Abstract: A system includes a partitionable multi-processor motherboard that has multiple central processing units, wherein the multi-processor motherboard may be configured to operate as a single unified node or configured to operate as multiple independent partitioned nodes. The system further comprises a single power button that is accessible to a user, wherein the single power button generates an output signal while being pressed, and an integrated circuit installed on the motherboard and connected to receive the output signal from the power button, wherein the integrated circuit stores a first button press gesture definition associated with selection of a first partitioned node, a second button press gesture definition associated with selection of a second partitioned node, and a third button press gesture definition associated with sequencing power to the selected one of the first or second partitioned nodes.

Abstract: A computer program product includes a non-volatile computer readable medium and non-transitory program instructions embodied therein, the program instructions being configured to be executable by a processor of a baseboard management controller in a multi-processor system to cause the processor to perform various operations. The operations include initiating disabling of a processor interconnect between first and second central processing units in the multi-processor system and initiating boot of the first central processing unit, wherein the first central processing unit operates in a first partitioned node independent of the second central processing unit.

Abstract: Embodiments provide a method and computer program product including program instructions executable by a baseboard management controller in a multi-processor system to perform various operations. The operations include detecting a number of memory modules connected to each of a plurality of central processing units (CPUs) in the multi-processor system during boot, initiating operation of the multi-processor system as a single unified node in response to each of the CPUs being connected to an equal number of memory modules, and initiating partitioning of the multi-processor system into a first partitioned node and a second partitioned node in response to a first set of one or more of the CPUs each being connected to a first number of memory modules and a second set of one or more of the CPUs each being connected to a second number of memory modules that is different than the first number of memory modules.

Abstract: A control circuit is provided on a printed circuit board to detect the presence of a memory module installed in at least one of a plurality of memory module connectors, wherein installation of the memory module is known to cause impedance to decrease in a segment of a daisy chain memory circuit. The impedance of a first signal conductor of the daisy chain memory circuit is automatically altered to reduce a mismatch in impedance between the first signal conductor and the segment in response to detecting the presence of the memory module in the connector. A metal element is incorporated into the printed circuit board a spaced distance from the first signal conductor, and the control circuit may selectively activate one or more relays to cause the metal element to function as either a floating trace or a ground reference.

Abstract: A control circuit is provided on a printed circuit board to detect the presence of a memory module installed in at least one of a plurality of memory module connectors, wherein installation of the memory module is known to cause impedance to decrease in a segment of a daisy chain memory circuit. The impedance of a first signal conductor of the daisy chain memory circuit is automatically altered to reduce a mismatch in impedance between the first signal conductor and the segment in response to detecting the presence of the memory module in the connector. A metal element is incorporated into the printed circuit board a spaced distance from the first signal conductor, and the control circuit may selectively activate one or more relays to cause the metal element to function as either a floating trace or a ground reference.

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: Techniques are disclosed for managing a switch fabric. In one embodiment, a server system is provided that includes a midplane, one or more server cards, switch modules and a management controller. The midplane may include a fabric interconnect for a switch fabric. The one or more server cards and the switch modules may be operatively connected to the midplane. The switch modules may be configured to switch network traffic for the one or more server cards. The management controller may be configured to manage the switch modules via the fabric interconnect.

Abstract: A method, device and computer program product for providing multi-protocol communication on an inter-integrated circuit (I2C) bus. The method for providing multi-protocol communication on an inter-integrated circuit (I2C) bus can include issuing a start command by a bus management device onto the I2C bus. Thereafter, the bus management device can send an embedded differential protocol to a non-I2C device. Once communication with the non-I2C device is completed, the bus management device can issue a stop command to release the I2C bus. In one aspect of this embodiment, the method can include receiving a response from the non-I2C device.

Abstract: Computer memory subsystems are disclosed for enhancing signal quality that include: one or more memory modules; a memory bus; and a memory controller connected to the memory modules through the memory bus, the memory controller including a reception buffer connected to the memory bus, the reception buffer capable of receiving an input signal from one of the memory modules, the memory controller including a reception characteristics table capable of storing reception characteristics for each of the memory modules connected to the memory controller, the memory controller including an equalizer connected to the reception buffer and the reception characteristics table, the equalizer capable of equalizing the received input signal in dependence upon the reception characteristics for the memory module from which the input signal was received, and the memory controller including memory controller logic connected to the equalizer, the memory controller logic capable of processing the equalized input signal.

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: Managing stability of a link coupling an adapter of a computing system to a port of a networking device for in-band data communications, the adapter and the network device coupled for out-of-band data communications to a management module, where link stability is managed by: monitoring link health including retrieving adapter link statistics from the adapter and networking device link statistics from the networking device; determining, in dependence upon the adapter and networking device link statistics, whether the link health meets predefined health acceptability criteria; and if the link health does not meet predefined health acceptability criteria, instructing the adapter to execute one or more predefined corrective actions.

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: A method, device and computer program product for providing multi-protocol communication on an inter-integrated circuit (I2C) bus. The method for providing multi-protocol communication on an inter-integrated circuit (I2C) bus can include issuing a start command by a bus management device onto the I2C bus. Thereafter, the bus management device can send an embedded differential protocol to a non-I2C device. Once communication with the non-I2C device is completed, the bus management device can issue a stop command to release the I2C bus. In one aspect of this embodiment, the method can include receiving a response from the non-I2C device.

Abstract: Phase compensation in a differential pair of transmission lines, including: identifying, by a phase compensation module, a plurality of direction changes in the differential pair of transmission lines; determining, by the phase compensation module for each direction change in the differential pair of transmission lines, a direction change angle; and determining, by the phase compensation module for each direction change in the differential pair of transmission lines, the geometry of one or more phase correction humps to include in one transmission line of the differential pair of transmission lines in dependence upon the direction change angle.

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: Techniques are disclosed for managing a switch fabric. In one embodiment, a server system is provided that includes a midplane, one or more server cards, switch modules and a management controller. The midplane may include a fabric interconnect for a switch fabric. The one or more server cards and the switch modules may be operatively connected to the midplane. The switch modules may be configured to switch network traffic for the one or more server cards. The management controller may be configured to manage the switch modules via the fabric interconnect.

Abstract: Phase compensation in a differential pair of transmission lines, including: identifying, by a phase compensation module, a plurality of direction changes in the differential pair of transmission lines; determining, by the phase compensation module for each direction change in the differential pair of transmission lines, a direction change angle; and determining, by the phase compensation module for each direction change in the differential pair of transmission lines, the geometry of one or more phase correction humps to include in one transmission line of the differential pair of transmission lines in dependence upon the direction change angle.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and products for impedance compensation for a differential pair of conductive paths, including: determining the differential impedance and conductor geometry for the differential pair of conductive paths; determining the path length differential between the conductive paths in the differential pair of conductive paths; determining a centerline path to follow for a shorter conductive path in the differential pair of conductive paths, wherein the centerline path lengths the shorter conductive path such that the length of each conductive path in the differential pair of conductive paths is identical within a predetermined threshold; determining a number of subdivisions of one or more serpentine segments on one of the conductive paths in the differential pair; and determining, in dependence upon the differential impedance at each of the subdivisions of the one or more serpentine segments, a serpentine segment path width for the serpentine segment.

Abstract: Managing stability of a link coupling an adapter of a computing system to a port of a networking device for in-band data communications, the adapter and the network device coupled for out-of-band data communications to a management module, where link stability is managed by: monitoring link health including retrieving adapter link statistics from the adapter and networking device link statistics from the networking device; determining, in dependence upon the adapter and networking device link statistics, whether the link health meets predefined health acceptability criteria; and if the link health does not meet predefined health acceptability criteria, instructing the adapter to execute one or more predefined corrective actions.