Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for reducing impact of a switch failure and/or a repair action in a switch fabric. In one embodiment, a server system is provided that includes a first interposer card that operatively connects one or more server cards to a midplane. The first interposer card may include a switch module that switches network traffic for the one or more server cards. The first interposer card may be hot-swappable from the midplane, and the one or more server cards may be hot-swappable from the first interposer card. The server system may further include an interconnect between the first interposer card and a second interposer card.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for reducing impact of a switch failure in a switch fabric. In one embodiment, a server system is provided that includes a midplane, one or more server cards and one or more switch cards. The midplane may include a fabric interconnect for a switch fabric. The one or more server cards may be coupled with the midplane, where each server card is hot-swappable from the midplane. The one or more switch cards may also be coupled with the midplane, where each switch card is also hot-swappable from the midplane. Each switch card includes one or more switch modules, and each switch module is configured to switch network traffic for at least one server card.

Abstract: A system comprises a server chassis and first and second hard disk drive carriers, wherein each carrier supports a hard disk drive. A first hinge rotatably connects a distal end of the first hard disk drive carrier to a first side of the chassis, wherein the first hinge allows the carrier to rotate about a first hinge axis between an open position and a closed position. The first hard disk drive carrier rotates in a first plane between an open position extending beyond the front of the chassis and a closed position within the chassis. A second hinge rotatably connects a distal end of the second hard disk drive carrier to a second side of the chassis that opposite the first side of the chassis, wherein the hinge allows the carrier to rotate about a second hinge axis between an open position and a closed position.

Abstract: Controlling electromagnetic (‘EM’) radiation in a data center having a number EM sections, including: receiving, by an EM controller, a specification of preferred EM radiation characteristics for the data center; and setting, by the EM controller, a state of each EM section in accordance with the specification, where the state of each EM section may be one of: an absorption state in which the EM section absorbs EM radiation or a reflection state in which the EM section reflects EM radiation.

Abstract: Controlling electromagnetic (‘EM’) radiation in a data center having a number EM sections, including: receiving, by an EM controller, a specification of preferred EM radiation characteristics for the data center; and setting, by the EM controller, a state of each EM section in accordance with the specification, where the state of each EM section may be one of: an absorption state in which the EM section absorbs EM radiation or a reflection state in which the EM section reflects EM radiation.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and product are disclosed for expanding functionality of hard drive bays in a computing system that include: providing, by a connector in a hard drive bay, access to two or more data communication busses of different type; receiving, by the connector of the hard drive bay, a device mounted within the hard drive bay; and communicately coupling, by the connector of the hard drive bay, the device to one of the data communication busses.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and product are disclosed for expanding functionality of hard drive bays in a computing system that include: detecting, by a fabric management module, that a new device has been added to a hard drive bay in the computing system; identifying, by the fabric management module, a data communications protocol that is used by the new device; selecting, by the fabric management module, a fabric that supports the data communications protocol that is used by the new device; and routing, by the fabric management module, data communications according to the data communications protocol that is used by the new device across the selected fabric.

Abstract: A system comprises a server chassis and first and second hard disk drive carriers, wherein each carrier supports a hard disk drive. A first hinge rotatably connects a distal end of the first hard disk drive carrier to a first side of the chassis, wherein the first hinge allows the carrier to rotate about a first hinge axis between an open position and a closed position. The first hard disk drive carrier rotates in a first plane between an open position extending beyond the front of the chassis and a closed position within the chassis. A second hinge rotatably connects a distal end of the second hard disk drive carrier to a second side of the chassis that opposite the first side of the chassis, wherein the hinge allows the carrier to rotate about a second hinge axis between an open position and a closed position.

Abstract: A system for providing access to at least one specified application within a software system. The software system comprises security software and a software tool suite. The security software is adapted to authorize a user to access at least one specified application on a computer system comprising a security standard. The software tool suite is adapted to create or modify a user profile for the user. The user profile comprises at least one transaction necessary for the user to access the at least one specified application. The software tool suite is adapted to integrate in real time the user profile into the security software. The software tool suite is adapted to create a user profile report in real time to verify that the user profile is in compliance with the security standard of the computer system.

Abstract: Printed circuit boards for countering signal distortion are disclosed that include: a conductive pathway on a printed circuit board between a transmitter and a receiver, the conductive pathway comprised of traces and vias connected together for conductive transfer of a signal from the transmitter to the receiver; a parasitic element on the printed circuit board, the parasitic element having a parasitic effect that distorts the signal; and one or more passive elements mounted adjacent to the conductive pathway without connecting to the conductive pathway, the passive elements having a corrective effect to reduce the distortion from the parasitic effect on the signal.

Abstract: Power is allocated to blades based on an estimate of the actual power they are expected to use rather than their maximum-power draw-value. To protect against situations where the estimated actual-power draw-value is exceeded, a hardware comparator monitors the blade system load against a predetermined threshold value set by a management module (MM) based on user input. If this threshold value is exceeded, a throttle latch is triggered, based on a signal from a service processor monitoring the blade system load. The output of this latch directly engages throttling. The service processor also monitors the output of the latch and communicates information regarding the throttling to the MM for evaluation.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed to enable and control power reduction in a blade/chassis system. A “maximum power reduction” attribute is stored in the VPD of the blade (or can otherwise be input to or retrieved or calculated by the management entity). The management module of the chassis in which the blades and power supplies are located uses this information to manage the power reduction of blades when the system is operating in an over-subscription mode and a power supply fails. If throttling is required, the system knows the amount of power reduction available for each blade and controls the throttling by spreading it out among the blades in the system so that, ideally, no blade will cease operation altogether.

Abstract: A method and system are disclosed to enable and control over-subscription in a blade/chassis system and to provide the capability to recover in the event of the loss of a redundant power supply. An over-subscription policy is determined by a system administrator and is set in the chassis management module. Information regarding the maximum power allocation needed for each blade being powered by the power supply system is identified by the blade and stored in its VPD or otherwise made available to the chassis management module. The management module of the chassis in which the blades and power supplies are located uses this information to manage the subscription of blades and the over-subscription of blades when appropriate. If throttling is required, the system also allows a predetermined blade priority to be used to identify which blades will be reduced in power.

Abstract: A system and associated method for providing access to at least one specified application within a software system. The software system comprises security software and a software tool suite. The security software is adapted to authorize a user to access at least one specified application on a computer system comprising a security standard. The software tool suite is adapted to create or modify a user profile for the user. The user profile comprises at least one transaction necessary for the user to access the at least one specified application. The software tool suite is adapted to integrate in real time the user profile into the security software. The software tool suite is adapted to create a user profile report in real time to verify that the user profile is in compliance with the security standard of the computer system.

Abstract: A system for providing access to at least one specified application within a software system. The software system comprises security software and a software tool suite. The security software is adapted to authorize a user to access at least one specified application on a computer system comprising a security standard. The software tool suite is adapted to create or modify a user profile for the user. The user profile comprises at least one transaction necessary for the user to access the at least one specified application. The software tool suite is adapted to integrate in real time the user profile into the security software. The software tool suite is adapted to create a user profile report in real time to verify that the user profile is in compliance with the security standard of the computer system.

Abstract: Printed circuit boards for countering signal distortion are disclosed that include: a conductive pathway on a printed circuit board between a transmitter and a receiver, the conductive pathway comprised of traces and vias connected together for conductive transfer of a signal from the transmitter to the receiver; a parasitic element on the printed circuit board, the parasitic element having a parasitic effect that distorts the signal; and one or more passive elements mounted adjacent to the conductive pathway without connecting to the conductive pathway, the passive elements having a corrective effect to reduce the distortion from the parasitic effect on the signal.

Abstract: A computer system includes a plurality of blade servers, a midplane, a supplemental midplane, and a peripheral device separate from the blade servers. The midplane includes a plurality of connectors connecting the midplane to the plurality of blade servers. The supplemental midplane is separate from the midplane and includes a body, a plurality of connectors, and a peripheral connector. The plurality of connectors are attached to the body and connect the supplemental midplane to the plurality of blade servers. The peripheral connector is attached to the body and connects the supplemental midplane to the peripheral device. The plurality of connectors of the supplemental midplane communicate with the peripheral connector of the supplemental midplane. The plurality of connectors of the supplemental midplane are configured to be removably connectable to the midplane.

Abstract: An improved method and system for determining the state of an operating system includes an operating system, a USB host controller that is driven by the operating system to send a polling signal to a USB device, and a management module that monitors the polling signal. If the polling signal has stopped, then the management module takes corrective action to restore the operating system. No specialized software or specialized hardware is required to determine the state of the operating system. The state of the operating system can be determined quickly and efficiently without adding to the costs of the system.

Abstract: A bus-to-bus adapter is provided for coupling the input/output bus of a first data processor to the input/output bus of a second and different type of data processor. The adapter enables the transfer of data and messages from the first processor to the second processor and vice versa. The adapter includes a buffer storage unit and control logic for enabling multiple data buffers to be provided for enabling multiple independent data transfer operations to be performed in a concurrent manner. The control logic also includes a mechanism for allowing the reading out of data from a data buffer to begin before such data buffer has received all of its incoming data. The adapter further includes a programmable service time allocation mechanism for limiting message service time relative to data transfer service time and for providing different amounts of data transfer service time for different ones of the multiple data buffers.