Self-morphing server platforms

Abstract

Dynamically configurable server platforms and associated apparatus and methods. A server platform including a plurality of CPUs installed in respective sockets may be dynamically configured as multiple single-socket servers and as a multi-socket server. The CPUs are connected to a platform manager component comprising an SoC including one or more processors and an embedded FPGA. Following a platform reset, an FPGA image is loaded, dynamically configuring functional blocks and interfaces on the platform manager. The platform manager also includes pre-defined functional blocks and interfaces. During platform initialization the dynamically-configured functional blocks and interfaces are used to initialize the server platform, while both the pre-defined and dynamically-configured functional blocks and interfaces are used to support run-time operations. The server platform may be used in conventional rack architectures or implemented in a disaggregated rack architecture under which the single-socket and/or multi-socket servers are dynamically composed to employ disaggregated resources, such as memory, storage, and accelerators.