DCMHS

Overview

DCMHS (Data Center Modular Hardware System) is an OCP modular server architecture where the main server chassis, DCSCM (DC Secure Control Module), and supporting infrastructure remain in place while the HPM (Host Processor Module) can be hot-swapped between different processor vendors (x86, ARM, RISC-V). This enables hardware upgrades and cross-vendor flexibility without replacing the full server. The key firmware requirement is that BIOS and BMC firmware must be dynamically built for the inserted HPM rather than statically configured at manufacturing time.

AMI demonstrated a working DCMHS prototype at an OCP summit prior to 2025, where it successfully swapped the HPM between vendor processor designs while the DCSCM remained in place, with BIOS and BMC firmware dynamically generated for each configuration. AMI plans to contribute reference firmware code to OCP for this capability. The DC-MHS PnP program (v0.5, V1 targeted 2026) is active within OCP, with HPE co-leading the effort.