Abstract: A system for storing data includes a discrete cooling module that can enable discrete cooling of mass storage devices installed in the chassis interior of a data storage module coupled to a rack. The discrete cooling module includes an air moving device and an air cover. The air moving device can induce and airflow through the chassis interior of the data storage module to remove heat from heat producing components of mass storage devices installed in the chassis interior. The air cover directs the airflow through the chassis interior. The discrete cooling module can isolate rotational vibrations generated by the air moving device from the mass storage devices installed in the chassis. Partial isolation can include indirectly coupling the discrete cooling module to the chassis via directly coupling with the rack.

Abstract: A portable server assembly system includes a container structure configured to be transported between data center locations, such as a shipping container. The portable server assembly system also includes a plurality of robots that are stowed in the container when being transported between data center locations, and that assemble servers when deployed at a particular data center location. In some embodiments, when a first data center location is substantially populated with servers assembled by the portable server assembly system (or another system), the portable server assembly system is re-deployed to another data center for use in assembling servers for populating the other data center.

Abstract: Systems and methods for handling resources in a computer system differently in certain situations, such as catastrophic events, based upon an assigned layer of the resource in the system. The layer can be based, for example, on criticality of the resource to the system. Services or devices can be assigned a criticality level representing a layer. The different layers can be treated differently in the case of an event, such as fire, a power outage, an overheating situation and so forth. In response to receiving information about such an event, the different layers can be handled in accordance with their criticality.

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: 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 array of backup battery units that can be reconfigured to provide different currents and/or voltages depending upon load conditions. The backup battery units are attached to a bus and can be reconfigured, for example, between a configuration in which the battery backup units are wired in series to a configuration where the battery backup units are wired in parallel. Additional embodiments are directed to an array of backup battery units that can isolate a single battery backup unit so that the battery backup unit can be removed from the bus while the bus is under load. The removed battery backup unit can then be tested, maintained, and/or replaced.

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 backup battery unit that can be reconfigured to provide different currents and/or voltages depending upon load conditions. The backup battery unit can be reconfigured, for example, between a configuration in which battery cells for the battery unit are wired in series to a configuration where the battery cells are wired in parallel. Additional embodiments are directed to a backup battery unit that can isolate a battery cell and remove the cell from a circuit for the battery while the battery is under load or being charged. The isolated cell can then be serviced or tested.

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: Systems and methods for handling resources in a computer system differently in certain situations, such as catastrophic events, based upon an assigned layer of the resource to the system. The layer can be based, for example, on criticality of the resource to the system. Services or computing device resources can be physically segregated in accordance with layers and can be managed in accordance with the segregation. In response to receiving information about an event, the different layers can be handled in accordance with their criticality, for example by shutting some of the resources down and/or slowing some of the resources down.

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: Systems and methods for handling resources in a computer system differently in certain situations, such as catastrophic events, based upon an assigned layer of the resource to the system. The layer can be based, for example, on criticality of the resource to the system. Services or computing device resources can be physically segregated in accordance with layers, and can be managed in accordance with the segregation. As an example, critical layers can be fenced off or otherwise made not available except to users with secure clearance or authorization. In addition, a light or other indicator can be provided for indicating that a datacenter component is in a particular layer. The indicators can be at a device level, rack level, and/or room or area level.

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: Systems and methods for handling battery backup resources in a computer system differently in certain situations, such as catastrophic events, based upon an assigned layer of the datacenter components to which the battery backup resource provides backup power. The layer can be based, for example, on criticality of the resource to the system. Less critical layers can shed load or gracefully shut down to respond to the event, and the battery resources can be reallocated or reconfigured to provide battery power to the more critical layers.

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: A system includes a rack, a plurality of shelves, a plurality of shelf-mountable electrical systems, and an inter-shelf power-pooling bus. The inter-shelf power-pooling bus is coupled to a power output of a shelf power supply mechanism on each of the shelves and a power input of a shelf computing device on each of the shelves. The inter-shelf power-pooling bus supplies pooled power from the shelf power supply mechanisms coupled to the inter-shelf power bus to the shelf computing devices coupled to the inter-shelf power-pooling bus.

Abstract: A system includes a rack with shelves and one or more groups of shelf-mountable electrical systems. Each of at least two of the shelf-mountable electrical systems includes one or more chassis, shelf computing devices, a shelf power supply mechanism, and one or more power-pooling bus elements. For at least one of the groups, a power-pooling bus element of at least one shelf-mountable electrical systems is electrically coupled to a power pooling bus element of at least one other of the shelf-mountable electrical systems in the group such that the power-pooling bus elements form an inter-shelf power-pooling bus for one or more of the computing devices in the group.

Abstract: An energy storage device included in a data center environment can supply energy to a set of solid state drives in the data center environment when power failure or another power event has occurred. In some embodiments, there can be a controller for each solid state drive. The controller can be configured to detect or determine the occurrence of the power failure or other power event and, in response, transmit a command to a respective solid state drive instructing the solid state drive to perform a graceful and atomic shutdown operation, so that data stored on the drive is made durable and the drive enters a quiescent state (e.g., sleep mode, hibernate mode, power-off mode, etc.). As such, the energy storage device can provide protection against power events to solid state drives that lack native (e.g., built-in, inherent, etc.) power protection mechanisms.