Abstract: Packaging a hot-swappable server module (server blade) in a computer network appliance with shared, hot-swappable power, network, and management modules to provide highly available computer capacity. Distributing power between hot-swappable modules using single DC input voltage.

Abstract: A method of mounting a hot-swappable module in a computer network appliance, the module comprising a hot swap connector including ground pins, power pins and signal pins, the computer network appliance including a backplane board having hot swap mating connectors, the method comprising connecting the ground pins of the hot swap connector of the module with corresponding ground elements of a hot swap mating connector of the backplane board; connecting the power pins of the hot swap connector of the module with corresponding power elements of the hot swap mating connector of the backplane board after the ground pins have made contact; and connecting the signal pins of the hot swap connector of the module with corresponding signal elements of the hot swap mating connector of the backplane board after the power pins have made contact. The computer network appliance further comprises a hot-swappable CPU module, a hot-swappable power module, and a hot-swappable ethernet switch module.