Abstract: A branded fleet server system includes a pre-assembled third-party computer system integrated into a chassis of the branded fleet server system. The pre-assembled third-party computer system is configured to execute proprietary software that is only licensed for use on branded hardware. A baseboard management controller (BMC) included in the server chassis couples with the pre-assembled computer system via one or more cables coupled to ports of the pre-assembled computer system. The BMC enables remote control of the pre-assembled computer system, such as remote power on and power off. Also the BMC may enable automatic and remote software and/or firmware updates to be performed at the pre-assembled computer system.

Abstract: Technologies are provided for retrieving service level indicators (SLIs) for storage devices, prioritizing data access using the SLIs, and scheduling storage device maintenance based on the SLIs. A host computer can retrieve an SLI for a storage device and determine, using the SLI, whether the storage device is performing service and maintenance operations and/or whether the storage device is in need of performing service and maintenance operations. The host computer can retrieve SLIs for multiple storage devices storing data redundantly and prioritize using the storage devices to access the data based on the SLIs. If the host computer determines that a storage device is in need of maintenance, based on its SLI, the host computer can schedule the storage device for maintenance and divert data access requests to other storage devices until the maintenance is complete.

Abstract: A portable data center is configured to be transported with installed computing devices between a first location and a second location. A tethered networking device of the portable data center can be deployed to provide a consistent interface for connecting computing devices at a first location with computing devices of the portable data center. Large quantities of data stored in the computing devices at the first location can be transferred to computing devices of the portable data center and the portable data center storing the transferred data can be transported to a second location where the stored data is transferred from the portable data center to one or more computing devices at the second location.

Abstract: A system includes a rack with multiple hardware acceleration devices and at least one modular controller coupled together into one or more particular processing systems. Each modular hardware acceleration device includes multiple hardware accelerators, such as graphical processing units (GPUs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), or other specialized processing circuits. In each modular hardware acceleration device, the multiple hardware accelerators are communicatively coupled to a multi-port connection device, such as a switch, that is also communicatively coupled to at least two external ports of the modular hardware acceleration device. A modular controller of a particular processing system coordinates operation of hardware accelerators of multiple hardware acceleration devices included in the particular processing system to provide advanced processing capabilities.

Abstract: A system and method are described for configuring a motherboard using expansion cards plugged into motherboard slots. In particular, each of the expansion cards can include a control signal that is supplied to the motherboard and that can configure hardware positioned on the motherboard. In one embodiment, the configuration allows a communication path to be switched on to allow the expansion cards to cross communicate.

Abstract: An electronic device includes persistent storage enclosed within a housing. The housing is configured to protect the persistent storage during shipment of the electronic device by a common carrier. The electronic device may include at least one security door, which when in an open-state, may provide access to at least one of a data port, an aperture, a portion of a display, and/or the persistent storage. When the security door is in a closed-state and possibly locked, the persistent storage may be protected from environmental factors, such as dirt, weather, and tampering. In some embodiments, the aperture may enable airflow though the housing and may be fitted with a filter to remove debris from air that circulates into the housing.

Abstract: A portable data center is configured to be transported with installed computing devices between a first location and a second location. A tethered networking device of the portable data center can be deployed to provide a consistent interface for connecting computing devices at a first location with computing devices of the portable data center. Large quantities of data stored in the computing devices at the first location can be transferred to computing devices of the portable data center and the portable data center storing the transferred data can be transported to a second location where the stored data is transferred from the portable data center to one or more computing devices at the second location.

Abstract: A printed circuit board (PCB) may be provided that includes a plurality of expansion device connectors mounted to at least two outer edges of the PCB. Each of the expansion device connectors may include a slot aligned in a same plane as the PCB. The slot may be positioned to connect to an expansion device such as to align the expansion device in the same plane as the PCB. Thus, the expansion card may be communicatively connected to the PCB via the expansion card connector. As the PCB includes expansion device connectors on at least two outer edges, the PCB may be positioned in at least two orientations to provide a greater number of expansion device configurations than realized in some PCBs.

Abstract: A system for performing computing operations includes a rack, one or more shelves coupled to the rack, and two or more computing modules. Each computing module may include a chassis, one or more circuit board assemblies in a primarily vertical orientation, and one or more hard disk drives in a primarily vertical orientation. The circuit board assemblies and the hard disk drives are coupled to the chassis of the computing module.

Abstract: A computing system includes a circuit board assembly and multiple expansion cards connected to one another and also connected to the circuit board assembly. The connected expansion cards form a modular expansion card bus that allows the expansion cards to communicate between each other without routing the communications through the circuit board assembly. In some embodiments, the expansion cards are mounted on a tray that includes mounting pins that engage mounting slots of the expansion cards, allowing for simple installation of various combinations of expansion cards connected together to form a modular expansion card bus.

Abstract: A virtual server system includes multiple pools of server components connected via a high-speed communication fabric and a dynamic virtual server manager configured to determine attributes of a workload in multiple workload dimensions and configure a virtual server using server components of the server component pools. The selected server components implement a virtual server configured based on the determine workload attributes in the multiple workload dimensions. Also, the dynamic virtual server manager dynamically adjusts which server components are used to implement the virtual server based on changes in workload attributes.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques for maintaining a secure environment on a server. In one embodiment, the server includes a baseboard management controller (BMC), a first Ethernet port coupled with an adapter device network comprising a plurality of adapter devices, and a master adapter device including a second Ethernet port and a network switch, the network switch being controllable to be selectively coupled with at least one of the BMC, the first Ethernet port, or the second Ethernet port. The master adapter device may receive a network packet from at least one of: the first Ethernet port, the second Ethernet port, or the BMC, and determine, based on a forwarding policy, whether to forward the network packet. Based on a determination to forward the network packet, the master adapter device may determine a destination, and control the network switch to transmit the network packet to the destination.

Abstract: A system for storing data includes a rack, one or more data storage modules coupled to the rack, and one or more data control modules coupled to the rack. The data storage modules may include a chassis, two or more backplanes coupled to the chassis, and one or more mass storage devices (for example, hard disk drives) coupled to the backplanes. The data control modules may access the mass storage devices in the data storage modules.

Abstract: Power systems and methods for supplying direct current power to a server rack employ multiple power supply units. A method for supplying direct current power to a server rack includes receiving an alternating current (AC) power input. A first portion of the AC power input is transferred to a first automatic transfer switch (ATS). A first DC power input is generated from the first portion of the AC power input via a first power supply unit (PSU) and transferred to the server rack. A second portion of the AC power input is transferred to a second ATS. A second DC power input is generated from the second portion of the AC power input via a second PSU and transferred to the server rack.

Abstract: An electrical connection system can include a cage and/or a corresponding cable. The cage can be formed by walls and define faces on the top, bottom, right, left, front, and rear. A rear portion can house a receiving portion of a connector interface, which can be engaged via insertion of a module through the front face, or alternately by insertion of a plug through the top face. The cable at a terminating end can include the plug, which may include a vertical upright column and a horizontal base that includes an insertion portion of the connector interface. The cable at an originating end can include another instance of the receiving portion of the connector interface. A retainer can be provided to retain the plug in engagement with the receiving portion of the connector in the cage. The retainer can include a cover or other structure on the cable and/or cage.

Abstract: A server includes a motherboard and a programmable logic device coupled to the motherboard. The server also includes a hardware device coupled to the motherboard and the programmable logic device. The server further includes a non-volatile memory storing firmware for the hardware device. The non-volatile memory is coupled to the motherboard and the programmable logic device. The server further includes a peripheral device coupled to the motherboard and the programmable logic device. The peripheral device receives firmware data from a management server. The peripheral device verifies that the firmware data corresponds to the hardware device. The peripheral device further holds the hardware device in reset mode. The peripheral device stores the firmware data on the non-volatile memory to update the firmware and releases the hardware device from reset mode after updating the firmware.

Abstract: A data center may include a tape library rack module along with rack computer systems. The rack computer systems may be configured to provide computing capacity within a data center environment. In some embodiments, the tape library rack module may include an enclosure encompassing an interior of the tape library rack module, a rack within the interior, and a tape library unit mounted on the rack. The tape library rack unit may include tape cartridges configured to store data within a tape environment that is different than the data center environment. The tape library rack unit may be within a portion of the interior that is enclosed such that it is environmentally isolated from the data center environment. In some examples, the tape library rack module may include a cooling unit and/or a humidifier unit, which may provide the tape environment to the environmentally isolated portion of the interior of the tape library rack module.

Abstract: A system for storing data includes a rack, one or more data storage modules coupled to the rack, and one or more data control modules coupled to the rack. The data storage modules may include a chassis, two or more backplanes coupled to the chassis, and one or more mass storage devices (for example, hard disk drives) coupled to the backplanes. The data control modules may access the mass storage devices in the data storage modules.

Abstract: Calibrating a battery capacity gage employs a controlled discharge of a backup battery unit. A method of updating a capacity gage includes charging a backup battery unit to a predetermined high charge level. A first amount of energy is discharged from the backup battery unit at a first controlled discharge rate so as to discharge the backup battery unit from the predetermined high charge level to a first low charge level. The backup battery unit is charged back to the predetermined high charge level. A power system controller estimates, based on the first amount of energy and the first controlled discharge rate, a second amount of energy that can be discharged from the backup battery unit at a second controlled discharge rate greater than the first controlled discharge rate. The capacity gage is updated based on the second amount of energy estimated by the power system controller.

Abstract: Systems for controlling cycling operations for backup battery units in a datacenter include groups of backup battery units and power supply units that can supply power to datacenter components from either a primary power supply or, the backup battery units. Each group of multiple battery units has sufficient capacity to provide backup power to a respective electronic device even when one battery unit is offline. In operation, a controller receives requests to perform cycling operations, e.g. maintenance, on the backup batteries. Upon each request, the system retrieves status information corresponding to each backup battery unit and determines whether the remainder of the backup battery units can supply sufficient power to meet or exceed power demand, and either allow or prevent each backup battery unit from performing the cycling operation in response to determining whether the remainder of the backup battery units can or cannot supply sufficient power.