Access to an operator panel over an out-of-band local network domain

A computing node, comprising:

• a host central processing unit
• at least one storage device for storing program instructions;
• an operator panel;
• and
• a first service processor operatively coupled to the at least one storage device and the operator panel, wherein the first service processor is not the host central processing unit, the first service processor configured to process the program instructions to:
• receive an out-of-band request for access to the operator panel from a second service processor, wherein the out-of-band request is received over a local network domain operatively coupling a plurality of service processors of a plurality of computing nodes, the plurality of service processors including the first service processor and the second service processor, wherein each of the service processors are included in a separate computing node of the plurality of computing nodes;
• send a first out-of-band reply identifying an address and one or more capabilities of the operator panel that is accessible over the local network domain, wherein the first out-of-band reply is sent to the second service processor over the local network domain;
• and
• negotiate an active link between the operator panel and the second service processor over the local network domain.