Abstract: A docking board removably coupled to a processor board that does not function when not operatively coupled to the docking board. The docking board sends power to and receive a control signal from the processor board when operatively coupled to the processor board and does not send power and does not receive a control signal when not operatively coupled to the processor board. The docking board is removably coupled to an expansion board that performs a computer function that is not performed by the processor board and the docking board. The docking board sends power and a control signal to the expansion board when the docking board is operatively coupled to the processor board and the expansion board, and does not send power and does not send a control signal to the expansion board when the docking board is not operatively coupled to the processor board and the expansion board.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus can include a printed circuit board (PCB) that has layers and includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion can have a data port and a power port. A first layer is associated with data of the first portion of the PCB, and a second layer is associated with power of the first portion of the PCB. The second portion can have a data port and a power port. A third layer is associated with data of the second portion, and a fourth layer is associated with power of the second portion. The first portion or the second portion can have vias defining an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield. The apparatus can include a power filter and a data filter that can, respectively, isolate power and data of the first portion from the second portion.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method includes receiving, at a circuit board, a power from a power supply. The method further includes filtering, at the circuit board and via a power filter having at least three choke filters, the power to produce a filtered power. The method further includes dividing, at a first portion of a circuit on the circuit board, a power associated with the filtered power into a first power and a second power, a characteristic of the first power differing from a characteristic of the second power by a factor of at least 1.5 or at most one half.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method can include detecting, at a first circuit, the first circuit being operatively coupled to a memory device having a set of memory portions. The method can include receiving, from the memory device and at the first circuit, a set of encryption key portions after the detecting, each encryption key portion from the encryption key portions being a unique portion of an encryption key. The method can include assembling the encryption key by ordering each encryption key portion from the set of encryption key portions based on (1) a first previously defined list and (2) a second previously defined list. The first previously defined list and the second previously defined list each is stored at or accessible by the first circuit but not stored at or accessible by the memory device. The method can include authorizing access to a second circuit based on the encryption key.

Abstract: A docking board removably coupled to a processor board that does not function when not operatively coupled to the docking board. The docking board sends power to and receive a control signal from the processor board when operatively coupled to the processor board and does not send power and does not receive a control signal when not operatively coupled to the processor board. The docking board is removably coupled to an expansion board that performs a computer function that is not performed by the processor board and the docking board. The docking board sends power and a control signal to the expansion board when the docking board is operatively coupled to the processor board and the expansion board, and does not send power and does not send a control signal to the expansion board when the docking board is not operatively coupled to the processor board and the expansion board.

Abstract: In some embodiments an apparatus includes a housing that defines an interior. The apparatus includes a first circuit board that has multiple integrated circuits (ICs). The first circuit board is disposed within the interior of the housing. The apparatus includes a second circuit board that has multiple ICs. The second circuit board is also disposed within the interior of the housing. The apparatus further includes a first electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield disposed about an IC from the multiple ICs of the first circuit board and not disposed about remaining ICs from the multiple ICs of the first circuit board. The apparatus further includes a second EMI shield disposed about the first circuit board and not the second circuit board. The apparatus further includes a third EMI shield disposed about the first circuit board and the second circuit board.

Abstract: An apparatus can include a control board operatively coupled to a modular compute boards and to a resource boards by (1) a first connection associated with control information and not data, and (2) a second connection associated with data and not control information. The control board can determine a computation load and a physical resource requirement for a time period. The control board can send, to the modular compute board and via the first connection, a signal indicating an allocation of that modular compute board during the time period. The control board can send, from the control board to the resource board, a signal indicating an allocation of that resource board to the modular compute board such that that resource board allocates at least a portion of its resources during the time period based on at least one of the computation load or the physical resource requirement.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus can include a host board that has multiple connectors. Each connector from the multiple connectors removably connects to a unique compute device from multiple compute devices. The apparatus can further include a memory that stores a first firmware. The apparatus can further include a controller that is operatively coupled to the multiple connectors and the memory. The controller provides access to the first firmware by a compute device from the multiple compute devices when the compute device removably connects to the host board via a connector from the multiple connectors and when a circuit of the compute device disables access to the memory of the compute device to cause the compute device to continue a power-on cycle using the first firmware.

Abstract: A docking board removably coupled to a processor board that does not function when not operatively coupled to the docking board. The docking board sends power to and receive a control signal from the processor board when operatively coupled to the processor board and does not send power and does not receive a control signal when not operatively coupled to the processor board. The docking board is removably coupled to an expansion board that performs a computer function that is not performed by the processor board and the docking board. The docking board sends power and a control signal to the expansion board when the docking board is operatively coupled to the processor board and the expansion board, and does not send power and does not send a control signal to the expansion board when the docking board is not operatively coupled to the processor board and the expansion board.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method includes receiving, at a circuit board, a power from a power supply. The method further includes filtering, at the circuit board and via a power filter having at least three choke filters, the power to produce a filtered power. The method further includes dividing, at a first portion of a circuit on the circuit board, a power associated with the filtered power into a first power and a second power, a characteristic of the first power differing from a characteristic of the second power by a factor of at least 1.5 or at most one half.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus can include a printed circuit board (PCB) that has layers and includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion can have a data port and a power port. A first layer is associated with data of the first portion of the PCB, and a second layer is associated with power of the first portion of the PCB. The second portion can have a data port and a power port. A third layer is associated with data of the second portion, and a fourth layer is associated with power of the second portion. The first portion or the second portion can have vias defining an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield. The apparatus can include a power filter and a data filter that can, respectively, isolate power and data of the first portion from the second portion.

Abstract: An apparatus can include a control board operatively coupled to a modular compute boards and to a resource boards by (1) a first connection associated with control information and not data, and (2) a second connection associated with data and not control information. The control board can determine a computation load and a physical resource requirement for a time period. The control board can send, to the modular compute board and via the first connection, a signal indicating an allocation of that modular compute board during the time period. The control board can send, from the control board to the resource board, a signal indicating an allocation of that resource board to the modular compute board such that that resource board allocates at least a portion of its resources during the time period based on at least one of the computation load or the physical resource requirement.

Abstract: In some embodiments an apparatus includes a housing that defines an interior. The apparatus includes a first circuit board that has multiple integrated circuits (ICs). The first circuit board is disposed within the interior of the housing. The apparatus includes a second circuit board that has multiple ICs. The second circuit board is also disposed within the interior of the housing. The apparatus further includes a first electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield disposed about an IC from the multiple ICs of the first circuit board and not disposed about remaining ICs from the multiple ICs of the first circuit board. The apparatus further includes a second EMI shield disposed about the first circuit board and not the second circuit board. The apparatus further includes a third EMI shield disposed about the first circuit board and the second circuit board.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method includes receiving, at a circuit board, a power from a power supply. The method further includes filtering, at the circuit board and via a power filter having at least three choke filters, the power to produce a filtered power. The method further includes dividing, at a first portion of a circuit on the circuit board, a power associated with the filtered power into a first power and a second power, a characteristic of the first power differing from a characteristic of the second power by a factor of at least 1.5 or at most one half.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method can include detecting, at a first circuit, the first circuit being operatively coupled to a memory device having a set of memory portions. The method can include receiving, from the memory device and at the first circuit, a set of encryption key portions after the detecting, each encryption key portion from the encryption key portions being a unique portion of an encryption key. The method can include assembling the encryption key by ordering each encryption key portion from the set of encryption key portions based on (1) a first previously defined list and (2) a second previously defined list. The first previously defined list and the second previously defined list each is stored at or accessible by the first circuit but not stored at or accessible by the memory device. The method can include authorizing access to a second circuit based on the encryption key.

Abstract: A docking board removably coupled to a processor board that does not function when not operatively coupled to the docking board. The docking board sends power to and receive a control signal from the processor board when operatively coupled to the processor board and does not send power and does not receive a control signal when not operatively coupled to the processor board. The docking board is removably coupled to an expansion board that performs a computer function that is not performed by the processor board and the docking board. The docking board sends power and a control signal to the expansion board when the docking board is operatively coupled to the processor board and the expansion board, and does not send power and does not send a control signal to the expansion board when the docking board is not operatively coupled to the processor board and the expansion board.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus can include a printed circuit board (PCB) that has layers and includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion can have a data port and a power port. A first layer is associated with data of the first portion of the PCB, and a second layer is associated with power of the first portion of the PCB. The second portion can have a data port and a power port. A third layer is associated with data of the second portion, and a fourth layer is associated with power of the second portion. The first portion or the second portion can have vias defining an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shield. The apparatus can include a power filter and a data filter that can, respectively, isolate power and data of the first portion from the second portion.

Abstract: A docking board removably coupled to a processor board that does not function when not operatively coupled to the docking board. The docking board sends power to and receive a control signal from the processor board when operatively coupled to the processor board and does not send power and does not receive a control signal when not operatively coupled to the processor board. The docking board is removably coupled to an expansion board that performs a computer function that is not performed by the processor board and the docking board. The docking board sends power and a control signal to the expansion board when the docking board is operatively coupled to the processor board and the expansion board, and does not send power and does not send a control signal to the expansion board when the docking board is not operatively coupled to the processor board and the expansion board.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a method can include measuring, via a sensor disposed within an interior of a housing, an out-of-band characteristic of an electronic circuit disposed within the interior of the housing. The method can further include receiving, from the sensor and at a management circuit disposed within the interior of housing, a sensor signal indicating the out-of-band characteristic of the electronic circuit. The method can further include analyzing, at the management circuit, the out-of-band characteristic of the electronic circuit to produce an alarm signal. The method can further include sending, from the management circuit, the alarm signal to initiate a remedial action in response to receiving the alarm signal.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus can include a host board that has multiple connectors. Each connector from the multiple connectors removably connects to a unique compute device from multiple compute devices. The apparatus can further include a memory that stores a first firmware. The apparatus can further include a controller that is operatively coupled to the multiple connectors and the memory. The controller provides access to the first firmware by a compute device from the multiple compute devices when the compute device removably connects to the host board via a connector from the multiple connectors and when a circuit of the compute device disables access to the memory of the compute device to cause the compute device to continue a power-on cycle using the first firmware.