OCP network card structure

Abstract

The utility model provides an OCP network card structure. The OCP network card structure comprises a PCIe connector, an OCP network card chip and a first expansion connector. The PCIe connector is a PCIe x16 connector, is electrically connected with the OCP network card chip through a PCIe x8 signal line, and is electrically connected with the at least one first expansion connector through at least one PCIe signal line. According to the utility model, the PCIe bandwidth resource waste can be effectively avoided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The utility model relates to the technical field of computers, in particular to an OCP network card structure. Background Art

[0002] With the continuous development of cloud computing and big data technologies, the demand for data centers is also increasing. Among them, OCP (Open Compute Project) network cards have become an ideal choice for solving data center network scalability issues due to their high performance, strong scalability, and easy maintenance.

[0003] Server PCIe (Peripheral Component Interface express, bus and interface standard) resources are the core of server hardware. They provide high-speed data transmission channels and flexible expansion capabilities, which are of great significance to improving server performance and scalability. The PCIe interface is a key channel connecting the server motherboard and various external devices such as network cards, RAID (Redundant Arrays of Independent Disks) cards, graphics cards, and memory cards.

[0004] Among them, the OCP network card and the server motherboard are connected through the PCIe interface. However, in actual use, the PCIe bandwidth resources occupied by the connection between the OCP network card and the server motherboard are often inconsistent with the PCIe bandwidth resources required by the OCP network card itself, resulting in the problem of wasted PCIe bandwidth resources. Utility Model Content

[0005] To solve the above problems, the OCP network card structure provided by the present invention can effectively avoid wasting PCIe bandwidth resources by connecting a PCIe connector to both the OCP network card chip and the first expansion connector.

[0006] The utility model provides an OCP network card structure, which includes: a PCIe connector, an OCP network card chip and a first expansion connector;

[0007] The PCIe connector is a PCIe x16 connector. The PCIe connector is electrically connected to the OCP network card chip through a PCIe x8 signal line, and is electrically connected to at least one first expansion connector through at least one PCIe signal line.

[0008] Optionally, the PCIe signal line includes at least one of a PCIe x8 signal line, a PCIe x4 signal line, a PCIe x2 signal line, and a PCIex1 signal line.

[0009] Optionally, the OCP network card structure further includes: a clock expansion chip;

[0010] The input end of the clock expansion chip is connected to the PCIe connector, and the output end of the clock expansion chip is electrically connected to the OCP network card chip and the first expansion connector respectively.

[0011] Optionally, the OCP network card structure further includes: an I2C selection switch;

[0012] The input end of the I2C selection switch is connected to the PCIe connector, and the output end of the I2C selection switch is selectively electrically connected to the OCP network card chip and the first expansion connector.

[0013] Optionally, the OCP network card structure further includes: a reset signal line;

[0014] One end of the reset signal line is connected to the PCIe connector, and the other end of the reset signal line is selectively electrically connected to the OCP network card chip and the first expansion connector respectively.

[0015] Optionally, the OCP network card structure further includes: a network interface;

[0016] The network interface is electrically connected to the OCP network card chip.

[0017] Optionally, the OCP network card structure further includes: a second expansion connector and an expansion device;

[0018] The second expansion connector is electrically connected to the first expansion connector, and the expansion device is electrically connected to the second expansion connector.

[0019] Optionally, the expansion device includes at least one of a network card, a RAID card, a graphics card, and a memory card.

[0020] Optionally, the OCP network card structure further includes: a hard disk interface;

[0021] The hard disk interface is electrically connected to the expansion device.

[0022] Optionally, the OCP network card structure further includes: a server motherboard;

[0023] The server motherboard is electrically connected to the PCIe connector, and the server motherboard is used to provide PCIe x16 bandwidth resources to the PCIe connector.

[0024] The OCP network card structure provided by the embodiment of the utility model electrically connects the PCIe connector to the OCP network card chip through a PCIe x8 signal line, and electrically connects the PCIe connector to at least one first expansion connector through at least one PCIe signal line. This allows the PCIe x16 bandwidth resources provided by the PCIe connector to be occupied by the OCP network card chip and at the same time to be occupied by the expansion device connected to the first expansion connector, effectively avoiding the waste of PCIe x16 bandwidth resources. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] In order to more clearly illustrate the embodiments of the present application or the technical solutions in the conventional technology, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the embodiments or the conventional technology descriptions. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present application. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work.

[0026] Figure 1 This is a schematic structural diagram of an OCP network card structure according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0027] Figures 2 to 6 They are respectively definition block diagrams of the OCP interface according to an embodiment of the present application, which define different pins on the OCP interface respectively.

[0028] Reference numerals:

[0029] 11. PCIe connector; 12. OCP network card chip; 13. First expansion connector; 14. Clock expansion chip; 15. I2C selection switch; 16. Network interface; 21. Second expansion connector; 22. Expansion device; 23. Hard disk interface. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] To facilitate understanding of the present application, the present application will be described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings provide embodiments of the present application. However, the present application may be implemented in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to make the disclosure of the present application more thorough and comprehensive.

[0031] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as those commonly understood by those skilled in the art to which this application pertains. The terms used herein in the specification of this application are for the purpose of describing specific embodiments only and are not intended to limit this application.

[0032] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "fixedly connected" to another element, it may be directly on the other element or there may be an intermediate element. When an element is considered to be "connected" to another element, it may be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intermediate element. Conversely, when an element is referred to as being "directly on" another element, there are no intermediate elements. The terms "vertical," "horizontal," "left," "right," and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only.

[0033] When used herein, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" may also include the plural forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the terms "include / comprise" or "have" and the like specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof, but do not preclude the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0034] This embodiment provides an OCP network card structure, see Figure 1 The OCP network card structure includes: a PCIe connector 11, an OCP network card chip 12 and a first expansion connector 13.

[0035] The PCIe connector 11 is a PCIe x16 connector. The PCIe connector 11 is electrically connected to the OCP network card chip 12 via a PCIe x8 signal line, and is electrically connected to at least one first expansion connector 13 via at least one PCIe signal line.

[0036] The PCIe signal line includes at least one of a PCIe x8 signal line, a PCIe x4 signal line, a PCIe x2 signal line, and a PCIe x1 signal line.

[0037] The OCP network card structure provided in this embodiment electrically connects the PCIe connector 11 to the OCP network card chip 12 via a PCIe x8 signal line, and electrically connects the PCIe connector 11 to at least one first expansion connector 13 via at least one PCIe signal line. This allows the PCIe x16 bandwidth resources provided by the PCIe connector 11 to be occupied by the OCP network card chip 12 and also to be occupied by the expansion device 22 connected to the first expansion connector 13, effectively avoiding waste of PCIe x16 bandwidth resources.

[0038] It is understandable that when the PCIe connector 11 is connected to the OCP network card chip 12, the PCIe x8 bandwidth resources on the PCIe connector 11 will be occupied by the OCP network card chip 12, which will leave additional PCIe x8 bandwidth resources. The excess PCIe x8 bandwidth resources on the PCIe connector 11 can be provided to a first expansion connector 13 for connection, or to multiple expansion connectors for connection.

[0039] Specifically, when the excess PCIe x8 bandwidth resources on the PCIe connector 11 are provided to one first expansion connector 13 for connection, at least one PCIe signal line is a PCIe x8 signal line; when the excess PCIex8 bandwidth resources on the PCIe connector 11 are provided to multiple first expansion connectors 13 for connection, at least one PCIe signal line is multiple PCIe x4 signal lines, PCIe x2 signal lines and / or PCIe x1 signal lines, such as two PCIe x4 signal lines, or four PCIe x2 signal lines, or eight PCIe x1 signal lines, or one PCIe x4 signal line and two PCIe x2 signal lines, but not limited thereto.

[0040] Among them, the first expansion connector 13 corresponds one-to-one to at least one PCIe signal line, that is, the number of first expansion connectors 13 is the same as the number of at least one PCIe signal line. For example, if the at least one PCIe signal line is two PCIe x4 signal lines, then the number of first expansion connectors 13 is two, and the two first expansion connectors 13 are respectively connected to one PCIe x4 signal line.

[0041] In this embodiment, the OCP network card chip 12 is an OCP3.0 network card chip, which only requires PCIe x8 bandwidth resources; the at least one PCIe signal line is a PCIe x8 signal line; the number of the first expansion connector 13 is one and it is a high-speed signal connector. The first expansion connector 13 is electrically connected to the PCIe connector 11 through the PCIe signal line and is used to connect an expansion device.

[0042] The OCP network card structure further includes a clock expansion chip 14 . The input end of the clock expansion chip 14 is connected to the PCIe connector 11 , and the output end of the clock expansion chip 14 is electrically connected to the OCP network card chip 12 and the first expansion connector 13 .

[0043] The clock expansion chip 14 is responsible for providing a stable clock signal, namely the REFCLKp / n0 signal, to ensure that the system can work normally and be synchronized with other components in the system. While providing a stable clock source for the OCP network card, the clock expansion chip 14 can also provide a clock source for the expansion device connected to the first expansion connector 13.

[0044] The OCP network card structure also includes an I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit) selection switch 15. The input end of the I2C selection switch 15 is connected to the PCIe connector 11, and the output end of the I2C selection switch 15 is selectively electrically connected to the OCP network card chip 12 and the first expansion connector 13. In other words, the system controls the I2C selection switch 15 to be electrically connected to one of the OCP network card chip 12 and the first expansion connector 13 based on actual working conditions, so that an I2C link, namely, an SMBCLK (clock line) / SMBDATA (data line) link, can be established between the server motherboard on the system and the OCP network card chip 12 and the first expansion connector 13.

[0045] Specifically, the server mainboard can obtain information about the OCP network card chip 12 or the expansion device 22 on the expansion device by controlling the I2C selection switch 15. The information about the OCP network card chip 12 includes manufacturer information, network card MAC address, and the like.

[0046] The expansion device 22 can be understood as a PCIe device, including but not limited to at least one of a network card, a RAID card, a graphics card, and a memory card. The information about the expansion device 22 mainly includes attribute information of the expansion device 22, which is related to the type of the expansion device 22 and is not described here.

[0047] The OCP network card structure further includes a reset signal line, one end of which is connected to the PCIe connector 11 , and the other end of which is selectively electrically connected to the OCP network card chip 12 and the first expansion connector 13 .

[0048] The PCIe connector 11 provides a reset signal, also known as the PERST (Fundamental Reset) signal, or PERST0#, to the OCP network card chip 12 and the expansion device 22 connected to the first expansion connector 13 via a reset signal line. This reset signal is used to restore related devices, such as the OCP network card chip 12 and the expansion device 22, as well as their associated external interfaces, to their initial state or a specific operating state. The reset signal controlled by the server motherboard is simultaneously connected to the OCP network card chip 12 and the first expansion connector 13, allowing the first expansion connector 13 to provide a reset signal to the expansion device 22.

[0049] The OCP network card structure further includes a network interface 16. The network interface 16 is electrically connected to the OCP network card chip 12. In this embodiment, there are two network interfaces 16, and both network interfaces 16 are RJ45 type network interfaces 16.

[0050] The OCP network card structure also includes a second expansion connector 21 and an expansion device 22. The second expansion connector 21 is electrically connected to the first expansion connector 13, and the expansion device 22 is electrically connected to the second expansion connector 21. In this embodiment, the second expansion connector 21 is a high-speed signal connector compatible with the first expansion connector 13, and the expansion device 22 is a RAID card.

[0051] The OCP network card structure further includes a hard disk interface 23. The hard disk interface 23 is electrically connected to the expansion device 22. In this embodiment, the hard disk interface 23 is an SFF8643 connector.

[0052] In a further optional embodiment of this embodiment, the OCP network card structure further includes: a server motherboard. The server motherboard is electrically connected to the PCIe connector 11 and is configured to provide PCIe x16 bandwidth resources to the PCIe connector 11.

[0053] Specifically, the server motherboard is equipped with an OCP interface. Figures 2 to 6 , OCP interface and PCIe connector 11 to provide PCIe x16 bandwidth resources to PCIe connector 11.

[0054] In this embodiment, the OCP network card structure, with the exception of the server motherboard and its components, is all located on the same circuit board. It includes an OCP network card and expansion devices. The OCP network card includes a PCIe connector 11, an OCP network card chip 12, a first expansion connector 13, a clock expansion chip 14, an I2C selector switch 15, and a network interface 16. The expansion device includes a second expansion connector 21, an expansion device 22, and a hard disk interface 23.

[0055] Among them, the PCIe x8 signals on the OCP network card chip 12 and the expansion device 22 are connected to the OCP interface through the GEN Z 4C+ gold finger, and then connected to the server mainboard through the OCP interface to achieve electrical connection with the server mainboard.

[0056] Combine Figures 2 to 6 The PCIe connector 11 divides the x16 link bandwidth provided by the server motherboard into 2*x8 link bandwidths, one of which (i.e., PETp / n0~PETp / n7 PERp / n0~PERp / n7) is provided to the OCP network card chip 12 on the OCP network card, and the other x8 (i.e., PETp / n8~PETp / n15, PERp / n8~PERp / n15) is connected to the high-speed signal connector on the OCP network card to provide PCIe link bandwidth to the external expansion device 22.

[0057] In this embodiment, the expansion device is a RAID card. The RAID chip on the RAID card transmits the PCIe signal, I2C signal, 100MHz signal and PERST signal required for work through the second expansion connector 21, and provides two hard disk interfaces 23 to provide SAS (Serial Attached SCSI, Serial Attached SCSI, Serial Attached Small Computer System Interface, Serial Attached Small Computer System Interface) signals for connecting to the storage SAS or SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment, serial port) hard disk of the external system.

[0058] Among them, combined Figures 2 to 6 The PCIe x8 signal on the OCP network card chip 12 is connected to the Pin PETp / n0~PETp / n7 PERp / n0~PERp / n7 pins on the OCP connector through the GEN Z 4C+ gold finger. The 100MHz clock signal on the OCP network card chip 12 and the expansion device 22 is connected to the PinREFCLKp / n0 pin on the OCP connector through the GEN Z4C+ gold finger. The I2C signal on the OCP network card chip 12 and the expansion device 22 is connected to the SMBCLK / SMBDATA pins on the OCP connector through the GEN Z 4C+ gold finger. The PERST signal on the OCP network card chip 12 and the expansion device 22 is connected to the PERST0# pin on the OCP connector through the GEN Z 4C+ gold finger.

[0059] In a further optional embodiment of this embodiment, the OCP network card structure further includes: a first VR (voltage-resistance) circuit module, a first flash (flash memory) particle, a second VR circuit module, and a second flash particle. The first VR circuit module and the first flash particle are both electrically connected to the OCP network card chip 12. The first VR circuit module is used to supply power to the OCP network card chip 12, and the first flash particle is used to guide the startup of the OCP network card chip 12. The second VR circuit module and the second flash particle are both electrically connected to the extension device 22. The second VR circuit module is used to supply power to the extension device 22, and the first flash particle is used to guide the startup of the extension device 22. This embodiment does not specifically limit the specific structures of the first VR circuit module, the first flash particle, the second VR circuit module, and the second flash particle.

[0060] Throughout this specification, references to terms such as "some embodiments," "other embodiments," and "desired embodiments" indicate that a particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present application. The schematic descriptions of these terms throughout this specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example.

[0061] The technical features of the above embodiments can be combined arbitrarily. To make the description concise, not all possible combinations of the technical features in the above embodiments are described. However, as long as there is no contradiction in the combination of these technical features, they should be considered to be within the scope of this specification.

[0062] The above-described embodiments merely represent several implementation methods of the present application. While the descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. It should be noted that a person of ordinary skill in the art may make various modifications and improvements without departing from the spirit of the present invention, all of which fall within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention shall be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An OCP network card structure, characterized in that: The OCP network card structure includes: a PCIe connector, an OCP network card chip and a first expansion connector; The PCIe connector is a PCIe x16 connector, which is electrically connected to the OCP network card chip via a PCIe x8 signal line and is electrically connected to at least one of the first expansion connectors via at least one PCIe signal line.

2. The OCP network card structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The PCIe signal line includes at least one of a PCIe x8 signal line, a PCIe x4 signal line, a PCIe x2 signal line, and a PCIe x1 signal line.

3. The OCP network card structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The OCP network card structure further includes: a clock expansion chip; The input end of the clock expansion chip is connected to the PCIe connector, and the output end of the clock expansion chip is electrically connected to the OCP network card chip and the first expansion connector respectively.

4. The OCP network card structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The OCP network card structure further includes: an I2C selection switch; An input end of the I2C selection switch is connected to the PCIe connector, and an output end of the I2C selection switch is selectively electrically connected to the OCP network card chip and the first expansion connector.

5. The OCP network card structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The OCP network card structure further includes: a reset signal line; One end of the reset signal line is connected to the PCIe connector, and the other end of the reset signal line is selectively electrically connected to the OCP network card chip and the first expansion connector respectively.

6. The OCP network card structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The OCP network card structure also includes: a network interface; The network interface is electrically connected to the OCP network card chip.

7. The OCP network card structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The OCP network card structure further includes: a second expansion connector and an expansion device; The second expansion connector is electrically connected to the first expansion connector, and the expansion device is electrically connected to the second expansion connector.

8. The OCP network card structure according to claim 7, characterized in that: The expansion device includes at least one of a network card, a RAID card, a graphics card and a memory card.

9. The OCP network card structure according to claim 7, characterized in that: The OCP network card structure also includes: a hard disk interface; The hard disk interface is electrically connected to the expansion device.

10. The OCP network card structure according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that: The OCP network card structure also includes: a server motherboard; The server mainboard is electrically connected to the PCIe connector, and the server mainboard is used to provide PCIe x16 bandwidth resources to the PCIe connector.

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