DMTF’s Platform Management Communications Infrastructure (PMCI) Working Group recently published a presentation, which shares its goals and approach to a common and extensible format for the Field Replaceable Unit (FRU) Data Model Specification. The presentation, now available for download, is a proposal for a minimum common FRU format and access.

Designed to be referenced by other standards organizations and developers, DMTF is seeking public comment before finalization. Feedback may be submitted through DMTF’s website at https://www.dmtf.org/standards/feedback/.

The upcoming FRU Data Format specification (DSP0220) defines a new layout of FRU data at rest (in storage), along with the support of a simple file directory to support multiple aggregate sections of FRU data. To enable wide industry adoption, the new specification will support a variety of data formats for the FRU File and enables compatibility with the legacy IPMI Platform Management FRU Information Storage Definition.

In addition, an update to the PLDM for FRU Data Specification (DSP0257) is planned to provide a streamlined, intuitive mechanism for read/write access to a single FRU data item using PLDM. Larger aggregate sections of the FRU data can also be transferred using the recently released PLDM for File Transfer (DSP0242) specification.

Recently, DMTF hosted the 2024 Manageability Workshop at the OCP Global Summit where a preview of the FRU Format and Data Transfer was presented.

For more information about the PMCI Working Group and the platform management standards it defines, please visit https://www.dmtf.org/standards/pmci.