So OpenBMC is fine (happy for them!), but having open firmware is much deeper and broader than that: yes, it's the service processor (in contrast to the BMC which is a closed part on Dell machines) -- but it's also the root-of-trust and (especially) the host CPU itself. We at Oxide have open source software from first instruction out of the AMD PSP; I elaborated more on our approach in my OSFC 2022 talk.[0]
[0] https://www.osfc.io/2022/talks/i-have-come-to-bury-the-bios-...
Re:Oxide: The Cloud Computer
by Always_Anon on Thursday October 26, 2023 @01:28PM
(#38028852)
Dell now ships with OpenBMC iDRACs and such. How does what you mention differ from the RoT in Dells?
Re:Oxide: The Cloud Computer
by c_o_n_v_e_x on Friday October 27, 2023 @12:02AM
(#38034552)
Dell uses trusted platform modules (TPM). It's a separate chipset than the BMC chipset.
For a mostly open source solution, not only would you need open source BMC firmware, you must have an open source UEFI/BIOS/boot firmware like CoreBoot, LinuxBoot, Oreboot, Uboot, etc.
Their competition has open source firmware as well:
https://www.dell.com/en-us/blog/enabling-open-embedded-syste...