A computer system comprising: a console comprising an Ethernet hub controller, a first coupling site and a second coupling site, the console being an enclosure housing the Ethernet hub controller, the coupling sites, and a plurality of computer modules, each coupled to one of the coupling sites; each computer module comprising a processing unit, a main memory coupled to the processing unit, an interface controller coupled to a differential signal channel of two unidirectional serial bit streams which transmit data in opposite directions for communicating encoded serialized Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus transaction data to a connector, and an Ethernet controller coupled to the Ethernet hub controller for communication between the computer modules; wherein each of the computer modules operates fully independent of each other. view more

A computer system comprising: a console comprising a power supply, a first coupling site and a second coupling site, each coupling site comprising a connector and a slot, the console being a first enclosure housing the coupling sites, a serial communication hub controller powered by the power supply, and a plurality of computer modules; each computer module coupled to one of the coupling site through the connector and the slot, comprising a processing unit, a main memory coupled to the processing unit, circuitry that can vary a clock frequency of the processing unit for varying its power consumption, a communication controller coupled to the serial communication hub controller through the connector of the coupling site, and an interface controller coupled to a differential signal channel for communicating encoded serial data stream of Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus transaction; wherein each of the computer modules operates fully independent of each other. view more

A computer system comprising: a console comprising an Ethernet hub controller, a first coupling site and a second coupling site, each coupling site comprising a connector and a slot, the console being an enclosure housing the Ethernet hub controller, each coupling site, and a plurality of computer modules, each coupled to one of the coupling sites through the connector and the slot; each computer module comprising a processing unit, a main memory coupled to the processing unit, circuitry that can vary the clock frequency of the processing unit for varying its power consumption, an interface controller coupled to a differential signal channel for communicating encoded serial bit stream of Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus transaction, and an Ethernet controller coupled to the Ethernet hub controller through the connector of the coupling site for communication between the computer modules; wherein each of the computer modules operates independent of each other, and wherein one of the computer modules can replace another one of the computer modules in operation. view more

The computer system of claim 56 wherein the differential signal channel comprises two sets of unidirectional serial bit channels which transmit data in opposite directions.

The system of claim 10 further comprising a user interface device switch coupled to each of the computer modules and coupled to a user interface device, the user interface device switch being adapted to connect the user interface device to either one of the computer modules. view more