---

Use-Cases

Upcycle older Systems into Servers

Save time and resources by using older systems as servers.

• This is ideal for small-scale and non-critical "learning" and "testing" envoirments.

Remote Control of Systems in Hardware

Ideal for Legacy Setups that may have to be installed in sensitive areas and likely out of reach of technicians.

• I.e. Industrial and/or medical systems that are in seperately compartmentalized rooms.
  • Can also be used for remote installations that may otherwise necessitate costly hands-ons.
    • I.e. restarting a system that may not be responsive.

Remote Logging and Control

• In some sensitive setups, it may be necessary to transparently record all interactions done with the system.

---

Features

Core Features

Low Profile "PCI" card

Fits on low-profile PCIe brackets

PoE Powered

Since the idea of a LOM is to be hooked up to a network, it is reasonable to assume that PoE is avialable or can at least be injected easily.

Optional Internal Power

via Standby-Line from ATX Power Supply [5v_SB or Similar]

Transparent status Check

As it's being spliced into the Power & Reset Buttons'- as well as Power & Activity LEDs' Lines, the LOMcard can:

• See if the system is powered on
• See if the system has activity
• Send a Shutdown signal [power button "press"].
• Make a hard shutdown [long power button "press"].
• Do a reboot [reboot button "press"]

Additional Features

1U Bracket

For installing in 1U Servers which only have extremely narrow heights.

• Provides the PoE Port and 3 LEDs [PoE, Power/Activity, Programmable via GPIO]

Serial Console

Onboard USB to RS-232 Adaptor with Nullmodem/Crossover and Pin Header to connect to a serial port.

Optional USB to Serial Adapter to plug on

To connect to Mainboards that don't have any Serial Header onboard.

PiKVM Support

Supporting a full KVM for OSes that don't support serial consoles

• Connects to local Display/Keyboard/Mouse ports.

Remote-Reflashable "USB Pendrive" [SSD]

Allows for fully remote use of the System.

• Ideal for Installers or updating live distributions over the network.
  • Needs to shutdown the "Host"-System to safely dismount and remount the storage.

---

Design

Core Components

RP2040 Microcontroller

• Cheap
• Versatile
• More GPIOs than anyone would ever need.

PoE Extractor

• Providing Power to the LOMcard

Ethernet Chip

RS-232 Chip

Optional Components

Standby Voltage Power Extractor

• Allows the use of Standby Voltage [i.e. ATX 5V_SB] to run the LOMcard
  • Reduces the Necessity for a PoE connection.

CM3 / CM4 header/connector

• Needed for PiKVM

HDMI2CSI Adaptor

• Needed for PiKVM
  • To accept the Video

VGA-to-HDMI Adaptor

• Needed for PiKVM
  • Needed for the HDMI2CSI board on Systems without HDMI-output
    • Alternatives like DP-to-HDMI or DVI-to-HDMI can be designed as well.

USB Console Module

• To provide a "Serial Console" on Systems without an RS-232 port.
  • Ideal for UNIX-alike OSes like FreeBSD, Linux, etc.

"Pendrive" SSD Module

• Requires PiKVM
  • Allows to be rewritten and booted from
    • Connects via USB
      • Is being switched between LOMcard and "Host"-System
  • Recommended to be used with Ventoy
    • But can be reflashed with basically anything.

---