Abstract: An apparatus for storing data based on physical accessibility of storage devices is disclosed. One embodiment of an apparatus includes a processor and a memory. The memory that stores code executable by the processor to acquire information related to physical accessibility for a plurality of data storage devices, each data storage device operably connected to a computing device. The code is further executable by the processor to classify the physical accessibility for each of the plurality of data storage devices based on the acquired information. Also, the code is executable by the processor to store data on a data storage device of the plurality of data storage devices based on the classified physical accessibility for the data storage device and sensitivity of the data. Further, data with a higher sensitivity is stored on a data storage device classified with a lower accessibility than data with a lower sensitivity.

Abstract: Out-of-band management of data drives including receiving, from a user, a control command targeting a data drive communicatively coupled to a backplane, wherein the data drive is communicatively coupled to the computing device via an interconnect bus; generating, based on the control command, an out-of-band command targeting a baseboard management controller (BMC) communicatively coupled to the backplane, wherein the out-of-band command comprises a data drive location identifier; sending the out-of-band command to the BMC, wherein the BMC, in response, identifies the data drive on the backplane using the data drive location identifier and a cable topology table, and performs the out-of-band command on the data drive; and receiving, from the BMC, a first notification that the out-of-band command has been performed on the data drive identified by the data drive location identifier.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a computer program embodied on a tangible computer readable medium includes computer code for identifying a wireless communications gateway in communication with a management controller, computer code for establishing a wireless communications connection between one or more drives and the management controller, utilizing the wireless communications gateway, and computer code for communicating one or more of monitoring data and control data between the management controller and the one or more drives, utilizing the wireless communications connection.

Abstract: An apparatus for storing data based on physical accessibility of storage devices is disclosed. One embodiment of an apparatus includes a processor and a memory. The memory that stores code executable by the processor to acquire information related to physical accessibility for a plurality of data storage devices, each data storage device operably connected to a computing device. The code is further executable by the processor to classify the physical accessibility for each of the plurality of data storage devices based on the acquired information. Also, the code is executable by the processor to store data on a data storage device of the plurality of data storage devices based on the classified physical accessibility for the data storage device and sensitivity of the data. Further, data with a higher sensitivity is stored on a data storage device classified with a lower accessibility than data with a lower sensitivity.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, method, and program product for verifying a communication bus connection to a peripheral device are disclosed. The apparatus includes a data module that receives, over a communication bus, an identifier for a location where a peripheral device is installed. The peripheral device is communicatively coupled to an information handling device using the communication bus. The apparatus includes a verification module that compares the identifier received over the communication bus to a predefined identifier associated with the communication bus. The apparatus includes a notification module that sends a notification in response to the identifier received over the communication bus not matching the predefined identifier associated with the communication bus.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, method, and program product for managing peripheral devices using a data protocol is presented. A connection module determines one or more communication bus cables that communicatively couple one or more peripheral devices to an information handling device. A data module reads a data packet associated with a peripheral device over each of the one or more communication bus cables. Each data packet includes an identifier for a location where the peripheral device is installed. A topology module determines a cable connection configuration for the one or more communication bus cables and the one or more peripheral devices based on the installation location identifier received from each of the data packets associated with the one or more peripheral devices.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, method, and program product are disclosed for associating data buses and management buses for peripheral devices. A command module sends a command to a peripheral device to trigger activity on the peripheral device. The peripheral device is communicatively coupled to an information handling device using a separate data bus and a management bus connection of a management bus. The command is sent over the data bus to the peripheral device. A monitor module checks the management bus of the information handling device to determine which management bus connection is connected to the peripheral device that was active in response to the sent command. An association module associates the determined management bus connection with the data bus on which the command was sent and with the peripheral device.

Abstract: Out-of-band management of data drives including receiving, from a user, a control command targeting a data drive communicatively coupled to a backplane, wherein the data drive is communicatively coupled to the computing device via an interconnect bus; generating, based on the control command, an out-of-band command targeting a baseboard management controller (BMC) communicatively coupled to the backplane, wherein the out-of-band command comprises a data drive location identifier; sending the out-of-band command to the BMC, wherein the BMC, in response, identifies the data drive on the backplane using the data drive location identifier and a cable topology table, and performs the out-of-band command on the data drive; and receiving, from the BMC, a first notification that the out-of-band command has been performed on the data drive identified by the data drive location identifier.

Abstract: An apparatus for reconfiguring a computing device includes an inventory module, a thermal analysis module, and a reconfiguration module. The inventory module detects one or more locations for one or more non-volatile memory express (“NVMe”) devices. The one or more NVMe devices are coupled to a plurality of slots such that at least one of the slots is empty. The one or more NVMe devices thermally affect one or more further components of a computing device. The thermal analysis module determines one or more thermal characteristics for a current configuration and for one or more possible reconfigurations. The current configuration includes locations of the one or more NVMe devices and the one or more further components. The reconfiguration module selects a reconfiguration from the one or more possible reconfigurations based on the one or more determined thermal characteristics.

Abstract: A storage system includes storage devices that each have a physical medium on which to store metadata regarding the storage device, and client data. The storage system includes a storage manager remotely connected to the storage devices to manage storage of the client data on the storage devices. The storage system includes an event manager separate from the storage manager and locally connected to the storage devices to directly manage the metadata stored on the storage devices, to receive local insertion, removal, and reinsertion events regarding the storage devices, and to send notifications regarding the removal and the reinsertion events to the storage manager. Separation of the storage manager from the event manager permits the storage manager to manage the storage of the client data on the storage devices regardless of a particular event manager to which each storage device is currently locally connected.

Abstract: A printed circuit board having one or more holes that are controllably drilled to extend into the printed circuit board substrate to a predetermined depth intermediate first and second faces. A mechanical locating pin is received into each of the one or more holes to mechanically align a first component for electronically interfacing with the printed circuit board substrate. A second component is installed on the second face directly opposite of the one or more holes such that the second component is in electronic communication with conductive traces or interconnects formed on the second face directly opposite of the hole.

Abstract: An apparatus for reconfiguring a computing device includes an inventory module, a thermal analysis module, and a reconfiguration module. The inventory module detects one or more locations for one or more non-volatile memory express (“NVMe”) devices. The one or more NVMe devices are coupled to a plurality of slots such that at least one of the slots is empty. The one or more NVMe devices thermally affect one or more further components of a computing device. The thermal analysis module determines one or more thermal characteristics for a current configuration and for one or more possible reconfigurations. The current configuration includes locations of the one or more NVMe devices and the one or more further components. The reconfiguration module selects a reconfiguration from the one or more possible reconfigurations based on the one or more determined thermal characteristics.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, method, and program product for managing peripheral devices using a data protocol is disclosed. A connection module determines one or more communication bus cables that communicatively couple one or more peripheral devices to an information handling device. A data module reads a data packet associated with a peripheral device over each of the one or more communication bus cables. Each data packet includes an identifier for a location where the peripheral device is installed. A topology module determines a cable connection configuration for the one or more communication bus cables and the one or more peripheral devices based on the installation location identifier received from each of the data packets associated with the one or more peripheral devices.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, method, and program product for verifying a communication bus connection to a peripheral device are disclosed. The apparatus includes a data module that receives, over a communication bus, an identifier for a location where a peripheral device is installed. The peripheral device is communicatively coupled to an information handling device using the communication bus. The apparatus includes a verification module that compares the identifier received over the communication bus to a predefined identifier associated with the communication bus. The apparatus includes a notification module that sends a notification in response to the identifier received over the communication bus not matching the predefined identifier associated with the communication bus.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a computer program embodied on a tangible computer readable medium includes computer code for identifying a wireless communications gateway in communication with a management controller, computer code for establishing a wireless communications connection between one or more drives and the management controller, utilizing the wireless communications gateway, and computer code for communicating one or more of monitoring data and control data between the management controller and the one or more drives, utilizing the wireless communications connection.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, method, and program product are disclosed for associating data buses and management buses for peripheral devices. A command module sends a command to a peripheral device to trigger activity on the peripheral device. The peripheral device is communicatively coupled to an information handling device using a separate data bus and a management bus connection of a management bus. The command is sent over the data bus to the peripheral device. A monitor module checks the management bus of the information handling device to determine which management bus connection is connected to the peripheral device that was active in response to the sent command. An association module associates the determined management bus connection with the data bus on which the command was sent and with the peripheral device.

Abstract: A modified 0402 footprint for a PCB, including: at least two padstacks each having a minimum area consistent with the 0402 standard; and each padstack modified on at least two corners such that the padstack's footprint can be placed beneath a ball grid array (‘BGA’), the BGA having approximately a 1 millimeter pitch, and such that the padstack may be placed at least at a minimum distance away from a closest via in the PCB, wherein each padstack has a trace to a via not directly under a padstack in the PCB and each padstack has no via within the padstack.

Abstract: Reducing current draw of solid state drives from a shared power supply of a computer at computer startup, each SSD including computer memory, a capacitor, a disk controller, and a charge controller, the disk controller configured to enable the charge controller to charge the capacitor upon receiving a charge command, the SSDs organized into startup groups characterized by a position in a predefined startup order. Upon startup of the computer, beginning with a first startup group in the predefined startup order and until the last startup group in the predefined startup order has received a charge command, embodiments include, sending, by a storage device initiator, a charge command to a startup group to initiate charging of the capacitor of each solid state drive in the startup group and waiting a predefined period of time before sending another charge command to a next startup group in the predefined startup order.

Abstract: A printed circuit board and method of making a print circuit board having one or more holes that are controllably drilled to extend into the printed circuit board substrate to a predetermined depth intermediate first and second faces. A mechanical locating pin is received into each of the one or more holes to mechanically align a first component for electronically interfacing with the printed circuit board substrate. A second component is installed on the second face directly opposite of the one or more holes such that the second component is in electronic communication with conductive traces or interconnects formed on the second face directly opposite of the hole.

Abstract: A modified 0402 footprint for a PCB, including: at least two padstacks each having a minimum area consistent with the 0402 standard; and each padstack modified on at least two corners such that the padstack's footprint can be placed beneath a ball grid array (‘BGA’), the BGA having approximately a 1 millimeter pitch, and such that the padstack may be placed at least at a minimum distance away from a closest via in the PCB, wherein each padstack has a trace to a via not directly under a padstack in the PCB and each padstack has no via within the padstack.