High density multi node computer with integrated shared resources

• US 9,442,540 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2009
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tmnco, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Advanced Green Computing Machines, Ltd.
• Inventors: Rizvi, Najaf, Humphreys, Matthew, Nguyen, Tung M., Au, Richard, Nguyen, David, Chennavasin, Tipatat, Bradley, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Zaman, Faisal M
• Application Number:
  US12/634,441
• Publication Number:
  US 20110055844A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,470 Days
• Field of Search: 710/100, 710/301, 710/316, 710/317, 361/679.48, 361/679.49
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/189 Power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/20 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4068 Electrical coupling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A multi-node computer system, comprising: a plurality of nodes, a system control unit and a carrier board. Each node of the plurality of nodes comprises a processor and a memory. The system control unit is responsible for: power management, cooling, workload provisioning, native storage servicing, and I/O. The carrier board comprises a system fabric and a plurality of electrical connections. The electrical connections provide the plurality of nodes with power, management controls, system connectivity between the system control unit and the plurality of nodes, and an external network connection to a user infrastructure. The system control unit and the carrier board provide integrated, shared resources for the plurality of nodes. The multi-node computer system is provided in a single enclosure.

Claims

1. A computer system, comprising:

a plurality of nodes comprising;

a processor;

a memory; and

a real time clock synchronized by a first microcontroller;

a system control unit comprising field effect transistors powered by a second microcontroller for providing standby power to components when necessary; and

a carrier board, the carrier board comprising a system fabric and a plurality of electrical connections, the electrical connections providing a respective one of the plurality of nodes with power, management controls, and system connectivity between the system control unit and the plurality of nodes, and an external network connection to a user infrastructure, wherein the system fabric comprises at least two high-speed switches controlling the system connectivity, and a third switch for a service processor network,

wherein the system control unit and the carrier board provide integrated, shared resources comprising at least one of cooling and power resources for the plurality of nodes, and allocate a set of computing resources comprising at least one node and at least one logical volume to a user of the computer system based on an aggregate processing demand, and wherein the computer system is provided in a single enclosure.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the system control unit controls power management, cooling, workload provisioning, native storage serving, and I/O.

3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the system fabric is a dual redundant scalable system fabric.

4. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of nodes are positioned vertically on the carrier board, the carrier board providing the plurality of nodes connectivity without external cabling.

5. The computer system of claim 4, further comprising a mechanical harness providing rigidity for the plurality of nodes, the plurality of nodes without individual enclosures, wherein the mechanical harness is positioned over and in contact with the plurality of nodes.

6. The computer system of claim 1, wherein a node is integrated as a single chip.

7. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the enclosure is a notebook computer enclosure.

8. The computer system of claim 1, wherein each node further comprises a sub-5 watt processor.

9. The computer system of claim 1, wherein each node is a NanoCompute Unit.

10. The computer system of claim 1, wherein each node requires less than 50 watts.

11. The computer system of claim 1, wherein each node requires 35-50 watts.

12. The computer system of claim 1, further comprising a single-system power supply, the power supply providing a single voltage level to the plurality of nodes, each node individually converting the voltage at a point of load of the node and supplying the converted voltage to the processor and the memory of the node.

13. The computer system of claim 12, wherein each node further comprises a power converter.

14. The computer system of claim 12, wherein the single voltage level is 12 volts.

15. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of nodes are arranged vertically on the carrier board in a first row of nodes and a second row of nodes, the first row of nodes orientated differently from the second row of nodes.

16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the first row of nodes is flipped 180 degrees in orientation compared to the second row of nodes.

17. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the rows of nodes form a plurality of channels between the nodes, the plurality of channels divided into a plurality of zones, each zone comprising at least one channel, wherein a plurality of fans provide fan-forced air for cooling the plurality of nodes by forcing air down the channels, each fan providing fan-forced air for at least one zone.

18. The computer system of claim 17, wherein three low-RPM fans provide the fan-forced air.

19. The computer system of claim 17, further comprising a microcontroller, wherein the microcontroller individually controls the RPM of each fan of the plurality of fans.

20. The computer system of claim 19, further comprising a temperature sensor in each channel of the plurality of channels, wherein each temperature sensor communicates a temperature reading to the microcontroller, wherein the microcontroller controls the RPM of each fan of the plurality of fans based on the temperatures of the plurality of channels.

21. The computer system of claim 20, wherein the microcontroller controls the RPM of each fan of the plurality of fans based on the aggregate temperature readings from each temperature sensor in the at least one corresponding zone.

22. The computer system of claim 17, wherein a bezel on the front of the enclosure guides air to the plurality of fans.

23. The computer system of claim 17, the nodes further comprising a plurality of low profile heat sinks in the plurality of channels, the plurality of low profile heat sinks and the spacing of the plurality of nodes providing a low turbulence path through the plurality of channels for the fan-forced air, the fan-forced air efficiently cooling the plurality of nodes.

24. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the noise level of the multi-node computer system is below 40 dB.

25. A computer system, comprising:

a plurality of nodes comprising;

a processor;

a memory; and

a real time clock synchronized by a first microcontroller;

a system control unit coupled to an array of disks;

a single-system power supply comprising field effect transistors powered by a second microcontroller for providing standby power to components when necessary; and

a carrier board comprising a plurality of electrical connections, wherein the plurality of nodes are arranged on the carrier board, each to a respective electrical connection, wherein the power supply provides a single voltage level to the plurality of nodes, each node individually converting the voltage at a point of load of the node and supplying the converted voltage to the processor and the memory of the node,

wherein the system control unit and the carrier board provide integrated, shared resources comprising at least one of cooling and power resources for the plurality of nodes, and allocate a set of computing resources comprising at least one node and at least one logical volume to a user of the computer system based on an aggregate processing demand, and wherein the computer system is provided in a single enclosure.

26. The computer system of claim 25, wherein each node further comprises a power converter.

27. The computer system of claim 25, wherein the enclosure is a notebook computer enclosure.

28. The computer system of claim 25, further comprising a back-up single-source power supply.

29. A node, comprising:

a processor, the processor requiring less than 5 watts;

a memory;

a memory controller;

an I/O chipset;

a real time clock synchronized by a first microcontroller;

field effect transistors powered by a second microcontroller for providing standby power to components when necessary;

a system interconnect; and

a service processor, wherein the node uses less than 50 watts, and wherein the node is incapable of independent operation, the node connecting to a carrier board as one of a plurality of nodes of a multi-node computer system in a single enclosure, wherein the carrier board is operable to provide integrated, shared cooling and power resources to the plurality of nodes, and allocate a set of computing resources comprising at least one node and at least one logical volume to a user of the computer system based on an aggregate processing demand.

30. The node of claim 29, wherein the node has no individual enclosure.

31. The node of claim 29, further comprising:

a co-processor, the co-processor comprising a GPU, and a floating point arithmetic unit; and

a network processor.

32. The node of claim 29, wherein the enclosure is a notebook computer enclosure.

33. The node of claim 29, wherein the components of the node are integrated into a single chip.

34. The node of claim 29, wherein the main processor and the memory controller are integrated into a first chip, and the system interconnect, I/O chipset, and service processor are integrated into a second chip.

35. The node of claim 34, wherein the first chip further comprises a co-processor, and the second chip further comprises a network processor.