diff --git a/default-configs/i386-softmmu.mak b/default-configs/i386-softmmu.mak
index 00a0346..077b3c4 100644
--- a/default-configs/i386-softmmu.mak
+++ b/default-configs/i386-softmmu.mak
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ CONFIG_VIRTIO_VGA=y
 CONFIG_VMMOUSE=y
 CONFIG_IPMI=y
 CONFIG_IPMI_LOCAL=y
+CONFIG_IPMI_EXTERN=y
 CONFIG_SERIAL=y
 CONFIG_PARALLEL=y
 CONFIG_I8254=y
diff --git a/default-configs/x86_64-softmmu.mak b/default-configs/x86_64-softmmu.mak
index 39a619f..81b0cb0 100644
--- a/default-configs/x86_64-softmmu.mak
+++ b/default-configs/x86_64-softmmu.mak
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ CONFIG_VIRTIO_VGA=y
 CONFIG_VMMOUSE=y
 CONFIG_IPMI=y
 CONFIG_IPMI_LOCAL=y
+CONFIG_IPMI_EXTERN=y
 CONFIG_SERIAL=y
 CONFIG_PARALLEL=y
 CONFIG_I8254=y
diff --git a/hw/ipmi/Makefile.objs b/hw/ipmi/Makefile.objs
index 875271c..ddb15ec 100644
--- a/hw/ipmi/Makefile.objs
+++ b/hw/ipmi/Makefile.objs
@@ -1,2 +1,3 @@
 common-obj-$(CONFIG_IPMI) += ipmi.o
 common-obj-$(CONFIG_IPMI_LOCAL) += ipmi_bmc_sim.o
+common-obj-$(CONFIG_IPMI_LOCAL) += ipmi_bmc_extern.o
diff --git a/hw/ipmi/ipmi_bmc_extern.c b/hw/ipmi/ipmi_bmc_extern.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d4669f0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hw/ipmi/ipmi_bmc_extern.c
@@ -0,0 +1,478 @@
+/*
+ * IPMI BMC external connection
+ *
+ * Copyright (c) 2015 Corey Minyard, MontaVista Software, LLC
+ *
+ * Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
+ * of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
+ * in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
+ * to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
+ * copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
+ * furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
+ *
+ * The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in
+ * all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+ *
+ * THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
+ * IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
+ * FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL
+ * THE AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
+ * LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
+ * OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN
+ * THE SOFTWARE.
+ */
+
+/*
+ * This is designed to connect with OpenIPMI's lanserv serial interface
+ * using the "VM" connection type.  See that for details.
+ */
+
+#include <stdint.h>
+#include "qemu/timer.h"
+#include "sysemu/char.h"
+#include "hw/ipmi/ipmi.h"
+
+#define VM_MSG_CHAR        0xA0 /* Marks end of message */
+#define VM_CMD_CHAR        0xA1 /* Marks end of a command */
+#define VM_ESCAPE_CHAR     0xAA /* Set bit 4 from the next byte to 0 */
+
+#define VM_PROTOCOL_VERSION        1
+#define VM_CMD_VERSION             0xff /* A version number byte follows */
+#define VM_CMD_NOATTN              0x00
+#define VM_CMD_ATTN                0x01
+#define VM_CMD_ATTN_IRQ            0x02
+#define VM_CMD_POWEROFF            0x03
+#define VM_CMD_RESET               0x04
+#define VM_CMD_ENABLE_IRQ          0x05 /* Enable/disable the messaging irq */
+#define VM_CMD_DISABLE_IRQ         0x06
+#define VM_CMD_SEND_NMI            0x07
+#define VM_CMD_CAPABILITIES        0x08
+#define   VM_CAPABILITIES_POWER    0x01
+#define   VM_CAPABILITIES_RESET    0x02
+#define   VM_CAPABILITIES_IRQ      0x04
+#define   VM_CAPABILITIES_NMI      0x08
+#define   VM_CAPABILITIES_ATTN     0x10
+
+#define TYPE_IPMI_BMC_EXTERN "ipmi-bmc-extern"
+#define IPMI_BMC_EXTERN(obj) OBJECT_CHECK(IPMIBmcExtern, (obj), \
+                                        TYPE_IPMI_BMC_EXTERN)
+typedef struct IPMIBmcExtern {
+    IPMIBmc parent;
+
+    CharDriverState *chr;
+
+    bool connected;
+
+    unsigned char inbuf[MAX_IPMI_MSG_SIZE + 2];
+    unsigned int inpos;
+    bool in_escape;
+    bool in_too_many;
+    bool waiting_rsp;
+    bool sending_cmd;
+
+    unsigned char outbuf[(MAX_IPMI_MSG_SIZE + 2) * 2 + 1];
+    unsigned int outpos;
+    unsigned int outlen;
+
+    struct QEMUTimer *extern_timer;
+
+    /* A reset event is pending to be sent upstream. */
+    bool send_reset;
+} IPMIBmcExtern;
+
+static int can_receive(void *opaque);
+static void receive(void *opaque, const uint8_t *buf, int size);
+static void chr_event(void *opaque, int event);
+
+static unsigned char
+ipmb_checksum(const unsigned char *data, int size, unsigned char start)
+{
+        unsigned char csum = start;
+
+        for (; size > 0; size--, data++) {
+                csum += *data;
+        }
+        return csum;
+}
+
+static void continue_send(IPMIBmcExtern *ibe)
+{
+    if (ibe->outlen == 0) {
+        goto check_reset;
+    }
+ send:
+    ibe->outpos += qemu_chr_fe_write(ibe->chr, ibe->outbuf + ibe->outpos,
+                                     ibe->outlen - ibe->outpos);
+    if (ibe->outpos < ibe->outlen) {
+        /* Not fully transmitted, try again in a 10ms */
+        timer_mod_ns(ibe->extern_timer,
+                     qemu_clock_get_ns(QEMU_CLOCK_VIRTUAL) + 10000000);
+    } else {
+        /* Sent */
+        ibe->outlen = 0;
+        ibe->outpos = 0;
+        if (!ibe->sending_cmd) {
+            ibe->waiting_rsp = true;
+        } else {
+            ibe->sending_cmd = false;
+        }
+    check_reset:
+        if (ibe->connected && ibe->send_reset) {
+            /* Send the reset */
+            ibe->outbuf[0] = VM_CMD_RESET;
+            ibe->outbuf[1] = VM_CMD_CHAR;
+            ibe->outlen = 2;
+            ibe->outpos = 0;
+            ibe->send_reset = false;
+            ibe->sending_cmd = true;
+            goto send;
+        }
+
+        if (ibe->waiting_rsp) {
+            /* Make sure we get a response within 4 seconds. */
+            timer_mod_ns(ibe->extern_timer,
+                         qemu_clock_get_ns(QEMU_CLOCK_VIRTUAL) + 4000000000ULL);
+        }
+    }
+    return;
+}
+
+static void extern_timeout(void *opaque)
+{
+    IPMIBmcExtern *ibe = opaque;
+    IPMIInterface *s = ibe->parent.intf;
+
+    if (ibe->connected) {
+        if (ibe->waiting_rsp && (ibe->outlen == 0)) {
+            IPMIInterfaceClass *k = IPMI_INTERFACE_GET_CLASS(s);
+            /* The message response timed out, return an error. */
+            ibe->waiting_rsp = false;
+            ibe->inbuf[1] = ibe->outbuf[1] | 0x04;
+            ibe->inbuf[2] = ibe->outbuf[2];
+            ibe->inbuf[3] = IPMI_CC_TIMEOUT;
+            k->handle_rsp(s, ibe->outbuf[0], ibe->inbuf + 1, 3);
+        } else {
+            continue_send(ibe);
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+static void addchar(IPMIBmcExtern *ibe, unsigned char ch)
+{
+    switch (ch) {
+    case VM_MSG_CHAR:
+    case VM_CMD_CHAR:
+    case VM_ESCAPE_CHAR:
+        ibe->outbuf[ibe->outlen] = VM_ESCAPE_CHAR;
+        ibe->outlen++;
+        ch |= 0x10;
+        /* No break */
+
+    default:
+        ibe->outbuf[ibe->outlen] = ch;
+        ibe->outlen++;
+    }
+}
+
+static void ipmi_bmc_extern_handle_command(IPMIBmc *b,
+                                       uint8_t *cmd, unsigned int cmd_len,
+                                       unsigned int max_cmd_len,
+                                       uint8_t msg_id)
+{
+    IPMIBmcExtern *ibe = IPMI_BMC_EXTERN(b);
+    IPMIInterface *s = ibe->parent.intf;
+    uint8_t err = 0, csum;
+    unsigned int i;
+
+    if (ibe->outlen) {
+        /* We already have a command queued.  Shouldn't ever happen. */
+        fprintf(stderr, "IPMI KCS: Got command when not finished with the"
+                " previous commmand\n");
+        abort();
+    }
+
+    /* If it's too short or it was truncated, return an error. */
+    if (cmd_len < 2) {
+        err = IPMI_CC_REQUEST_DATA_LENGTH_INVALID;
+    } else if ((cmd_len > max_cmd_len) || (cmd_len > MAX_IPMI_MSG_SIZE)) {
+        err = IPMI_CC_REQUEST_DATA_TRUNCATED;
+    } else if (!ibe->connected) {
+        err = IPMI_CC_BMC_INIT_IN_PROGRESS;
+    }
+    if (err) {
+        IPMIInterfaceClass *k = IPMI_INTERFACE_GET_CLASS(s);
+        unsigned char rsp[3];
+        rsp[0] = cmd[0] | 0x04;
+        rsp[1] = cmd[1];
+        rsp[2] = err;
+        ibe->waiting_rsp = false;
+        k->handle_rsp(s, msg_id, rsp, 3);
+        goto out;
+    }
+
+    addchar(ibe, msg_id);
+    for (i = 0; i < cmd_len; i++) {
+        addchar(ibe, cmd[i]);
+    }
+    csum = ipmb_checksum(&msg_id, 1, 0);
+    addchar(ibe, -ipmb_checksum(cmd, cmd_len, csum));
+
+    ibe->outbuf[ibe->outlen] = VM_MSG_CHAR;
+    ibe->outlen++;
+
+    /* Start the transmit */
+    continue_send(ibe);
+
+ out:
+    return;
+}
+
+static void handle_hw_op(IPMIBmcExtern *ibe, unsigned char hw_op)
+{
+    IPMIInterface *s = ibe->parent.intf;
+    IPMIInterfaceClass *k = IPMI_INTERFACE_GET_CLASS(s);
+
+    switch (hw_op) {
+    case VM_CMD_VERSION:
+        /* We only support one version at this time. */
+        break;
+
+    case VM_CMD_NOATTN:
+        k->set_atn(s, 0, 0);
+        break;
+
+    case VM_CMD_ATTN:
+        k->set_atn(s, 1, 0);
+        break;
+
+    case VM_CMD_ATTN_IRQ:
+        k->set_atn(s, 1, 1);
+        break;
+
+    case VM_CMD_POWEROFF:
+        k->do_hw_op(s, IPMI_POWEROFF_CHASSIS, 0);
+        break;
+
+    case VM_CMD_RESET:
+        k->do_hw_op(s, IPMI_RESET_CHASSIS, 0);
+        break;
+
+    case VM_CMD_ENABLE_IRQ:
+        k->set_irq_enable(s, 1);
+        break;
+
+    case VM_CMD_DISABLE_IRQ:
+        k->set_irq_enable(s, 0);
+        break;
+
+    case VM_CMD_SEND_NMI:
+        k->do_hw_op(s, IPMI_SEND_NMI, 0);
+        break;
+    }
+}
+
+static void handle_msg(IPMIBmcExtern *ibe)
+{
+    IPMIInterfaceClass *k = IPMI_INTERFACE_GET_CLASS(ibe->parent.intf);
+
+    if (ibe->in_escape) {
+        ipmi_debug("msg escape not ended\n");
+        return;
+    }
+    if (ibe->inpos < 5) {
+        ipmi_debug("msg too short\n");
+        return;
+    }
+    if (ibe->in_too_many) {
+        ibe->inbuf[3] = IPMI_CC_REQUEST_DATA_TRUNCATED;
+        ibe->inpos = 4;
+    } else if (ipmb_checksum(ibe->inbuf, ibe->inpos, 0) != 0) {
+        ipmi_debug("msg checksum failure\n");
+        return;
+    } else {
+        ibe->inpos--; /* Remove checkum */
+    }
+
+    timer_del(ibe->extern_timer);
+    ibe->waiting_rsp = false;
+    k->handle_rsp(ibe->parent.intf, ibe->inbuf[0], ibe->inbuf + 1, ibe->inpos - 1);
+}
+
+static int can_receive(void *opaque)
+{
+    return 1;
+}
+
+static void receive(void *opaque, const uint8_t *buf, int size)
+{
+    IPMIBmcExtern *ibe = opaque;
+    int i;
+    unsigned char hw_op;
+
+    for (i = 0; i < size; i++) {
+        unsigned char ch = buf[i];
+
+        switch (ch) {
+        case VM_MSG_CHAR:
+            handle_msg(ibe);
+            ibe->in_too_many = false;
+            ibe->inpos = 0;
+            break;
+
+        case VM_CMD_CHAR:
+            if (ibe->in_too_many) {
+                ipmi_debug("cmd in too many\n");
+                ibe->in_too_many = false;
+                ibe->inpos = 0;
+                break;
+            }
+            if (ibe->in_escape) {
+                ipmi_debug("cmd in escape\n");
+                ibe->in_too_many = false;
+                ibe->inpos = 0;
+                ibe->in_escape = false;
+                break;
+            }
+            ibe->in_too_many = false;
+            if (ibe->inpos < 1) {
+                break;
+            }
+            hw_op = ibe->inbuf[0];
+            ibe->inpos = 0;
+            goto out_hw_op;
+            break;
+
+        case VM_ESCAPE_CHAR:
+            ibe->in_escape = true;
+            break;
+
+        default:
+            if (ibe->in_escape) {
+                ch &= ~0x10;
+                ibe->in_escape = false;
+            }
+            if (ibe->in_too_many) {
+                break;
+            }
+            if (ibe->inpos >= sizeof(ibe->inbuf)) {
+                ibe->in_too_many = true;
+                break;
+            }
+            ibe->inbuf[ibe->inpos] = ch;
+            ibe->inpos++;
+            break;
+        }
+    }
+    return;
+
+ out_hw_op:
+    handle_hw_op(ibe, hw_op);
+}
+
+static void chr_event(void *opaque, int event)
+{
+    IPMIBmcExtern *ibe = opaque;
+    IPMIInterface *s = ibe->parent.intf;
+    IPMIInterfaceClass *k = IPMI_INTERFACE_GET_CLASS(s);
+    unsigned char v;
+
+    switch (event) {
+    case CHR_EVENT_OPENED:
+        ibe->connected = true;
+        ibe->outpos = 0;
+        ibe->outlen = 0;
+        addchar(ibe, VM_CMD_VERSION);
+        addchar(ibe, VM_PROTOCOL_VERSION);
+        ibe->outbuf[ibe->outlen] = VM_CMD_CHAR;
+        ibe->outlen++;
+        addchar(ibe, VM_CMD_CAPABILITIES);
+        v = VM_CAPABILITIES_IRQ | VM_CAPABILITIES_ATTN;
+        if (k->do_hw_op(ibe->parent.intf, IPMI_POWEROFF_CHASSIS, 1) == 0) {
+            v |= VM_CAPABILITIES_POWER;
+        }
+        if (k->do_hw_op(ibe->parent.intf, IPMI_RESET_CHASSIS, 1) == 0) {
+            v |= VM_CAPABILITIES_RESET;
+        }
+        if (k->do_hw_op(ibe->parent.intf, IPMI_SEND_NMI, 1) == 0) {
+            v |= VM_CAPABILITIES_NMI;
+        }
+        addchar(ibe, v);
+        ibe->outbuf[ibe->outlen] = VM_CMD_CHAR;
+        ibe->outlen++;
+        ibe->sending_cmd = false;
+        continue_send(ibe);
+        break;
+
+    case CHR_EVENT_CLOSED:
+        if (!ibe->connected) {
+            return;
+        }
+        ibe->connected = false;
+        if (ibe->waiting_rsp) {
+            ibe->waiting_rsp = false;
+            ibe->inbuf[1] = ibe->outbuf[1] | 0x04;
+            ibe->inbuf[2] = ibe->outbuf[2];
+            ibe->inbuf[3] = IPMI_CC_BMC_INIT_IN_PROGRESS;
+            k->handle_rsp(s, ibe->outbuf[0], ibe->inbuf + 1, 3);
+        }
+        break;
+    }
+}
+
+static void ipmi_bmc_extern_handle_reset(IPMIBmc *b)
+{
+    IPMIBmcExtern *ibe = IPMI_BMC_EXTERN(b);
+
+    ibe->send_reset = true;
+    continue_send(ibe);
+}
+
+static void ipmi_bmc_extern_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
+{
+    IPMIBmcExtern *ibe = IPMI_BMC_EXTERN(dev);
+
+    if (!ibe->chr) {
+        error_setg(errp, "IPMI external bmc requires chardev attribute");
+        return;
+    }
+
+    qemu_chr_add_handlers(ibe->chr, can_receive, receive, chr_event, ibe);
+}
+
+static void ipmi_bmc_extern_init(Object *obj)
+{
+    IPMIBmcExtern *ibe = IPMI_BMC_EXTERN(obj);
+
+    ibe->extern_timer = timer_new_ns(QEMU_CLOCK_VIRTUAL, extern_timeout, ibe);
+}
+
+static Property ipmi_bmc_extern_properties[] = {
+    DEFINE_PROP_CHR("chardev", IPMIBmcExtern, chr),
+    DEFINE_PROP_END_OF_LIST(),
+};
+
+static void ipmi_bmc_extern_class_init(ObjectClass *oc, void *data)
+{
+    DeviceClass *dc = DEVICE_CLASS(oc);
+    IPMIBmcClass *bk = IPMI_BMC_CLASS(oc);
+
+    bk->handle_command = ipmi_bmc_extern_handle_command;
+    bk->handle_reset = ipmi_bmc_extern_handle_reset;
+    dc->realize = ipmi_bmc_extern_realize;
+    dc->props = ipmi_bmc_extern_properties;
+}
+
+static const TypeInfo ipmi_bmc_extern_type = {
+    .name          = TYPE_IPMI_BMC_EXTERN,
+    .parent        = TYPE_IPMI_BMC,
+    .instance_size = sizeof(IPMIBmcExtern),
+    .instance_init = ipmi_bmc_extern_init,
+    .class_init    = ipmi_bmc_extern_class_init,
+ };
+
+static void ipmi_bmc_extern_register_types(void)
+{
+    type_register_static(&ipmi_bmc_extern_type);
+}
+
+type_init(ipmi_bmc_extern_register_types)
