Abstract: An openable dual-board case for multi-mainboard system includes a rectangular tubular body assembled from two bent plates connected together via a pivoting structure, so that the two bent plates are pivotally turnably about the pivoting structure relative to each other to open or close the tubular body. With the openable tubular body, necessary system assembling, dismounting, maintaining, and repairing can be conveniently and efficiently performed. Moreover, two mainboards may be separately mounted on two opposite interiors of the bent plates to face toward each other. Therefore, the openable dual-board case allows a multi-mainboard system to have optimal spatial arrangement to achieve best heat-dissipation efficiency and largely reduce noises.

Abstract: A universal driving apparatus of a computer system inputs two control signals of two different duty cycles through a speed control pin of a receptacle for connecting fans with the electricity supplied continuously. The differentiation percentage of the two speeds is compared with a threshold to identify the fan types. Therefore the computer system is capable of driving the identified fan correctly according to the result of the fan-type identification.

Abstract: A system is provided to assign IP (Internet Protocol) addresses to plural management modules under different IP modes. The system management modules are configured in a computing system that is integrated in a single chassis. All the system management modules are connected through a first management network to be assigned with a static IP address or a DHCP. Besides, a secondary system management network is used for each of the management modules to facilitate the assignment of pre-assigned private IP addresses based on the board IDs of the management modules. When DHCP mode is selected, IP configuration will be performed automatically. Namely in DHCP mode, even if the system is disconnected from the external network, the system management can be done through the system management network with the pre-assigned private IP address.

Abstract: A fan control architecture is provided for controlling system fan(s) on a computing system that has multiple nodes, a system management network and a fan control module. On each of the nodes a management module is configured to collect system information thereon. In a main fan control scheme, a system management node controls the system fan through the fan control module according to the temperature data sent back from the management module of the other nodes through the system management network. The fan control scheme includes redundant path(s) connected between all the nodes and the fan control module to send high-temperature signals to the fan control module directly. In the case that a threshold high temperature is reached, the fan control module will set the system fan at a predetermined high speed according to the high-temperature signals.

Abstract: A chassis partition framework is provided for configuring a personal cluster computer that has a head-node mainboard, a first compute-node mainboard, a second compute-node mainboard, a third compute-node mainboard and a fourth compute-node mainboard. The chassis partition framework mainly includes a top chamber, a left chamber and a right chamber. The top chamber is for configuring the head-node mainboard horizontally. The left and right chambers located under the top chamber are for vertically configuring the first and second compute-node mainboards and the third and fourth compute-node mainboards respectively in face-to-face alignment, with the second and third compute-node mainboards standing in back-to-back alignment. Therefore, the mechanical problems of the conventional blade-type personal cluster computer about heat-dissipation, noise-reduction, expansibility and space-arrangement may be improved through the chassis partition framework.

Abstract: A dual-board case for multi-mainboard system includes a rectangular-sectioned tubular housing, in which two track sets are provided; and two mainboard trays being movably mounted on the two track sets to locate at an interior of two opposite lateral walls of the tubular housing. Each of the two mainboard trays has a loading surface, on which a mainboard is mounted; and the two mainboard trays are mounted on the track sets with their loading surfaces and accordingly, the two mainboards mounted thereon facing toward each other. Therefore, the dual-board case allows a multi-mainboard system to have optimal spatial arrangement to achieve best heat-dissipation efficiency and largely reduce noises.

Abstract: A system management architecture is provided to monitor and control a multi-mainboard system with plural system mainboards. The system management architecture includes a local card for alternatively replacing a BMC (Baseboard Management Controller)-based management card on the system mainboard. The local card mainly includes a GPIO (General Purpose Input/Output) device and a basic logic. A central management module is also used in the system management architecture to monitor and control the system mainboard through a management bus and the management or local card. The local card monitors status signals on the system mainboard according to the command signals from the central management module, and additionally, provides customized monitoring capability. Accordingly, the local card facilitates the implementation flexibility for the system management architecture and reduces the cost and maintenance supports required by numerous BMC-based management cards.

Abstract: An advanced programmable interrupt controller (APIC) identification (ID) configuration method is applied to a multiprocessor computer system. The method assigns a postponed ID to each CPU's APIC IDs respectively during the initialization. Plural reserved IDs are assigned to the I/O APICs. A multiprocessor configuration table in a basic input output system (BIOS) will be updated with renewed ID configuration, to avoid an ID conflict when processing the interrupt request from the peripheral devices and raise the stability of the multiprocessor computer system.

Abstract: A universal driving apparatus of a computer system, including a receptacle, a power switch, an integrator and a comparator, is provided to identify and drive a first fan and a second fan. The receptacle connects to the first fan or the second fan for electricity supply and system control. The integrator integrates speed signals of the first fan and the second fan to output an integrated-speed voltage. The comparator compares the integrated-speed voltage and a comparative voltage to output a comparative signal. Accordingly, the computer system uses the comparative signal to identify the fan type and actuate the first fan or the second fan correctly.

Abstract: A multi-processor system has a tubelike computer module including plural mother boards configured onto plural side walls of a rack body to form a unitary, continuous and non-segment airflow channel. The airflow channel of the tubelike computer module has larger space and fewer barriers to allow the airflow passing through smoothly, and to reduce wind noises or turbulences. Therefore, the system achieves optimum heat-dissipation efficiency and noise reduction by means of specific space arrangement and less cooling system requirement.

Abstract: A physical hardware architecture is provided to fulfill flexibility, serviceability and configurability of a multi-processor system. The architecture mainly includes a bottom plane, plural processor boards and a function board. On the front section of the top side of the bottom plane, the processor boards are configured thereon. The function board faces downwards and is configured in an edge-to-edge connection with the front edge of the bottom plane. Function card(s) may be configured vertically on the bottom surface of the function board. On the rear section of the top side of the bottom plane expansion card(s) are configured vertically. With main system fan(s) located on the top of the function board and auxiliary system fan configured under the bottom plane, the multi-processor system will also achieve optimum cooling capability through the architecture.

Abstract: A clocking scheme is provided to synchronize system clock across plural independent SMP (Symmetric Multi-Processing) domains of the multi-processor system. Each of the SMP domains is connected with another through an interconnection board and two or more identical connectors. The clocking scheme includes a clock source, a SPLL (Select Phase-Locked Loop) and a clock buffer on each of the SMP domains to provide a dedicated base clock. A self-clock path is used to send the base clock from the clock source to the SPLL on the same SMP domain, and on the other hand one or more base clock is sent through a distribution-clock path to another SPLL.

Abstract: A redundant clock distribution architecture is provided for a blade clustering system to achieve SMP (symmetric multi-processor) capability and flexible system configuration. The architecture mainly provides a central clock signal from a central clock and a local clock signal from an operative local clock configured on each blade module of the system. A clock multiplexer selects the central clock signal and sends to plural local clock consumers on each blade module. The clock multiplexer switches to send the local clock signal if the central clock fails.

Abstract: A remote monitor module is provided to monitor initialization events of a computer host domain on a local mainboard. The remote module includes an event monitor to detect certain initialization events during system initialization process, and then generates and transmits event signals to a BMC (Baseboard Management Controller). A decoder may be used to decode BIOS check data at a specific I/O address and provides check data signals to the BMC. The BMC receives the event signals and/or the check data signals and transmits to a remote management host through remote management link(s).

Abstract: A system management architecture is provided to manage plural compute nodes in a clustering system. Each of the compute nodes basically includes a BMC (Baseboard Management Controller) for local management. Among the compute nodes, a preset one has its BMC connecting with a management network switch through an extra network interface for clustering/system management. A first network interface, which is usually used to connect with the management network switch for communicating with other compute nodes, is utilized for the BMC of the preset compute node to connect with an external management host. A chipset on the preset compute node also connects with the external management host through a system I/O bus and the first network interface. On the preset compute node a operating system provides Network Address Translation service to allow the external management host to access each of the compute nodes.

Abstract: A scalable computer system includes a reconfigurable chassis module, plural hardware units and one or more inter-plane. The chassis module has plural modular units for configuring the hardware units therein respectively. Each of the modular units has dedicated framework to attach the inter-plane or dedicated fans. The inter-plane is to connect with the separated hardware units between the modular units. Each of the modular units is equipped with compatible male and female joints to engage with each other. Certain fastening assemblies may be applied to secure male-male or female-female joints, thereby enabling the modular units to be front-to-back and/or side-by-side connections.

Abstract: A chassis partition architecture of a chassis for configuring a multi-processor system is provided to fulfill flexibility, serviceability and configurability of a multi-processor system. The partition architecture mainly includes the partition architecture mainly includes a node partition, a expansion partition and a function partition. The node partition is located at a middle section of the chassis, mainly for containing several processor boards that are configured vertically and lengthwise. The expansion partition is located behind the node partition, mainly for containing several expansion boards that are configured vertically and lengthwise. And the function partition is located at a front section of the chassis lower than the node partition and the expansion partition, mainly for containing a plurality of function cards that are configured upside-down vertically and lengthwise.

Abstract: A remote monitor module for power initialization of a computer system includes a monitor logic and a BMC (Baseboard Management Controller). The monitor logic is in circuit connection with a power-up sequence controller and several basic voltage domains on a system board of the computer system. The monitor logic also defines a monitor power-up sequence to perform a basic power-up sequence defined in the power-up sequence controller and allow system changes in power initialization. Extra voltage domain(s) may be enabled and monitored according to the monitor power-up sequence. Eventually, multiple power initialization event/state signals are transmitted by the monitor logic to a remote management host through the BMC.

Abstract: A system and method are provided to enable flexible symmetric multi-processor (SMP) configuration. The system includes plural bootable domains and a glue logic. The bootable domains include plural processors, one or more boot image and one or more bridge interface. Each of the bootable domains links to another through the connection between the processors. The glue logic receives and processes a configuration signal and generates enable/disable signals to enable/disable each of the bootable domains and define one or more actual boot domain. The processor of the enabled bootable domain initializes the dedicated actual boot domain by accessing boot instructions from the boot image through the bridge interface.

Abstract: A computer system with a fixing module for riser card thereof is provided. By allowing the bottom side of the supporting pillar and the bottom parts of the two opposite sides of the supporting pillar engaging with each other, the riser card is supported by stress from all directions around it. Therefore, enough supporting strength is efficiently provided within a limited space and the riser card is prevented from being bended and having deformation because of the heavy weight.