A method and apparatus for operating a server system. In one embodiment a server-control element is coupled to the server system and is configured to provide access to management functions for managing the server system. The server-control element generates event reports in response to status data received from the server system, each event report containing status data indicative of an operational characteristic of the server system. A bridge is coupled to the server-control element and is configured to register with the server-control element to receive events reports. The bridge stores data from the event reports. Command requests received from a bridge-type client by the bridge are submitted to the server-control element, the commands specified by the command requests for invoking the management functions. The bridge provides the stored data from event reports to the bridge-type client in response to requests for the stored data.