Abstract: A method of powering on a plurality of devices includes identifying a plurality of power distribution units (PDUs) disposed in a rack, wherein each PDU receives power from a main power source and includes a circuit breaker. A plurality of devices disposed in the rack are identified, wherein each device receives power from one of the PDUs, and wherein the plurality of devices are server nodes, network switches or external data storage devices. Vital product data (VPD) is obtained from a service processor in each device, wherein the VPD identifies the device by a model identification code. For each PDU, the plurality of devices connected to the PDU are powered on in a sequence to prevent an inrush current from tripping the circuit breaker within the PDU, wherein the sequence powers on devices in order of ascending commonality of the model identification code.

Abstract: A computer program product includes computer usable program code for: identifying a plurality of power distribution units (PDUs) disposed in a rack, wherein each PDU receives power from a main power source and includes a circuit breaker; identifying a plurality of devices disposed in the rack, wherein each device receives power from one of the PDUs, and wherein the plurality of devices are selected from server nodes, network switches and external data storage devices; obtaining vital product data from a service processor in each device, wherein the vital product data identifies the device by a model identification code; and powering on, for each of the PDUs, the plurality of devices that are connected to the PDU in a sequence to prevent an inrush current from tripping the circuit breaker within the PDU, wherein the sequence powers on devices in order of ascending commonality of the model identification code.

Abstract: A computer program product includes computer usable program code embodied on a tangible computer usable storage medium for: identifying a plurality of power distribution units (PDUs) disposed in a rack, wherein each PDU receives power from a main power source, and wherein each PDU includes a circuit breaker; identifying a plurality of devices disposed in the rack, wherein each device receives power from one of the PDUs, and wherein the plurality of devices are selected from server nodes, network switches and external data storage devices; and powering on, for each of the PDU, the plurality of devices that are connected to the PDU in a sequence to prevent an inrush current from tripping the circuit breaker within the PDU, wherein the sequence powers on the devices identified as network switches and external data storage devices prior to powering on the devices identified as server nodes.

Abstract: A method of powering on a plurality of devices includes identifying a plurality of power distribution units disposed in a rack, wherein each power distribution units is connected to receive power from a main power source, and wherein each power distribution unit includes a circuit breaker. The method further includes identifying a plurality of devices disposed in the rack, wherein each device is connected to receive power from one of the power distribution units, and wherein the plurality of devices are selected from server nodes, network switches and external data storage devices. For each of the power distribution units, the plurality of devices that are connected to the power distribution unit are powered on in a sequence to prevent an inrush current from tripping the circuit breaker within the power distribution unit. The sequence powers on the devices identified as network switches and external data storage devices prior to powering on the devices identified as server nodes.

Abstract: A method provides digital communication over an electrical power supply cable between a management processor in a circuit breaker panel (CBP) and a management processor in a power distribution unit (PDU), wherein the CBP has a CBP identification code (ID) and the PDU has a PDU ID. The digital communication provides the CBP management processor with the PDU ID for the PDU that is connected through the electrical power supply cable to the CBP, or the digital communication provides the PDU management processor with the CBP ID for the CBP that is connected through the electrical power supply cable to the PDU. The method further comprises identifying the electrical power supply cable connection by communicating first and second endpoints of the electrical power cable connection to a cluster management entity, wherein the first endpoint is identified by the CBP ID and the second endpoint is identified by the PDU ID.

Abstract: A method identifies uptime for each of a plurality of components within a cluster of nodes, and determines a reliability level for each of the plurality of components, where the reliability level of each component is determined by comparing the identified uptime for the component with mean-time-between-failure data for components of the same component type. The method also determines a priority level and a job type for a job to be scheduled. Then, at least one target component type is selected in consideration of the job type, and a target reliability level for the at least one target component type is selected in consideration of the priority level. The job is then scheduled on one of the nodes that includes a component of the at least one target component type having the target reliability level.

Abstract: A computer storage rack has vertically arranged bays for receiving electrical power-consuming components, an elongate electrical power distribution unit (PDU) having power distribution sockets vertically spaced along the length of the PDU, and a hinge pivotally coupling the PDU to the rack along a vertical axis. The PDU pivots about the hinge between a position proximal to the bays and a position distal to the bays. The apparatus further comprises a component power supply cables that are resiliently extendable from a collapsed configuration to an extended configuration. Each of the component power supply cables is connected between one of the power distribution sockets and an adjacent one of the electrical power-consuming components, and each is resiliently extendable in response to pivoting the PDU to the distal position and resiliently collapsed in response to pivoting the PDU to the proximal position.

Abstract: A component power cable having a pair of elongate conductive members each connected at a first end to a power distribution unit connector and at a second end to a component power supply connector, wherein the cable has sufficient resilience to impart a generally collapsed configuration to the component power cable, with the first end generally proximal to the second end. The component power cable is extendable from the collapsed configuration to an extended configuration by displacement of the first end to a position distal to the second end, wherein energy stored in the resilient cable by such displacement restores the component power cable to the collapsed configuration upon return of the first end to a position proximal the second end. The resilience may be provided by a spring element or by an elastomeric sheath.

Abstract: A computer system includes a rack-mountable server unit with a closed server housing. The server housing has a channel with a recessed channel wall in conductive thermal communication with a processor or other heat-generating component. An elongate conduit is received into the channel of the server housing in conductive thermal communication with an external surface of the server housing. The server is cooled by conductive fluid flow through the conduit, with no appreciable airflow through the server housing. The system may be operated in an optional burst cooling mode, wherein a volume of cooling fluid is trapped in the conduit for a period of time before being quickly released.

Abstract: A processor implemented method conserves bandwidth capacity by reducing the amount of bandwidth that is used in a communication channel between a content transmitting server and a content receiving client computer while streaming multimedia content. A content receiving client computer receives a multimedia streaming content from a content transmitting server. The multimedia streaming content has a video component and an audio component. In response to determining that a user of the content receiving client computer is no longer watching the video component of the multimedia streaming content, a processor generates and transmits an inattention alert to the content transmitting server. The inattention alert directs the content transmitting server to stream only the audio component of a remaining portion of the multimedia streaming content to the content receiving client computer.

Abstract: A unit of information technology equipment (ITE), such as a compute node or a network switch, comprises a system board in communication with network connectors that selectively connect to a network interconnect, a gravity sensor for detecting a first orientation and a second orientation of the system board, and a basic input/output system (BIOS) in communication with the gravity sensor to receive a signal identifying whether the system board is in the first or second orientation. The ITE further comprises a network ASIC (application specific integrated circuit) that inverts the pinout of transmit and receive signals in the network connectors in response to a command from the BIOS indicating that the system board is in the second orientation. A system may comprise a first ITE in a first orientation that interlocks with a second ITE in a second orientation that is inverted 180 degrees from the first orientation.

Abstract: A networking system includes a host adapter card including a card connector having four transceiver pairs and a mechanical connector configuration, and a controller having control logic for detecting whether a single-channel connection or a four-channel connection is made to the card connector. The controller further includes control logic for communicating over a network using a default, four-channel-protocol in response to detecting the four-channel connection or using an alternative, single-channel-protocol in response to detecting the single-channel connection. The system further includes an alternative-network compatibility device including a first connector configured for releasably mating with the card connector and a second connector having a different mechanical connector configuration than the card connector.

Abstract: A user-customizable air guide comprises a duct having four side panels, an open front end, an open back end, and a flange extending from at least two of the side panels at the front end. The four side panels have a plurality of frangible links that are generally parallel and spaced apart along the rectangular duct between the front end and the back end, wherein each frangible link extends around the four side panels of the rectangular duct. The frangible links are manually breakable to customize the length of the duct extending from the open front end.

Abstract: A method of printing on a sheet of paper comprises drawing a first sheet of paper from a first paper source into a printer having an optical scanner and a print head, scanning a first face of the first sheet to determine the presence or absence of print thereon. In response to detecting print on the first face, the print head is caused to print an obstruction on the first face. In response to detecting no print on the first face, the print head is caused to print new matter on the first face. The method enables a printer to accept used paper while eliminating confusion over which face contains the new matter.

Abstract: A method is disclosed, wherein a host adapter is selectively connected to a network using either a four-channel connection or a single-channel connection. Whether the four-channel connection or the single-channel connection has been made to the host adapter is automatically detected. A default four-channel protocol is automatically invoked in response to detecting the four-channel connection has been made. An alternative single-channel protocol is automatically invoked, instead, in response to detecting the single-channel connection has been made. The host adapter communicates over the network using the selected one of the default, four-channel protocol and the alternative, single-channel connection using the same host adapter.

Abstract: A networking system includes a host adapter card including a card connector having four transceiver pairs and a mechanical connector configuration, and a controller having control logic for detecting whether a single-channel connection or a four-channel connection is made to the card connector. The controller further includes control logic for communicating over a network using a default, four-channel-protocol in response to detecting the four-channel connection or using an alternative, single-channel-protocol in response to detecting the single-channel connection. The system further includes an alternative-network compatibility device including a first connector configured for releasably mating with the card connector and a second connector having a different mechanical connector configuration than the card connector.