IBM Remote Supervisor Adapter

IBM Remote Supervisor Adapter
Company type	Product line
Industry	Computer hardware
Predecessor	Advanced Systems Management Adapter (ASMA)
Headquarters	Armonk, United States
Products	Remote Supervisor Adapter, Remote Supervisor Adapter II, Remote Supervisor Adapter II Slimline
Parent	IBM

Adapted from the English Wikipedia article IBM Remote Supervisor Adapter, available under CC BY-SA 4.0Updated 9 August 2025

The IBM Remote Supervisor Adapter is an ISA (Industry Standard Architecture) or PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) full-length expansion card manufactured by IBM.

Advanced Systems Management Adapter (ASMA)

This adapter comes in both full-length ISA and PCI forms, with the ISA variant being uncommon and compatible with a limited range of servers. It offers in-band connectivity through device drivers as well as out-of-band access via serial connection or 10Mbit Ethernet.

The ASMA facilitates the linking of IBM Servers equipped with Advanced Systems Management Processors (ASMP) through RJ45 patch cables using RS-485 signaling, thereby decreasing the number of adapters necessary.

Compatible server models include:

IBM Netfinity 5000, 5100, 5500, and 5600 series
IBM Netfinity 6000R
IBM Netfinity 7000 series
IBM Netfinity 8500R
IBM eServer xSeries models 230 through 370

Remote Supervisor Adapter II (RSA-II) 73P9265

This is a half-length, full-height PCI card that supports both in-band access via device drivers and out-of-band access through serial or Ethernet connections. It enables chaining of IBM Servers with Integrated Systems Management Processors (ISMP) using RJ45 patch cables carrying RS-485 signals, reducing the number of adapters required.

The RSA-II can also be accessed in-band through a USB driver when properly connected. It includes a dedicated ATI video chipset which disables the onboard video to enhance remote KVM video capture performance. Remote KVM functionality is limited to the server hosting the adapter within a chained setup.

Supported servers include:

IBM eServer 326 and 326m
IBM eServer xSeries 206, 225, 226, 235, 255
IBM eServer xSeries 305, 306, 306m, 335, 345, and 365
IBM eServer xSeries 445

For full operation, the RSA-II requires a specialized 20-pin cable connecting it to the server motherboard. Without this cable, remote video and USB keyboard/mouse capabilities remain functional; however, power management and other features are disabled. Some server models may experience a pause after powering on if this cable is absent.

Cable availability depends on server type; while adapters are relatively common on secondary markets, compatible cables tend to be rarer and often more costly.

Known server-to-cable pairings include:

eServer 326 uses cable model 73P9312
x345 uses cable model 02R1661

Earlier servers utilize a "planar cable," whereas more recent systems employ cables similar to the one depicted:

Remote Supervisor Adapter II Slimline (RSA-II Slimline)

This RSA-II variant connects directly to a dedicated systemboard slot akin to a Mini PCI card, thereby freeing up PCI slots. Unlike the standard RSA-II, it does not possess an onboard video controller.

Out-of-band management is provided through a dedicated Ethernet port that activates only when the RSA-II Slimline is installed. In-band management utilizes the same USB driver as the regular RSA-II.

Compatible server models are:

IBM eServer xSeries 236 and 260
IBM eServer xSeries 336, 346, and 366
IBM eServer xSeries 460 and MXE-460
IBM System x models ranging from 3200 to 3950

BladeCenter Management Module (BCMM)

The BCMM was the initial management module designed for IBM BladeCenter, offering external 10/100Mbit Ethernet for out-of-band management alongside shared VGA and PS/2 keyboard and mouse ports that can be switched between blades. Internally, PS/2 ports are recognized as USB interfaces.

This module has been discontinued and succeeded by the BCAMM; it is no longer supported by IBM.

BladeCenter Advanced Management Module (BCAMM)

The BladeCenter Advanced Management Module represents an updated version of the BladeCenter management interface, replacing the previous PS/2 ports with two USB ports. Its firmware delivers improved functionality compared to the original BCMM and continues to receive ongoing enhancements.

Advanced Systems Management Processor (ASMP)

The Advanced Systems Management Processor is an embedded service processor found in certain IBM Intel-based servers, which was later replaced by the Integrated Systems Management Processor (ISMP). It facilitates out-of-band management through a shared serial interface or via the optional Advanced Systems Management Adapter (ASMA).

Servers equipped with ASMP include:

IBM Netfinity models 4500R, 5000, 5100, 5500, 5600, 6000R, 7100, and 7600
IBM xSeries 130 (8654), 135 (8654), and 150
IBM xSeries 230, 240, and 250
IBM xSeries 330, 340, and 350

Integrated Systems Management Processor (ISMP)

Serving as the successor to ASMP and predecessor to BMC, the Integrated Systems Management Processor is an embedded service processor requiring the addition of RSA or RSA II hardware for out-of-band management capabilities.

Servers featuring ISMP include:

IBM xSeries models 232, 235, 236, and 255
IBM xSeries models 335, 342, and 345

Baseboard Management Controller (BMC)

Commonly integrated into many older IBM Intel-based servers, the Baseboard Management Controller often works alongside optional RSA II or RSA II Slimline modules.

Integrated Management Module (IMM)

The Integrated Management Module is a modern system management solution designed for UEFI-based servers. It merges functionalities found in BMC and RSA II with Super I/O and video controller capabilities. This module interfaces directly with UEFI firmware to provide sophisticated monitoring and control features.

Key enhancements of IMM compared to earlier solutions include:

Enhanced Predictive Failure Analysis (PFA)
Options for dedicated or shared Ethernet connectivity
Virtual Light Path Diagnostics functionality
Support for email notifications and remote firmware upgrades
Remote control over power and console access at both hardware and operating system levels
Capture of screenshots upon OS failures
Ability to remotely mount virtual devices such as CD/DVD drives, USB Flash Drives, ISO or disk images, and floppy disk drives

References

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