Abstract: Techniques are described for managing temperatures within a data storage system by selectively interrupting power to one or more components of the data storage system. Temperature sensors measure the temperature of various components included in racks of a data center, such as data storage modules, backplanes of data storage modules, or mass storage devices coupled to backplanes. A control device may determine that a thermal event, such as a higher than threshold temperature, is occurring in one or more components. The control device may emit signal(s) to instruct power distribution unit(s) to selectively interrupt or reduce the power sent to those component(s) exhibiting the thermal event. The components may also be instructed to reduce a number of operations being performed. In some cases, fan speeds may be selectively adjusted to cool the component(s) and thus mitigate the thermal event. Power consumption may be employed to infer the temperature of component(s).

Abstract: A computing system includes a chassis, one or more backplanes coupled to the chassis. Computing devices are coupled to the one or more backplanes. The one or more backplanes include backplane openings that allow air to pass from one side of the backplane to the other side of the backplane. Air channels are formed by adjacent circuit board assemblies of the computing devices and the one or more backplanes. Channel capping elements at least partially close the air channels.

Abstract: Technologies are provided for dynamically changing a size of a cache region of a storage device. A storage device controller writes data to the cache region of the storage device using a particular storage format. The storage device controller then migrates the cached data to a storage region of the device, where the data is written using a different storage format. A dynamic cache manager monitors input and output activity for the storage device and dynamically adjusts a size of the cache region to adapt to changes in the input and/or output activity. The dynamic cache manager can also adjust a size of the storage region. The storage device controller can automatically detect that the storage device has dynamic cache support and configure the storage device by creating the cache region and the storage region on the device.

Abstract: Application program data stored in system memory may be selectively persisted. An indication may be provided to an application program that an application data object or a range of application data stored in system memory may be treated as persistent. Data backup may be enabled for the application data object or range of application data in the event of a system failure, copying the application data object or range of application data from system memory to non-volatile data storage. Upon recovery from a system failure, further data backup for the application data object or the range of application data may be disabled. In some embodiments, at least some of the application data object or range of application data may be recovered for the application program to access. Data backup for the application data object or the range of application data may also be re-enabled.

Abstract: The following description is directed to cable-based configuration. In one example, a method can include determining a first end of a cable is connected to a first device and a second end of the cable is connected to a second device. The first device can be configured to perform a first function when it is determined the first end of the cable is connected to the first device. The second device can be configured to perform a second function when it is determined the second end of the cable is connected to the second device. The second function can be different from the first function, such that the first device and the second device are configured differently based on which end of the cable is connected to the respective device.

Abstract: A system for storing data includes a rack and one or more data storage modules mounted on the rack. The data storage modules may include a chassis, two or more vertically-oriented backplanes coupled to the chassis, two or more mass storage devices coupled to the backplanes, and one or more air passages extending beneath one or more of the backplanes. Each backplane is configured to preclude airflow through the backplane between opposite vertical faces and can couple mass storage devices on one or more of the opposite vertical faces. One or more of the air passages can supply an upwards-directed airflow along one of the opposite vertical faces of a backplane to remove heat from a heat producing component of a mass storage device coupled to the vertical face of the vertically-oriented backplane.

Abstract: Technologies are provided for using an index in one region of a storage device to track modifications to data stored in another region of the storage device. The index can be stored in a first storage region using a first storage format, and data items can be stored in a second storage region using a second storage format. The index can map logical identifiers for data items to locations in the second storage region where the data items are stored. Instead of modifying a data item in the second storage device region, an entry in the index can be updated to mark the data item as deleted. Requests for data items can be reconciled using the index before returning the requested data items. Storage locations in the second region that are associated with index entries that are marked as deleted can be reclaimed and used to store additional data items.

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 humidification assembly includes an enclosure, for example, arranged around a component of a datacenter. A base extends through a wall of the enclosure. Inside the enclosure, the base includes a well. Outside the enclosure, the base receives a container having a total volume that includes water and air. Water may flow from the container through a passage in the base to the well, for example, until equilibrium is reached and a predetermined water level in the well is thereby maintained. Water from the well thus provides a replenishing source of water to be evaporated for humidifying the air within the enclosure.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques for maintaining a secure execution environment on a server. In one embodiment, the server includes a non-volatile memory storing firmware, a programmable security logic coupled to the non-volatile memory, an adapter device coupled to the programmable security logic, and a processor communicatively coupled to the non-volatile memory via the programmable security logic. The adapter device and/or the programmable security logic can verify the firmware in the non-volatile memory while holding the processor and/or a baseboard management controller (BMC) in power reset, release the processor and the BMC from reset to boot the processor and the BMC after the firmware is verified, and then disable communications between the processor and the BMC and deny at least some requests to write to the non-volatile memory by the processor or the BMC.

Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for a location-aware, self-configuring peripheral device. In some implementations, the peripheral device may include two or more personalities. In these implementations, a personality enables the peripheral device to provide a service. In some implementations, the peripheral device may be configured to receive a configuration cycle. In some implementations, the peripheral device may further select a personality from among two or more personalities. The peripheral device may use information derived from the configuration cycle to make this selection. Selecting a personality may further include configuring the peripheral device according to the selected personality.

Abstract: A system for storing data includes a rack and one or more data storage modules mounted on the rack. The data storage modules may include a chassis, two or more vertically-oriented backplanes coupled to the chassis, two or more mass storage devices coupled to the backplanes, and one or more air passages extending beneath one or more of the backplanes. Each backplane is configured to preclude airflow through the backplane between opposite vertical faces and can couple mass storage devices on one or more of the opposite vertical faces. One or more of the air passages can supply an upwards-directed airflow along one of the opposite vertical faces of a backplane to remove heat from a heat producing component of a mass storage device coupled to the vertical face of the vertically-oriented backplane.

Abstract: An enclosure-based tape drive server, comprises an enclosure, a controller, a memory linked to the controller, a plurality of at least eight tape drives, a host bus adapter and a network controller. The controller is positioned within the enclosure. The at least eight tape drives are positioned within the enclosure, and each of the tape drives is accessible from a front side of the enclosure. The host bus adapter couples the plurality of tape drives to the controller. The network controller is connectible to a network to couple the server to the network.

Abstract: A system includes a rack and one or more server systems mounted in the rack. A server system includes at least one sever node and each server node includes an array of devices including mass storage devices and at least one server device. Segments of the array of devices of a particular server node are mounted in sub-node chassis that include intra node connectors. Multiple sub-node chassis that each include devices such as mass storage devices or server devices of the sever node couple together via the intra node connectors when installed in a server system chassis to form a server node. Each server node of a server system may be a separate logical node. Also, the sub-node chassis of a server node may be configured for vertical airflow through the sub-node chassis in addition to cross airflow.

Abstract: A rack-mountable computer system enables an airflow that cools components in an upstream portion of the computer system interior to be cooled through mixing with a bypass airflow downstream of the components in the upstream portion. The mixed airflow can cool components in a downstream portion of the interior. The bypass airflow is directed by a bypass plenum that is unencompassed by the separate plenum that directs the airflow to cool the upstream portion components. The bypass plenum can be at least partially established by an external surface the computer system and one or more external structures, including an external surface of an adjacently mounted computer system. Relative flow rates through the separate plenums can be adjusted, via flow control elements, to separately control heat removal from components upstream and downstream of the air mixing, based at least in part upon air temperatures in the separate interior portions.

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: An electronic device may include a door filter that is moveable to transition between a first position that enables visibility of a display located behind or underneath the filter and a second position that causes air entering the electronic device to pass through an air filter. In some embodiments, the door filter may be moveable or rotatable relative to a door filter frame that is removably coupled to an electronic device housing and located over an aperture in the electronic device housing. The door filter may include a first portion that couples to a second portion to secure or at least partially enclose the air filter. When the door filter frame is decoupled from the electronic device, a security door may close the aperture by engaging the same coupling points in the electronic device housing as previously engaged by the door filter frame.

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 system includes a rack and one or more server systems mounted in the rack. A server system includes at least one sever node and each server node includes an array of devices including mass storage devices and at least one server device. Segments of the array of devices of a particular server node are mounted in sub-node chassis that include intra node connectors. Multiple sub-node chassis that each include devices such as mass storage devices or server devices of the sever node couple together via the intra node connectors when installed in a server system chassis to form a server node. Each server node of a server system may be a separate logical node. Also, the sub-node chassis of a server node may be configured for vertical airflow through the sub-node chassis in addition to cross airflow.