Abstract: A rack cooling system includes a plurality of electronic devices mounted in a rack and a plurality of shared rack-level fans arranged in an array and coupled to a rack. A fan controller receives one or more condition signals indicating thermal conditions in the electronic devices and generates a plurality of control signals for controlling the shared rack-level fans. The fan controller generates the plurality of control signals based on respective thermal conditions in respective electronic devices in respective positions in the rack and the plurality of control signals causes different respective groups of one or more shared rack-level fans in different locations in the array to induce air flow through the electronic devices, wherein separate ones of the two or more groups of one or more shared rack-level fans operate at different speeds or angles.

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: An expansion card mounting assembly includes a mounting structure and a circuit board coupled to the mounting structure. Expansion cards are mounted on a top side and a bottom side of the circuit board and secured at opposite ends by a moveable plate of the expansion card mounting assembly. The mounting structure includes an opening along a length of the expansion cards that allows air to flow over the expansion cards in multiple directions including a vertical direction. The moveable plate and mounting structure are configured to allow a position of the moveable plate on the mounting structure to be adjusted to mount expansion cards having different lengths in the expansion card mounting assembly.

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: An electrical connector includes a plurality of pins for transmitting electrical signals and at least one illumination device disposed on the electrical connector and electrically coupled to at least one of the pins. The illumination device is disposed so as to radiate light from the exterior of the electrical connector. The radiated light is visible while the electrical connector is engaged. The illumination device is configured to be controlled by pins that are not used for data transmission.

Abstract: A carrierless mass storage device retainer assembly for retaining a carrierless mass storage device in a horizontal orientation comprises a base and first and second end surface receiving portions. The base defines a generally horizontal surface. The first end surface receiving portion is shaped to receive a first end of the drive and is movable between an at rest position and an engaged position. The second end surface receiving portion is shaped to receive a second end surface of the drive and has an at rest position spaced from the first end surface receiving portion. The second end surface receiving portion is movable to accommodate a length of the drive, and, with the first and second ends of the drive received therein, is movable back to the at rest position to retain the drive.

Abstract: A system includes a rack and one or more server systems mounted in the rack. A server system includes a chassis with one or more arrays of devices in the chassis. Each array includes mass storage devices and a server device mounted in the array within the chassis of the server system. The server device occupies no more than an equivalent volume of space in the chassis as one of the mass storage devices. A set of mass storage devices of an array and the server device of the array form a logical node, and a server system may include multiple logical nodes in the same chassis. Each array of devices may be located in a sled that can move into and out of the chassis of the server system.

Abstract: A cooling controller of a cooling canister is configured to coordinate control of a set of fans coupled with the cooling canister with another set of fans coupled with an adjacent cooling canister. The cooling canister and the adjacent cooling canister include openings that are coupled together that permit air to flow between the cooling canister and the adjacent cooling canister. In some embodiments, the cooling control also coordinates control of a damper in at least one of the coupled openings of the coupled cooling canister and adjacent cooling canister.

Abstract: A carrierless mass storage device retainer assembly for retaining a carrierless mass storage device in a vertical orientation comprises a generally horizontal supporting surface, a generally vertical backplane and a retainer. The supporting surface is configured to receive a first side surface of a carrierless mass storage device and to support it from below with its second side surface facing upwards in a generally vertical direction. The backplane is positioned adjacent an end of the horizontal supporting surface and has a connector configured to establish an electrical connection between the carrierless mass storage device and the backplane. The retainer comprises a bail coupled to the supporting surface and shaped to extend around the carrierless mass storage device and to contact at least its second side surface when it is installed.

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 established by one surface of a component that supports one or more heat-producing components in the separate plenum, including an underside of a circuit board mounted in the interior. 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 rack-mountable computer system directs separate portions of a cooling airflow from an inlet air plenum in the computer system interior through separate air passages to remove heat from separate portions of a set of heat-producing components. The air passages can preclude a portion of cooling airflow removing heat from a component from being preheated by another component. Plenums and air passages can be established through the arrangement of components in the interior. Components can be arranged in progressive offsets throughout the depth of the interior to vary plenum flow area throughout the depth, which can progressively impede and redirect airflow through the inlet plenum into the air passages. Arrangements can include an angled row, a staggered configuration, etc. The computer system can include a chassis which can translate, while maintaining operation of hot-pluggable electronic components coupled throughout the depth, to enable swapping of hot-pluggable electronic components throughout the interior.

Abstract: A rack-mountable computer system directs separate portions of a cooling airflow from an inlet air plenum in the computer system interior through separate air passages to remove heat from separate portions of a set of heat-producing components. The air passages can preclude a portion of cooling airflow removing heat from a component from being preheated by another component. Plenums and air passages can be established through the arrangement of components in the interior. Components can be arranged in progressive offsets throughout the depth of the interior to vary plenum flow area throughout the depth, which can progressively impede and redirect airflow through the inlet plenum into the air passages. Arrangements can include an angled row, a staggered configuration, etc. The computer system can include a chassis which can translate, while maintaining operation of hot-pluggable electronic components coupled throughout the depth, to enable swapping of hot-pluggable electronic components throughout the interior.

Abstract: A rack-mountable computer system includes a horizontal divider that divides a chassis interior of the computer system into a first level and a second level. A plurality of electronic components are mounted on the first level and a plurality of electronic components are mounted on a moveable tray of the second level. The horizontal divider includes one or more elongated openings and a plurality of cables that pass through the one or more elongated openings. The plurality of cables connect the electronic components mounted on the first level to the electronic components mounted on the moveable tray. The one or more elongated openings guide the plurality of cables to slide within the one or more elongated openings as the moveable tray is moved into or out of the chassis interior.

Abstract: A system for storing data includes a rack and one or more data storage modules coupled to the rack. The data storage modules may include a chassis, two or more backplanes coupled to the chassis, one or more mass storage devices coupled to the backplanes, and one or more data control modules mounted in one or more inlet air plenums extending upstream of one or more of the backplanes in the chassis interior. A data control module can be mounted in one or more air plenums extending beneath one or more of the backplanes in the chassis interior. A data control module can be mounted in one or more air plenums extending above one or more of the backplanes. A data control module mounted in a data storage module may access the mass storage devices in one or more of the data storage modules coupled to the rack.

Abstract: A system for storing data includes a rack and one or more data storage modules coupled to the rack. The data storage modules may include a chassis, two or more backplanes coupled to the chassis, one or more mass storage devices coupled to the backplanes, and one or more air plenums extending beneath one or more of the backplanes in the chassis interior. The backplanes are coupled to the chassis in a staggered configuration, where one of the backplanes is coupled to the chassis at a different elevation relative to another one of the backplanes coupled to the chassis. An air passage may extend beneath one or more of the staggered backplanes and may progressively narrow from the inlet end towards the exhaust end of the chassis. A progressively narrowing air passage can progressively impede airflow through the air passage from the inlet end towards the exhaust end.

Abstract: Input device manufacture techniques are described. In one or more implementations, a plurality of layers of a key assembly is positioned in a fixture such that one or more projections of the fixture are disposed through one or more openings in each of the one or more layers. The positioned plurality of layers is secured to each other.

Abstract: Input device manufacture techniques are described. In one or more implementations, a plurality of layers of a key assembly is positioned in a fixture such that one or more projections of the fixture are disposed through one or more openings in each of the one or more layers. The positioned plurality of layers is secured to each other.

Abstract: Input device manufacture techniques are described. In one or more implementations, a plurality of layers of a key assembly is positioned in a fixture such that one or more projections of the fixture are disposed through one or more openings in each of the one or more layers. The positioned plurality of layers is secured to each other.