Low cost computer system module interface

• US 20030033365A1
• Filed: 06/14/2002
• Published: 02/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Heffernan, Peter, Mayhead, Martin P., King, James E., Garnett, Paul J.
• Application Number:
  US10/172,721
• Publication Number:
  US 20030033365A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/183 Internal mounting support structures, e.g. for printed circuit boards, internal connecting means for buses G06F13/409
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/187 Mounting of fixed and removable disk drives
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/55 Detecting local intrusion or implementing counter-measures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/629 to features or functions of an application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2119 Authenticating web pages, e.g. with suspicious links
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2137 Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2141 Access rights, e.g. capability lists, access control lists, access tables, access matrices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/128 of the plurality of recording/reproducing devices, e.g. disk drives, onto a chassis
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1416 Event detection, e.g. attack signature detection
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1425 of standardised dimensions, e.g. 19"-subrack
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1489 characterized by the mounting of blades therein, e.g. brackets, rails, trays H05K7/1491 takes precedence

Abstract

An information processing module in the form of a blade server is provided for a modular computer system, for example a high density computer system. To enhance reliability, multiple redundant information connections are provided from the information. However to reduce the cost of providing such multiple redundant information connections, a common information protocol interface is shared between information connections. A common physical layer interface can also be shared between information connections. For example, switching logic can be provided between the common physical layer interface and the information connections. Alternatively, a common information protocol interface can be connected via switching logic to multiple physical layer interfaces (e.g., one per information connection).

Claims

1. An information processing module for a modular computer system, the information processing module comprising at least one processor operable to perform information processing, module information connections for communicating information signals, and at least one module information signal interface connected between said at least one processor and said module information connections, wherein said at least one module information signal interface comprises at least one common module information protocol interface connected to at least one module physical layer interface, said at least one common module information protocol interface being connectable to at least one selectable module information connection via said at least one module physical layer interface.

2. The information processing module of claim 1, comprising two module information connections.

3. The information processing module of claim 1, wherein said at least one common module information protocol interface is connected to at least one common module physical layer interface, switching logic is connected between said at least one common module physical layer interface and said module information connections, and said switching logic is operable selectively to connect said at least one common module physical layer interface to at least one of said module information connections.

4. The information processing module of claim 3, comprising a single common module physical layer interface.

5. The information processing module of claim 1, comprising switching logic connected between said at least one common information protocol interface and a plurality of module physical layer interfaces, wherein said switching logic is operable selectively to connect said at least one common module information protocol interface to at least one of said plurality of module physical layer interfaces.

6. The information processing module of claim 5, comprising a single common module information protocol interface.

7. The information processing module of claim 3, wherein said switching logic is controlled by a signal generated by at least one said module information protocol interface.

8. The information processing module of claim 5, wherein said switching logic is controlled by a signal generated by at least one said module information protocol interface.

9. The information processing module of claim 1, wherein said at least one common module information protocol interface comprises an Ethernet interface.

10. The information processing module of claim 1, wherein said at least one common module information protocol interface comprises an Infiniband interface.

11. The information processing module of claim 1, wherein said at least one module information physical layer interface comprises a serializer/deserializer.

12. The information processing module of claim 1, further comprising an internal storage device.

13. The information processing module of claim 1, comprising an enclosure.

14. The information processing module of claim 1, configured as a field replaceable server blade.

15. A modular computer system comprising a carrier including:

at least one module receiving location configured to receive an information processing module and comprising a plurality of carrier information connections operable to interconnect with a corresponding module information connection of a received information processing module, a plurality of switches, each connectable to a respective carrier information connection of said at least one module receiving location and operable to connect the information processing module to an external information network; and

an information processing module receivable in said at least one module receiving location and comprising at least one processor operable to perform information processing, module information connections for communicating information signals, and at least one module information signal interface connected between said at least one processor and said module information connections, wherein said at least one module information signal interface comprises at least one common module information protocol interface connected to at least one module physical layer interface, said at least one common module information protocol interface being connectable to at least one selectable module information connection via said at least one module physical layer interface.

16. The computer system of claim 15, comprising two switches, said at least one module receiving location comprising two carrier information connections.

17. The computer system of claim 15, wherein said at least one module receiving location is configured removably to receive one information processing module.

18. The computer system of claims 15, wherein the carrier is configured to receive a plurality of information processing modules in respective module receiving locations.

19. The computer system of claim 15, comprising first and second switch modules removably mountable in the carrier, each switch module comprising a respective switch.

20. The computer system of claim 19, wherein each switch module further comprises a respective service processor to form a combined switch and service processor module.

21. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the carrier comprises at least one power supply connectable to each information processing module received in a carrier receiving location via respective power connections.

22. The computer system of claim 21, wherein the carrier comprises a plurality of power supplies, each power supply being connectable to each information processing module received in a carrier receiving location via respective power connections.

23. The computer system of claim 21, wherein each power supply is removably receivable in the carrier.

24. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the carrier is a rack mountable shelf.

25. A server blade comprising at least one processor operable to perform information processing, a plurality of information connections for communicating information signals, and an information signal interface connected between said at least one processor and said information connections, wherein said information signal interface comprises a common information protocol interface connected to at least one physical layer interface, said common information protocol interface being connectable to at least one selectable information connection via said at least one physical layer interface.

26. The blade of claim 25, comprising two information connections.

27. The blade of claim 26, wherein said common information protocol interface is connected to a common physical layer interface, switching logic being connected between said common physical layer interface and said information connections, wherein said switching logic is operable selectively to connect said common physical layer interface to at least one of said information connections.

28. The blade of claim 27, comprising a single common physical layer interface.

29. The blade of claim 26, comprising switching logic connected between said common information protocol interface and a plurality of physical layer interfaces, wherein said switching logic is operable selectively to connect said common information protocol interface to at least one of said physical layer interfaces.

30. The blade of claim 29, comprising a single common information protocol interface.

31. The blade of claim 27, wherein said switching logic is controlled by a signal generated by at least one said information protocol interface.

32. The blade of claim 29, wherein said switching logic is controlled by a signal generated by at least one said information protocol interface.

33. The blade of claim 25, wherein said common information protocol interface comprises an Ethernet interface.

34. The blade of claim 25, wherein said common information protocol interface comprises an Infiniband interface.

35. The blade of claim 25, wherein said at least one information physical layer interface comprises a serializer/deserializer.

36. The blade of claim 25, further comprising an internal storage device.

37. The blade of claim 25, comprising an enclosure.

38. The blade of claim 25 configured to be field replaceable.

39. A method of interconnecting an information processing module to other components of a modular computer system wherein the information processing module includes at least one processor operable to perform information processing, the method comprising:

said at least one processor communicating information signals over a plurality of information connections via at least one module information signal interface connected between said at least one processor and said module information connections, wherein said at least one module information signal interface comprises at least one common module information protocol interface connected to at least one module physical layer interface, said at least one common module information protocol interface being connectable to at least one selectable module information connection via said at least one module physical layer interface.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein said at least one processor communicates information via a common information protocol interface, a common physical layer interface and switching logic, the switching logic selectively connecting the common physical layer interface to the information connections.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein said at least one processor communicates information via a common information protocol interface, switching logic, and a plurality of physical layer interfaces, each connected to a respective information connection, the switching logic selectively connecting the common information protocol interface to selected ones of the physical layer interfaces.

42. An information processing module for a modular computer system, the information processing module comprising processor means for performing information processing, a plurality of information connections means for communicating information signals, information signal interface means for connecting said processor means to said information connection means, said information signal interface means comprising common information protocol interface means and at least one physical layer interface means.

43. The information processing module of claim 42, comprising common information protocol interface means, common physical layer interface means and switching means, the switching means selectively connecting the common physical layer interface means to the information connection means.

44. The information processing module of claim 42, comprising common information protocol interface means, switching means, and a plurality of physical layer interfaces means, each connected to a respective information connection means, the switching means selectiveiy connecting the common information protocol interface means to selected ones of the physical layer interface means.