Server system and signal processing unit, server, and chassis thereof

• US 7,590,786 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2004
• Issued: 09/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Component Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Component Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Inventors: Sugino, Heiichi, Seki, Fujio, Kasai, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Knoll; Clifford H
• Application Number:
  US10/986,138
• Publication Number:
  US 20050105542A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,768 Days
• Field of Search: 710300-302, 710/100
• US Class Current: 710/302
• 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 1/189 Power distribution

Abstract

A server system includes at least one server, a signal processing unit that enables to operate said at least one server with a set of console, and a chassis having slots and a circuit board, said at least one server or the signal processing unit being attachable and detachable to any of the slots, the circuit board having interconnection lines connecting the slots. Said at least one server and the signal processing unit being connected via an interface that allows plug and play connectivity. Thus, it is possible to construct the server system without external cables. In addition, when a server is newly added to or removed from the system or, it is no longer necessary to power of the other servers. This makes it possible to facilitate system construction and management.

Claims

1. A server system comprising:

at least one server;

a signal processing unit that connects a set of consoles including a keyboard, a video monitor and a mouse to said at least one server and enables said at least one server to be operated with the set of consoles; and

a chassis having slots and a circuit board having interconnection lines connecting the slots, the interconnection lines including a first line for transporting keyboard and/or mouse signals and a second line for transporting video signals from/to said at least one server, said at least one server and the signal processing unit being inserted into any of the slots so as to be mutually connected via the interconnection lines,

said at least one server and the signal processing unit being connected via an interface that allows plug and play connectivity so that another server can be switched to, connected to and disconnected from the server system without powering off the at least one server in an on state and the signal processing unit,

wherein the signal processing unit sends the keyboard and/or mouse signals received from the keyboard and/or mouse to a selected one of said at least one server through the first line, and sends a command received from the selected one of said at least one server through the first line to the keyboard and/or mouse.

15. The server system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal processing unit stores a command received from another of said at least one server, and sends the command received from another of said at least one server through the first line, to the keyboard and/or mouse in the case of changing the selected one of said at least one server to said another of said at least one server.

2. A signal processing unit comprising:

a first circuit having an interface that allows plug and play connectivity; and

a second circuit connectable to a server system via the first circuit, the server system having a chassis that has slots and interconnection lines connecting the slots, at least one server being able to be inserted into any of the slots so as to be connected to the interconnection lines, the interconnection lines including a first line for transporting keyboard and/or mouse signals and a second line for transporting video signals from/to said at least one server,

the signal processing unit being connectable to any of the slots and connecting a set of consoles including a keyboard, a video monitor and a mouse to said at least one server via the first and second circuits,

wherein the plug and play connectivity is sufficient so that another server can be switched to, connected to and disconnected from the server system without powering off the server in an on state, and

wherein the signal processing unit sends the keyboard and/or mouse signals received from the keyboard and/or mouse to a selected one of said at least one server through the first line, and sends a command received from the selected one of said at least one server through the first line to the keyboard and/or mouse.

3. The signal processing unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the signal processing unit is able to be inserted into any one of the slots of the server system so as to be connected to the server via the interconnection lines.

4. The signal processing unit as claimed in claim 2, comprising a control circuit that passes only video signals applied from any one of the servers inserted into the slots.

5. The signal processing unit as claimed in claim 2, comprising a network adapter that sends and receives packets to and from a client terminal via a network,

the servers inserted into the slots being operated with the set of console provided in the client terminal.

16. The signal processing unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the signal processing unit stores a command received from another of said at least one server, and sends the command received from said another of said at least one server, through the first line, to the keyboard and/or mouse, in the case of changing the selected one of said at least one server to said another of said at least one server.

18. The chassis as claimed in claim 2, wherein the signal processing unit stores a command received from another of the servers, and sends the command received from said another of the servers, through the first line, to the keyboard and/or mouse, in the case of changing a selected server to said another of the servers.

6. A server comprising:

a connector that allows the server to be inserted into any of slots that are provided to a chassis of a server system, the chassis having interconnection lines connecting the slots, the interconnection lines including a first line for transporting keyboard and/or mouse signals and a second line for transporting video signals from/to said server, the server being able to be inserted into said any of the slots so that the connector is connected to the interconnection lines; and

an interface circuit connected to a signal processing unit that is inserted into one of the slots so as to be connected to the server via the interconnection lines, and has an interface that allows the server to be connected to the signal processing unit with plug and play connectivity so that another server can be switched to, connected to and disconnected from the server system without powering off the server in an on state and the signal processing unit,

the signal processing unit connecting a set of consoles including a keyboard, a video monitor and a mouse to the server and enables the server to be operated with the set of consoles,

wherein the signal processing unit sends the keyboard and/or mouse signals received from the keyboard and/or mouse to said server through the first line, and sends a command received from the server through the first line to the keyboard and/or mouse.

7. The server as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a microcomputer that controls the interface.

8. The server as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a switch that enables or disables an output of video signals.

17. The server as claimed in claim 6, wherein the signal processing unit stores a command received from another server, and sends the command received from said another server, through the first line, to the keyboard and/or mouse, in the case of changing the server to said another server.

9. A chassis, comprising:

a circuit board having slots into which servers and a signal processing unit can be inserted; and

interconnection lines that are provided to the circuit board and connects the slots, the interconnection lines including a first line for transporting keyboard and/or mouse signals and a second line for transporting video signals from/to said at least one server, and the servers and the signal processing unit being inserted into slots so as to be mutually connected via the interconnection lines,

the servers being connected, via the interconnection lines, to a signal processing unit having an interface that selectively connects a set of consoles including a keyboard, video monitor and a mouse to any of the servers and enables operate any of the servers to be operated with a single set of consoles so that another server can be switched to, connected to and disconnected from the chassis without powering off the servers in an on state and the signal processing unit,

wherein the signal processing unit sends the keyboard and/or mouse signals received from the keyboard and/or mouse to a selected one of said at least one server through the first line, and sends a command received from the selected one of said at least one server through the first line to the keyboard and/or mouse.

10. The chassis as claimed in claim 9, wherein the slots can accommodate the signal processing unit.

11. The chassis as claimed in claim 9, further comprising an external terminal that connects the signal processing unit to the interconnection lines.

12. The chassis as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a microcomputer that controls an interface that has plug and play connectivity.

13. The chassis as claimed in claim 9, further comprising switches that are provided to slots and enable or disable video signals applied from the servers.

14. The chassis as claimed in claim 9, wherein the circuit board includes a control circuit that passes only a video signal applied from any one of the servers.