Intercoupling apparatus for server computer systems

• US 20050021704A1
• Filed: 06/11/2003
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Koehler, Loren M., Larson, Thane M.
• Application Number:
  US10/460,288
• Publication Number:
  US 20050021704A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1457 Power distribution arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1498 Resource management, Optimisation arrangements, e.g. configuration, identification, tracking, physical location thermal management H05K7/20836

Abstract

An intercoupling apparatus for server computer systems. The intercoupling apparatus can be used with bladed or rack mountable server computer systems. The intercoupling apparatus comprises a substantially rigid coupling element for coupling a plurality of rack mountable server computer systems in a network topology. A wide variety of networking topologies can be implemented, including star and mesh topologies. The intercoupling apparatus further comprises an on-board management function integral to the substantially rigid coupling element.

Claims

1. An intercoupling apparatus comprising:

a substantially rigid coupling element for coupling a plurality of rack mountable server computer systems in a network topology;

a network management processor integral to said coupling element and coupled to said plurality of rack mountable server computer systems; and

wherein said network management processor is for performing a management function of said plurality of rack mountable server computer systems.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a high availability side band coupling for coupling two of said plurality of rack mountable server computer systems.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a coupling for power for said plurality of rack mountable server computer systems.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said management function is reporting a location code of said apparatus.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said management function is load balancing among said plurality of rack mountable server computer systems.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said management function is notifying a management entity in the event of a failure of a power supply coupled to said apparatus.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said management function is generating an indicator in the event of a failure of a device coupled to said apparatus.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said management function is generating an indicator for identification of a device coupled to said apparatus.

9. An intercoupling apparatus comprising:

a substantially rigid coupling element for coupling a plurality of server computer systems in a network topology;

a networking switch function integral to said coupling element;

a network management processor integral to said coupling element and coupled to said plurality of rack mountable server computer systems; and

wherein said network management processor is for performing a management function of plurality of rack mountable server computer systems.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a high availability side band coupling for coupling two of said plurality of server computer systems.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a coupling for power for said plurality of server computer systems.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said management function is reporting a location code of said apparatus.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said management function is load balancing among said plurality of server computer systems.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said management function is notifying a management entity in the event of a failure of a power supply coupled to said apparatus.

15. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said management function is generating an indicator in the event of a failure of a device coupled to said apparatus.

16. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said management function is generating an indicator for identification of a device coupled to said apparatus.

17. A group of server computer systems comprising:

a plurality of server computer systems;

a substantially rigid coupling element for coupling a plurality of server computer systems in a network topology;

a networking switch function integral to said coupling element;

a network management processor integral to said coupling element and coupled to said plurality of rack mountable server computer systems; and

wherein said network management processor is for performing a management function of plurality of rack mountable server computer systems.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a high availability side band coupling for coupling two of said plurality of server computer systems.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 further comprising a coupling for power for said plurality of server computer systems.

20. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said server computer systems are rack mountable server computer systems.