Flexible system architecture with common interface for multiple system functions

• US 20030188067A1
• Filed: 03/13/2002
• Published: 10/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Okin, Kenneth
• Granted Patent: US 7,043,585 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/301
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0423 Input/output
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/21015 Easy expansion, extension of I-O
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25464 MBO motherboard, backplane special layout
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25467 Detect if expansion board is connected

Abstract

An apparatus and method are disclosed that define a new, uniform I/O (input/output) interface architecture between the processor module and the motherboard of a computer system, and between the motherboard and expansion boards, via uniform connectors designed to work with the new architecture, such that many different pin-outs are available to the processor module, the interface being dynamically configurable by component control logic of the processor module. Positioning of supplemental connectors (e.g. for I/O or communications) on edges of the cards defines an unimpeded airflow path allowing for efficient cooling of the system.

Claims

1. A computer system, including:

a motherboard;

a processor module including at least one processor, a plurality of component logic modules, a component control module, and an I/O interface configured to communicate with the motherboard; and

a plurality of connector slots connected to the motherboard, each slot including at least a subset of substantially identical connector pins configured to connect with an expansion board for the system;

wherein the component control module includes logic configured to accommodate a plurality of different types of expansion boards, and the connector slots are configured to interchangeably accommodate any of the processor module and the plurality of different types of expansion boards.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the component control module includes logic configured to identify each of the plurality of expansion boards and to dynamically configure the I/O interface to accommodate each identified expansion board.

3. The computer system of claim 1, further including component control support logic disposed on the motherboard and configured to operate in conjunction with the component control module of the processor module.

4. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of expansion boards includes at least a network card, a memory module and a processor board.

5. The computer system of claim 1, further including logic configured to accommodate hot-plugging of the expansion boards, wherein the component control logic includes logic configured to identify a hot-plugged expansion board and provide the resources thereof via the I/O interface to the processor module substantially without interruption of pending operations.

6. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the component control logic is further configured to receive from an expansion board information relating to a location where program information for that expansion board can be retrieved, and to retrieve the program information from that location.

7. A computer system, including:

a motherboard;

a plurality of connector slots connected to the motherboard and having respective sets of connector pins, at least a subset of the connector pins substantially identically configured to connect with a plurality of types expansion boards for the system;

a processor module including at least one processor, a plurality of component logic modules, an I/O interface configured to communicate with the motherboard, and component control module logic configured to identify the different types of expansion boards, and to dynamically configure the I/O interface in accordance with such identification; and

at least one such expansion board connected to one of the connector slots, the expansion board including at least one supplemental connector positioned along a first edge of the expansion board opposite a second edge of the expansion board which is positioned adjacent the motherboard.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the position of the supplemental connector defines an airflow path substantially free of cables, and further including at least one system ventilator positioned to generate airflow through the path.

9. A processor module configured to operating in conjunction with a processor-based system having a plurality of substantially uniform expansion board connectors configured to receive different types of expansion boards, including:

at least one processor;

an I/O interface configured to communicate with the processor-based system; and

a component control module configured to identify a function type for an expansion board coupled to one of the expansion board connectors, and to dynamically configure the I/O interface to accommodate the identified function type.

10. The processor module of claim 9, wherein the different types of expansion boards include at least a network card, a memory module and a processor board.

11. The processor module of claim 9, further including logic configured to accommodate hot-plugging of the expansion boards, wherein the component control logic includes logic configured to identify a hot-plugged expansion board and provide the resources thereof via the I/O interface to the processor module substantially without interruption of pending operations.

12. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the component control module is further configured to receive from an expansion board information relating to a location where program information for that expansion board can be retrieved, and to retrieve the program information from that location.

13. A method for dynamically configuring an I/O interface between a processor module and a motherboard of a computer system, including the steps of:

configuring the I/O interface in a standardized manner to accommodate a plurality of different types of expansion boards for the system;

identifying the type of an expansion board that is connected to the motherboard; and

configuring the I/O interface in a particularized manner to communicate with the connected expansion card.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the identification step is carried out for a hot-plugged expansion board in a real-time fashion, substantially without interruption to pending operations of the processor module.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the configuring step includes configuring the I/O interface to accommodate at least a network card, a memory module and a processor board.

16. The method of claim 13, further including the steps of:

determining from a connected expansion board a location for information useful to provide functions of the connected expansion board to the system; and

retrieving the information from the location.

17. The method of claim 13, further including the steps of:

connecting at least one expansion card having auxiliary connectors in a position such that the auxiliary connectors are disposed along a first edge of the expansion card opposite a second edge of the expansion card adjacent a motherboard of the system, thereby defining an airflow path between the first and second edges.

18. The method of claim 17, further including the step of ventilating the system at least in part via the defined airflow path.