Modular server architecture with Ethernet routed across a backplane utilizing an integrated Ethernet switch module

• US 7,339,786 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2002
• Issued: 03/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Bottom, David A, Harvey, Tim
• Primary Examiner(s): Lea-Edmonds; Lisa
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAUGHTON, ANTHONY MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US10/091,695
• Publication Number:
  US 20020124114A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,191 Days
• Field of Search: 361/685, 361/727, 361/683, 361/686, 361/788, 361/796, 710/100, 710/301, 439/61, 439/62
• US Class Current: 361/679.41
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/205 Quality of Service based
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/351 for local area network [LAN], e.g. Ethernet switches
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/40 Constructional details, e.g. power supply, mechanical construction or backplane

Abstract

A modular server system includes a midplane having a system management bus and a plurality of blade interfaces on the midplane. The blade interfaces are in electrical communication with each other. A server blade is removeably connectable to one of the plurality of blade interfaces on the midplane. The server blade has a server blade system management bus in electrical communication with the system management bus of the midplane, and a network interface to connect to a network. A media blade is removeably connectable to one of the plurality of blade interfaces on the midplane, and the media blade has at least one storage medium device.

Claims

1. A modular server system, comprising:

a midplane having a system management bus and a plurality of blade interfaces, the blade interfaces in electrical communication with each other and the system management bus;

a server blade inserted into one of the plurality of blade interfaces on the midplane, the server blade having a server blade system management bus in electrical communication with the system management bus of the midplane, and a network interface to connect to a network; and

a plurality of switch blades to perform network switching between the server blade and any number of other server blades inserted into the plurality of blade interfaces, wherein the plurality of switch blades are inserted into one of the plurality of blade interfaces on the midplane.

2. The modular server system according to claim 1, further including a power supply module coupled to the midplane to provide power to the modular server system.

3. The modular server system according to claim 1, further including a cooling fan module coupled to the modular server system to cool the modular server system.

4. The modular server system according to claim 1, further including a media blade inserted into one of the plurality of blade interfaces on the midplane, the media blade having at least one media device.

5. The modular server system according to claim 4, wherein the at least one media device includes a hard disk drive.

6. The modular server system according to claim 1, further including a chassis to house the midplane, the server blade, and the plurality of switch blades.

7. The modular server system according to claim 1, wherein the server blade and the plurality of switch blades are hot swappable.

8. The modular server system according to claim 4, wherein the server blade and the media blade in combination form an individual server system.

9. The modular server system according to claim 4, wherein the at least one media device is selected from the group consisting of a storage medium device, a graphics processing device, an audio processing device, and a streaming media processing device.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one management blade coupled to one of the plurality of blade interfaces to monitor operation of one or more devices.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the one or more devices comprise:

the midplane, at least one device coupled to the midplane, or combinations thereof.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the management blade is to monitor an on-board operating voltage or temperature of at least one of the one or more devices.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the management blade is to cause generation of an alarm if a threshold value is exceeded.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the server blade is configured to operate as the management blade.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the network interface comprises a network connector jack accessible through a faceplate on the server blade.

16. A modular server system, comprising:

a midplane having a system management bus, a first side, a second side, and a plurality of blade interfaces on the first side and the second side, the blade interfaces on the first side in electrical communication with the blade interfaces on the second side and the system management bus;

a plurality of server blades, each server blade inserted into one of the plurality of blade interfaces on the first side of the midplane, the server blades each having a server blade system management bus in electrical communication with the system management bus of the midplane, and a network interface to connect to a network; and

a plurality of switch blades to perform network switching between any number of the server blades and between an external network, wherein at least two switch blades are inserted into one of the plurality of blade interfaces on the midplane.

17. The modular server system according to claim 16, further including a plurality of media blades, each media blade inserted into one of the plurality of blade interfaces on the second side of the midplane, the media blades each having at least one storage medium device.

18. The modular server system according to claim 17, wherein the at least one storage medium device includes a hard disk drive.

19. The modular server system according to claim 16, wherein the server blades and the switch blades are hot swappable.

20. The modular server system according to claim 17, wherein at least one of the server blades and at least one of the media blades in combination form an individual server system.

21. A modular server system, comprising:

a midplane having a system management bus, a first side, a second side, and a plurality of blade interfaces on the first side and the second side, the blade interfaces on the first side in electrical communication with the blade interfaces on the second side and the system management bus;

a server blade inserted into one of the plurality of blade interfaces on the first side of the midplane, the server blade having a server blade system management bus in electrical communication with the system management bus of the midplane, and a network interface to connect to a network, the network interface to include a network connector jack accessible through a faceplate on the server blade;

a media blade inserted into one of the plurality of blade interfaces on the second side of the midplane, the media blade having at least one storage medium device;

a second server blade inserted into one of the plurality of blade interfaces on the first side of the midplane, the second server blade having a second server blade system management bus in electrical communication with the system management bus of the midplane, and a second network interface to connect to the network;

a second media blade inserted into one of the plurality of blade interfaces on the second side of the midplane, the second media blade having at least one storage medium device;

at least two switch blades to perform network switching between the first and second server blades, any other server blade inserted into one of the plurality of blade interfaces on the first side of the midplane, and an external network, the at least two switch blades inserted into one blade interface on the midplane;

a power supply module coupled to the midplane to provide power to the modular server system;

a cooling fan module coupled to the modular server system to cool the modular server system; and

a chassis to house the midplane, the server blade, the media blade, the second server blade, the second media blade, the switch blades, the power supply module, and the cooling fan module, the server blade, the media blade, the second server blade, the second media blade and the switch blades to share power from the power supply module and to share cooling from the cooling fan module.

22. The modular server system according to claim 21, wherein the first media blade and the second media blade having a storage medium device comprises the storage medium device including a hard disk drive.

23. The modular server system according to claim 21, wherein the server blade, the media blade, the second server blade, and the second media blade, and the switch blades are hot swappable.

24. The modular server system according to claim 21, wherein the server blade and the media blade in combination form an individual server system.

25. The modular server system according to claim 21, wherein the second server blade and the second media blade in combination form an individual server system.

26. The modular server system according to claim 21, wherein the server blade, the second server blade, and the media blade in combination form two individual server systems.

27. The modular server system according to claim 21, wherein the server blade, the media blade, and the second media blade in combination form an individual server system.