Abstract: An apparatus for compute and networking operation in a rack-mounted device are provided herein. An exemplary apparatus may include a compute substrate, a networking substrate, and a bridge substrate. The compute substrate may include a processor, and a memory communicatively coupled to the processor. The networking substrate may be separate from the compute substrate and include control processor, and an Ethernet switch communicatively coupled to the control processor. The bridge substrate may be communicatively coupled to the compute substrate and the networking substrate, and include at least two high-speed signal traces, the high-speed signal traces being at least one differential pair, the high-speed signal traces being communicatively coupled to the compute substrate and the networking substrate.

Abstract: A printed circuit board (PCB) for an Advanced Telecommunications Computing Architecture (ATCA) shelf. The ATCA shelf may include a backplane providing a payload power supply and a standby power supply. Additionally, the PCB may include a first shelf management controller (ShMC) and a multiport switch, the multiport switch electrically coupling the first ShMC with a second ShMC on a second PCB by way of the backplane, the first ShMC utilizing standby power provided by the backplane at least when payload power is not available.

Abstract: A network interface system having a front module and a rear transition module is disclosed. The rear transition module is specifically designed to allow active components of the network interface system to be placed on the front module, so that only passive components are placed on the rear transition module. Thus, the mean time between failure of the rear transition module is increased. Specifically, one embodiment of the present invention includes series resistors between the transmit magnetics of the rear transition module and a rear transition connector. The series resistors suppress noise and reflection on the transmit lines.