AC82G41SLGQ3 Datasheet, PDF (546/604 Pages) Intel Corporation – Intel® 4 Series Chipset Family

Functional Description
13.8
13.8.1
Intel^® Management Engine (ME) Subsystem
The platform implements an Intel Management Engine (Intel ME) subsystem to provide
Intel^® Active Management Technology (Intel AMT) functionality. This ME was
implemented using a scaleable architecture. The ME subsystem consists of a
microcontroller, memory controller, and various I/O components spread across the
(G)MCH and ICH I/O controller.
ME has a low pin count, low power private communication link - Controller Link (CLink)
- that connects the ME-(G)MCH and ME-ICH functional logic. The CLink for the ME
subsystem is analogous to DMI for the host subsystem.
The manageability engine is a low power execution engine that provides hardware for
partitioned and/or secured firmware. The usage models for ME are in the Manageability
of the Platform (i.e., Intel QST, Intel TPM, and ASF functionality, Alerting,
Communications with Network in case of OS absent state, etc.)
ME Host Visible Functional Blocks
The ME subsystem contains various I/O and logic which is internal to ME functionality.
Additionally, it also contains Host visible PCI functions making it a multi-function PCI
device. The following are the host visible functions
HECI (Host Manageability Engine Communication Interface): HECI provides an
interface for host software and ME firmware communication. It allows for
communication between the Host processor based driver and Firmware that is running
in the ME. There are 2 HECI functions inside the ME subsystem with their independent
register space.
PT-IO (Proactive Technology IO): This block provides functionality for the core of
Intel AMT in host operating system absent state. It exposes two functions to host
software:
• IDE-R (IDE redirection): IDE-R function exposes a standard IDE device to the Host
based driver. Usage for this function is to allows the client machine with ME enabled
to transfer data back and forth between the Client and the console which is on the
Network. Typical usage model is remote boot.
• KT (Keyboard Text Redirection): KT function exposes an UART register set to the
ME Host. This allows the client to have a 2-way communication between the Client
with ME enabled and the Console over the Network. Typical usage is to send text to
a remote console and receive remote console keystrokes.
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Datasheet