Sun Microsystems, Inc.

Nigel D Ritson

Paul Jeffrey Garnett

Helenaur Wilson

Andrew P Tosh

James Robert Kitchen

Peter Heffernan

Martin Philip Riddiford

James E King

Martin Paul Mayhead

Christopher H Frank

June Lee

James M Stanton

Graham Bestwick

Simon James Matthews

A rack mountable shelf is configured to support a plurality of field replaceable units in the form of server cartridges that each include at least one server processor. The rack mountable shelf is configured to provide communal services for said server cartridges, including at least one of supplying DC operating power to the server cartridges, distributing information signals between the server cartridges and processing system management signals for the server cartridges. Each of the server cartridges can be slideably received in a respective one of a series of server cartridge receiving locations arrayed side by side along the front of the shelf. The server cartridges can be configured as thin blades to provide a high server density. For example, 16 server cartridge receiving locations can be provided across the front of the shelf. The supply of DC operating power to the server cartridges can be provided by one or more field replaceable power supply units (e.g. two redundantly configured power supply units) mounted in the shelf. The distribution of information signals between the server cartridges can be provided by one or more switch units (e.g. two redundantly configured switch units) mounted in shelf. The processing of system management signals for the information processing modules is provided by one or more field replaceable service processor units (e.g. one service processor unit) mounted in the shelf. Each of the power supply, switch and service processor units can be slideably received in a respective receiving location at the rear of the shelf. A midplane including connectors with conductive paths therebetween can provide power, information signal and system mangagement signal connections between received field replaceable units. A multiple computer server can be formed from at least one rack mountable shelf as set out above.

Computer systems

A rack mountable shelf supports a plurality of field replaceable units (FRUs) in the form of server cartridges, or blades. The blades are provided with an enclosure that includes a metal portion and a plastics portion. The provision of a blade enclosure for the blade can protect the components of the blade from physical damage and can also isolate them from electrical, static and other effects that could be potentially damaging to the blade components. The use of metal can provide strength and electromagnetic interference shielding with a very thin layer. The use of plastics can provide lightness, flexibilty in design, and the avoidance of metal to metal contact to facilitate insertion and removal of the blades.

Computer module housing

A housing is provided for a modular computer system. The housing comprises a face through which a first removable computer system module is receivable at a module receiving location. The housing also comprises a barrier movable between a first position wherein the barrier is operable to obstruct a flow of air through the module receiving location and a second position in which the computer system module is received in the module receiving location.

Computer system cooling

Computer housing

Computer equipment

A modular computer system, for example a high density server system, includes an enclosure for receiving a number of computer system modules. A number of information processing modules, for example server blades, are receivable at a first face of the enclosure. A number of support modules of a first type, for example combined switch and service processor modules, and a number of support modules of a second type, for example power supply modules, are receivable at the second face of the enclosure. In order to provide cooling air to the first type of support modules, which are temperature sensitive, a plenum chamber provides a flow path for cooling air that bypasses the information processing modules. For the second type of support module, which is not as temperature sensitive, a flow path for cooling air is provided that passes through the information processing modules.

Cooling computer systems

An ejector mechanism is provided for a field replaceable module (e.g., a server blade) of modular computer system (e.g., a blade server system). The field replaceable module can be received in a carrier of the modular computer system and can have an elongate face. An ejector mechanism, that can possibly also act as an injection mechanism, can be located at the elongate face and can include an elongate lever extending substantially along the elongate front face. A pivotal mounting for the lever can be located towards a first end thereof and an ejection protrusion can be provided at the first end. The use of a lever that extends substantially along the elongate face of the field replaceable module provides an efficient ejection mechanism with good mechanical advantage.

Module ejection mechanism

Growing community of inventors

Aldershot, United Kingdom

Nigel D Ritson