Abstract: An apparatus includes a printed circuit board including a connector footprint comprising a first footprint portion operative to receive a first connector portion and a second footprint portion operative to receive a second connector portion. The first footprint portion is compliant with a first communications link type and the first and second footprint portions are jointly compliant with a second communications link type. The printed circuit board includes first conductive traces coupled to the first footprint portion and a first device footprint. The first conductive traces are selectively configurable according to a selected one of the first and second communications link types. The printed circuit board includes a second conductive traces coupled to the second footprint portion and the first device footprint. in at least one embodiment of the apparatus, the first communications link type is AC-coupled and the second communications link type is DC-coupled.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a printed circuit board including a connector footprint comprising a first footprint portion operative to receive a first connector portion and a second footprint portion operative to receive a second connector portion. The first footprint portion is compliant with a first communications link type and the first and second footprint portions are jointly compliant with a second communications link type. The printed circuit board includes first conductive traces coupled to the first footprint portion and a first device footprint. The first conductive traces are selectively configurable according to a selected one of the first and second communications link types. The printed circuit board includes a second conductive traces coupled to the second footprint portion and the first device footprint. in at least one embodiment of the apparatus, the first communications link type is AC-coupled and the second communications link type is DC-coupled.

Abstract: The described embodiments comprise an embedded management controller for managing a server on a sled device. The embedded management controller on the sled device comprises a processing mechanism; a plurality of internal interfaces coupled to the processing mechanism, each internal interface coupled to a corresponding interface of the server; and an external interface coupled to the processing mechanism, the external interface configured to be coupled to a system management controller separate from the sled device. In these embodiments, the processing mechanism is configured to communicate with the server using the internal interfaces, and is configured to selectively communicate information based on communications with the server to the system management controller using the external interface and commands to the server based on communications received from the system management controller using the external interface.

Abstract: The described embodiments include a system management controller for managing servers on a plurality of sled devices. The system management controller includes a processing mechanism and a plurality of internal interfaces coupled to the processing mechanism. Each internal interface in the system management controller is coupled to at least one embedded management controller on each of the sled devices, the at least one embedded management controller on each sled device facilitating communications between the processing mechanism in the system management controller and a corresponding server on the sled device. In these embodiments, the processing mechanism in the system management controller is configured to manage one or more operations of the servers on the plurality of sled devices.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a printed circuit board including a connector footprint comprising a first footprint portion operative to receive a first connector portion and a second footprint portion operative to receive a second connector portion. The first footprint portion is compliant with a first communications link type and the first and second footprint portions are jointly compliant with a second communications link type. The printed circuit board includes first conductive traces coupled to the first footprint portion and a first device footprint. The first conductive traces are selectively configurable according to a selected one of the first and second communications link types. The printed circuit board includes a second conductive traces coupled to the second footprint portion and the first device footprint. In at least one embodiment of the apparatus, the first communications link type is AC-coupled and the second communications link type is DC-coupled.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a printed circuit board including a connector footprint comprising a first footprint portion operative to receive a first connector portion and a second footprint portion operative to receive a second connector portion. The first footprint portion is compliant with a first communications link type and the first and second footprint portions are jointly compliant with a second communications link type. The printed circuit board includes first conductive traces coupled to the first footprint portion and a first device footprint. The first conductive traces are selectively configurable according to a selected one of the first and second communications link types. The printed circuit board includes a second conductive traces coupled to the second footprint portion and the first device footprint. In at least one embodiment of the apparatus, the first communications link type is AC-coupled and the second communications link type is DC-coupled.

Abstract: A method for providing multiple configurations for a computer system. The method provides interconnection of processor boards in a first configuration and a second configuration. In the first configuration, a first plurality of processor boards are interconnected through a first backplane. In a second configuration, a second plurality of processor boards are interconnected through a second backplane. The first and second pluralities of processor boards are interchangeable with each other.