How to Access the BMC KVM Console from Brainsalt Hub

Last updated 27 July 2026

How to Access the BMC KVM Console from Brainsalt Hub

Open a remote keyboard-video-mouse (KVM) session to your Brainsalt server's Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) directly inside Brainsalt Hub. This gives you full BIOS-level access to the server without leaving the Hub interface.

Embedded BMC browser with Redfish session reuse — available from Brainsalt Hub 2026-06. The Redfish session pool avoids exhausting the BMC's limited session table during repeated connections.

[USER-ACTION-REQUIRED: Attach a screenshot of the Brainsalt Hub toolbar showing the BMC Webpage button and BMC Info button for a connected server]

Before you start

  • Brainsalt Hub is running and connected to at least one Brainsalt server
  • The server has a BMC with a reachable IP address (all B7, B8, and B9 Series servers have a built-in BMC)
  • The BMC network port is connected and the BMC IP is reachable from the machine running Brainsalt Hub
  • BMC credentials are configured in Brainsalt Hub settings (default credentials are pre-configured for Brainsalt servers)

Steps

1. Select a server in Brainsalt Hub

In the Brainsalt Hub sidebar, select the server you want to access. The server must show a valid BMC IP address. When the server is selected, the toolbar at the top shows the available actions.

2. Click the Open BMC Webpage button

In the server toolbar, click the Open BMC Webpage button (globe/info icon). The tooltip displays the BMC IP address of the selected server. An embedded browser opens as a full-screen overlay, connecting to the BMC's web interface over HTTPS.

Brainsalt Hub automatically logs in to the BMC using the configured credentials. A Redfish session is created once per BMC and reused for subsequent connections. You do not need to enter credentials manually.

3. Navigate the BMC web interface

The embedded browser has a toolbar at the top with navigation controls:

  • Back / Forward — standard browser navigation

  • Reload — refresh the current page

  • URL bar — shows the current address; type a new URL and press Enter to navigate directly

  • Zoom slider — adjust the page zoom from 25% to 300% (also available via Ctrl+Scroll)

  • Close (X) — close the browser overlay. If a popup is open, closes the popup first. You can also press Esc to close.

4. Access the KVM console

Once logged in to the BMC web interface, navigate to the KVM or remote console section. The exact location depends on your BMC vendor. Brainsalt Hub auto-detects the vendor and navigates to the appropriate KVM page when possible. From there you have full keyboard, video, and mouse control of the server at the BIOS level.

Options explained

BMC credentials are configured in the Brainsalt Hub settings panel under the BMC section.

Setting

Description

Values / Range

Username / Password (B8 Supermicro)

Credentials for B8 Series servers (Supermicro BMC).

Text fields. Default: factory credentials pre-configured.

Username / Password (B7 ATEN)

Credentials for B7 Series servers (ATEN BMC).

Text fields. Default: factory credentials pre-configured.

Username / Password (B9 ASRockRack)

Credentials for B9 Series servers (ASRockRack BMC).

Text fields. Default: factory credentials pre-configured.

Health Monitoring

Periodically polls each BMC for health status. Auto-opens the BMC Info panel when issues are detected.

Checkbox. Default: enabled.

Common Mistakes

  • Browser shows a connection error or blank page — The BMC network port may not be connected, or the BMC IP is not reachable from the machine running Brainsalt Hub. Verify that you can reach the BMC IP from your network. The BMC has a dedicated Ethernet port that must be plugged in separately from the server's main network interfaces.

  • Login fails or BMC shows 'session limit reached' — Supermicro and similar BMCs have a very small session table. If previous sessions were not closed properly (e.g. the browser was force-killed), the BMC may have exhausted its session slots. Wait a few minutes for idle sessions to time out, or reboot the BMC via the BMC Info panel's power controls.

  • Credentials rejected (HTTP 401) — The BMC credentials in Brainsalt Hub settings do not match the BMC's configuration. Open the Hub settings, expand the BMC section, and verify the username and password for the correct server family (B7, B8, or B9).

  • Supermicro BMC returns 'Oem license missing' (HTTP 403) — The Supermicro DCMS OOB license key is not activated on the server's BMC. Authentication succeeds but data access is denied. Contact Brainsalt support for assistance with the BMC license.

Tips

  • The BMC KVM console works even when the server's operating system is not running. Use it for BIOS configuration, boot troubleshooting, or remote OS installation.

  • Use Ctrl+Scroll to quickly zoom in on small text in the BMC interface. The zoom range is 25% to 300%.

  • The BMC Info button (next to the BMC Webpage button) opens a data panel showing hardware sensors, temperatures, fan speeds, power supply status, and firmware versions — without needing to navigate the BMC web interface.

  • The BMC IP is auto-discovered from the server. Each Backstage server reads its BMC IP from a local file and broadcasts it to Brainsalt Hub via NDI. No manual IP configuration is needed for standard Brainsalt server setups.

  • Press Esc at any time to close the embedded browser and return to the normal Brainsalt Hub view.

What is Backstage? — Overview of Backstage and the BX Series software suite.

Settings Window Reference — Reference for all Backstage settings, including network and system configuration.