RACK-SIDE AUTOMATION FOR DATA CENTER OPTIMIZATION

Abstract

A data center comprising multiple racks. The racks are associated with a motorized and / or automated system for moving them between a first and a second position. In the first position, the racks are arranged side-by-side in one or more rows. In the second position, a rack is moved so that a lateral side of the rack is accessible. In some embodiments, the racks include a motor and gear system for interaction with tracks. In some embodiments, each rack comprises multiple enclosures, each enclosure containing multiple input / output (I / O) connectors for receiving a cable connector, the multiple I / O connectors being arranged along a lateral side of the enclosure so that they are accessible when the rack is in the second position.During use, the racks can be moved between the first and second positions while the housing remains in normal operation.

Description

BACKGROUND

[0001] Advances in networking have enabled the proliferation of physical resource pools. A physical resource pool can be formed from a physical infrastructure that divides physical resources, such as compute and storage resources, found in large data centers. The physical infrastructure can include a number of computing systems with processors, memory, storage, network devices, power supplies, cooling, and so on. Management units of these data centers can aggregate a selection of physical resources to form servers and / or physical computing hosts. These hosts can then be allocated to run software system and host containers and / or applications. Brief description of the different views of the drawings

[0002] To simplify the discussion of a particular element or action, the highest-order digit or digits of a reference sign refer to the number of a figure in which that element was first inserted. Fig. Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a data center according to one or more features of the present disclosure, wherein Fig. 1 Racks arranged in several rows are shown, with individual racks shown in the first or rest position and in the second or access position. Fig. Figure 2 illustrates an alternative perspective view of a data center according to one or more features of the present disclosure. Fig. Figure 3 illustrates a detailed, unfolded perspective view of a first embodiment of a track and transmission system (e.g., a motorized system) according to one or more features of the present disclosure. Fig. Figure 4 illustrates a detailed, unfolded perspective view of a second embodiment of a track and transmission system (e.g., a motorized system) according to one or more features of the present disclosure. Fig. Figure 5 is a detailed cross-sectional view of a tilt protection structure according to one or more features of the present disclosure. Fig. 6A and Fig. Figure 6B illustrates various views of an enclosure that is inserted into a rack according to one or more features of the present disclosure. Fig. 7A and Fig. Figure 7B illustrates various views of an enclosure that is inserted into a rack according to one or more features of the present disclosure. Fig. Figures 8A-8D illustrate different views of a housing according to one or more features of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0003] The embodiments generally relate to a motorized and / or automated system for moving racks in a data center (e.g., a modular data center). In use, the provision of a modular (e.g., a motorized and / or automated) data center enables access to the side panels of a rack.

[0004] Data centers can generally be composed of a large number of racks containing numerous types of hardware or configurable resources (e.g., processing units, storage, accelerators, network devices, fans / cooling modules, power supplies, etc.). These types of hardware or configurable resources used in data centers can also be referred to as physical resources. It is understood that the size and number of physical resources within a data center can be vast, for example, on the order of hundreds of thousands. Furthermore, these physical resources can be pooled to form virtual computing platforms for a greater number and variety of computing tasks.

[0005] As noted, some of the physical resources may be compute resources (e.g., central processing units or the like) or accelerator resources (e.g., application-specific integrated circuits, field-programmable gate arrays, or the like). Furthermore, the physical resources include memory. Physical resources can include resources of several types, such as—for example—processors, coprocessors, accelerators, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), graphics processing units (GPUs), memory, interconnect components, and storage devices. The embodiments are not limited to these examples.

[0006] Generally speaking, a data center comprises multiple racks, with each rack containing or housing computing equipment that includes several physical resources (e.g., computing resources, such as an enclosure containing a sled or circuit boards or the like) (collectively referred to here as "enclosures") connected by a variety of cables and input / output (I / O) connectors. During operation, the enclosure houses components such as central processing units (CPUs), memory, and other components.

[0007] Generally, racks are constructed and installed in fixed locations in rows of numerous adjacent rows separated by aisles. In operation, these aisles are configured as hot aisles and cold aisles. Given the weight of each rack, during initial installation, a rack may be rolled into position using casters, which are then released from the floor to prevent subsequent rack movement. Additionally, overhead or elevated cabling is connected to each enclosure within each rack. Consequently, any subsequent movement of a rack after installation requires disconnecting the incoming power and cabling connections (e.g., each enclosure must be disconnected from all associated cabling before the rack can be moved). Furthermore, as previously mentioned, data centers incorporate alternating hot and cold aisles between adjacent rows of racks.As the average professional can easily see, cold air is routed through the cold aisles, from where it enters each rack. For example, the cold air can flow over the chassis (e.g., from front to back) into the front of the racks and out the back, where it is then routed out of the hot aisle of the data center. Alternatively and / or additionally, the air can flow over the chassis and through the racks back to the front. In either case, air flows from the cold aisles into each rack, over the chassis, and into the hot aisle to provide thermal cooling for each enclosure within each rack.

[0008] Traditional data centers have a number of drawbacks. Over time, for example, rack-mounted enclosures have become increasingly deeper (e.g., measured from front to back within a rack) to accommodate larger processors, an increased number of dual inline memory modules (DIMMs), a greater number of network devices, power and storage devices, and so on. However, the depth of the racks has remained the same. Meanwhile, the height of the enclosures is also limited and thus changes little. As a result, the front and rear of the enclosure contain the smallest surface area. Yet, these front and rear panels house all the I / O connectors that provide network input and output, heat dissipation, power input, and other device connections. This, in turn, has led to significant congestion along the front and / or rear of the racks (e.g.,The number of cables running along, for example, the rear of the racks and connecting to the chassis's I / O connectors has become numerous. Therefore, cable management has become a major problem. Furthermore, inadequate thermal management has led to reduced performance (e.g., numerous cables running along the rear of racks prevent or minimize the flow of cooling air from the cold aisle to the hot aisle when the cables block the flow). This has resulted in significant temperature increases within the hot aisles of data centers and a degradation in the performance of physical resources due to poor thermal management.

[0009] The present disclosure provides one or more features for overcoming these problems. For example, the present disclosure provides a system and a method for motorizing and / or automating the movement of one or more racks within a data center. Additionally and / or alternatively, the present disclosure provides one or more features for reconfiguring one or more physical resources (e.g., computing equipment) within a rack. That is to say, the present disclosure provides a system or means for motorizing and / or automating the movement of one or more of the multiple racks within a data center, thereby providing access to the lateral sides of a rack while the rack is in normal operation (e.g., the rack can be moved from a primary or rest position to a secondary or access position while the physical resource remains operational).(remains connected). This means that by providing a system or device for moving one or more racks in a data center during normal operation, access to the lateral sides of the enclosure is permitted, allowing for larger entry and exit areas for cable connections. Furthermore, moving cable connections to the lateral sides of the enclosure allows for improved heat dissipation across the enclosure (e.g., from front to back).

[0010] With reference to the Fig. 1 and Fig. Figure 2 illustrates a schematic representation of a data center 100. As generally shown, the data center 100 comprises a first, second, and third row 102A, 102B, and 102C of racks 110, with each row 102A, 102B, and 102C containing multiple racks 110. As shown, the first row 102A of racks 110 comprises multiple individual racks 110 arranged in their first or rest position of operation. The second row of racks 102B comprises a rack 110A that has been moved from its first or rest position to a second or access position. Similarly, the third row of racks 102C comprises a single rack 110A that is in the process of being moved from the first or rest position to the second or access position.

[0011] According to one or more features of the present disclosure, the individual racks 110 can be moved from their first or rest position to their second or access position by any suitable motorized and / or automated mechanism or system, now known or to be developed in the future. In use, the racks 110 in the second or access position are moved a sufficient distance to allow access to the side panels of the rack 110. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the racks 110 are arranged in the second or access position to block airflow and prevent air from escaping from the hot aisle into the cold aisle.This means that in some embodiments, the motorized and / or automated system can be positioned in the second or access position such that the rack 110 is positioned to stop in a position that slightly overlaps with the adjacent racks positioned in the first or rest position, thus providing a seal to prevent hot air from escaping into the cold aisle. Furthermore, in some embodiments, seals, such as brush seals or the like, can be used around the perimeter of the racks 110 to further improve the overall seal.

[0012] For example, according to one or more features of the present disclosure and with additional reference to Fig. 3 and Fig. 4. The data center 100 includes several floor plates 120, which contain tracks 122. Each of the racks 110 can include a motorized system, such as a motor and gearbox system 130, which includes, for example, a motor 132 and one or more engagement elements, shown and described as gears 134, although this is only one configuration and the engagement elements can be any suitable structure or mechanism, such as rollers, slides, or the like. In use, the activation of the motors 132 causes the gears 134 to engage with the tracks 122, which move the rack 110, for example, from the first or rest position to the second or access position.In some embodiments, activation of the motors 132, and thus movement of the racks 110, can be achieved via a push button, although this is only one mechanism and any suitable mechanism can be used, including, for example, wireless control, an app running on an electronic device, etc. In some embodiments, the movement can be controlled via a rack control panel or a rack control server. In some embodiments, the movement of the racks 110 can be precisely controlled to position the racks 110, enabling lateral rack connections via automated plugging.

[0013] With reference to Fig. 3. In some embodiments, the tracks 122 can include a corresponding gear 124. Arranged in this way, the gear track can be integrated into the base plate 120 as a metal track (e.g., the track system can be coupled to the base). Alternatively, with reference to Fig. 4, the rack railway 122 can be integrated directly into the base plate 120 (e.g. the railway system (i.e. the track and / or the gears) can be molded into the base).

[0014] In some embodiments, the connecting gears 134 between the motor 132 and the track 122 can be arranged as a rack and pinion, although this is only one configuration and any suitable gear system can be used to connect the motor 132 and the track 122. For example, in some embodiments, a rack and pinion gear system can be integrated into each of the corners of a rack. In operation, in some embodiments, the activation of one or more motors rotates the pinions, thereby moving the racks between the first and second positions. In some embodiments, a single motor can be used to rotate each gear on the rack, including, for example, four gears, one in each corner of the rack. Alternatively, each gear can be assigned its own single motor or any combination thereof.

[0015] The floor slabs 120 can be made of any suitable material, such as concrete. In some embodiments, the floor slabs 120 can be arranged as prefabricated concrete slabs. In use, the prefabricated concrete slabs can be connected to each other by appropriate joints between the slabs. In some embodiments, the prefabricated concrete slabs can incorporate a honeycomb structure to minimize weight and / or tunnels for tension cables. Arranged in this way, associated construction times can be reduced, although it is understood that the floor slabs 120 can be manufactured using any suitable means and / or materials now known or developed in the future. For example, the floor slabs 120 can be arranged as cast concrete slabs, metal or composite floors, etc.Therefore, the present disclosure should not be limited to any specific type of soil or floor slab unless expressly claimed.

[0016] Alternatively, in some embodiments, the tracks 122 can be coupled to existing floors. Arranged in this way, existing data centers can be retrofitted according to one or more features of the present disclosure. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the rack 110 can include motorized wheels that allow the racks 110 to be moved between the first or rest position and the second or access position. Additionally, lateral movement of the racks 110 can be provided in this way. Arranged in this way, the inclusion of motorized wheels allows the racks 110 to be freely positioned in forward and backward positions, as well as laterally, and enables them to move to alternative positions as needed.

[0017] With reference to Fig. 5. In some embodiments, the racks 110 and the base plates 120 may further include an anti-tip structure 140 to secure the racks 110 in position and prevent them from tipping during movement and / or during, for example, an earthquake. In some embodiments, the anti-tip structure 140 may include a guide 142 extending from the underside of the rack 110, the guide 142 being arranged to engage with a groove 144 formed in the base plate 120 to prevent or at least minimize the likelihood of the rack 110 tipping during movement.

[0018] With reference to Fig. 2. The data centers 100 can also include an overhead cable management system 150. For example, the data centers 100 can include multiple overhead cable trays 152, overhead guide wires 154, and pulleys 156, etc. Arranged in this way, the multitude of rack connection cables and / or power cables 160 can be routed and managed via the overhead cable management system 150. Arranged in this way, the racks 110 can move from the first or rest position to the second or access position while remaining connected (e.g., disconnecting the various cables 160 from the enclosure 200 positioned inside each rack 110 is not required to move the rack 110 from the first position to the second position; this is in contrast to conventional racks, which require the cables to be disconnected before a rack can be moved).

[0019] In addition, in some embodiments, the tracks 122 can include a cover to protect them from contamination, such as dropped screws or the like. This minimizes the potential for blockage caused by contamination in the tracks. During operation, the covers can be positioned manually or automatically with the rack movement.

[0020] According to one or more features of the present disclosure, which can be used in combination with the motorized and / or automated rack system or separately from it, by moving the racks 110 from the first or rest position to the second or access position, access to the lateral sides 116 of the racks 110 and thus to the sides of the enclosure 200 is enabled. That is to say, as with reference to Fig. 6A-7B, easy to understand, each rack includes a front 117, a back 118 opposite the front 117, and a first and second lateral side 116 extending between the front and back 117, 118, wherein the front and back 117, 118 have a first length and the first and second lateral side 116 have a second length, the second length being greater than the first length.

[0021] According to one or more features of the present disclosure, when the racks 110 are in the second or access position, the enclosure 200 can be accessed via a lateral side 116 of the rack 110 as opposed to a front or rear 117, 118 thereof. Accessing the lateral side 116 of the rack 110 provides an enlarged working area (e.g., a maximized open side area). In some embodiments, the lateral sides 116 of the racks 110 may, for example, include a panel or door 119, such as a swing door with multiple locking points, for example, at the corners, to provide improved structural integrity during motorized and / or automated movement. Thus arranged, access to the lateral sides 116 of the racks 110 is provided.This means that when the racks 110 are in the first or rest position, the first and second lateral sides 116 of the rack 110 are inaccessible due to the positioning of the racks 110 adjacent to another rack 110. However, when the rack 110 is moved to the second or access position, the first and / or second lateral side 116 (e.g., either the first lateral side, the second lateral side, or both) becomes accessible. Therefore, each rack 110 can be configured with one or more slots to accommodate one or more enclosures 200, each enclosure 200 containing multiple I / O connectors 210 to accommodate a cable connector, the multiple I / O connectors 210 being arranged along one of the first and second lateral sides 216 of the enclosure 200 so that they are accessible when the rack 110 is in the second or access position.

[0022] Additionally and / or alternatively, lateral side panels can incorporate EMI treatment. For example, the EMI treatment can be positioned both on the panels and between the chassis to prevent significant EMI emissions from escaping the racks.

[0023] With further reference to Fig.8A-8D, the circuit boards within the enclosure, and thus the enclosure 200, can be rearranged to allow the I / O connectors 210 to be positioned along the sides 216 of the enclosure 200 as opposed to the front and / or rear 217, 218 of the enclosure 200. This means that once a rack 110 is moved into the second or access position, the panel or door 119 can be opened, providing access to the lateral sides 116 of the rack 110. Enclosure mounting rails allow maximum access through the sides of the enclosure. By providing an increased surface area through the relocation of the I / O connectors 210 within the enclosure 200 to the sides as opposed to the front or rear 217, 218, the larger surface area allows for an increased number of I / O connectors 210.Furthermore, by enabling cable connections between the multiple enclosures 200 along the lateral sides 216, an increased airflow from front to back can be provided, thereby providing increased thermal cooling (e.g., by moving or routing the cables along the lateral sides, the rear of the racks is opened, thus providing improved airflow from front (cold aisle) to back (hot aisle).

[0024] Furthermore, cable management can be simplified, thus reducing complex cable clutter caused by the rear-facing connector placement. Additionally, providing an increased number of connectors allows a wide variety of modules or devices to enter and exit the enclosure sides, such as liquid cooling lines, storage (solid-state drives (SSDs)), data center-grade secure control modules (DC-SCM modules), etc. In some configurations, side access allows the enclosure to be slid in and out of racks as needed. This enables or provides a range of rack architecture options, such as switching between traditional front-loading enclosures and side-loading enclosures, allowing the enclosure to be inserted from either side of a rack, and so on.Additionally and / or alternatively, rack-to-rack, side-to-side cabling via cable pulleys allows interconnect cables to run along the sides of the racks (e.g., vertical cabinet space can be provided along the sides of the racks). Furthermore, such configurations can enable data centers to pack racks in closer rows to achieve higher rack densities. During equipment maintenance events, paths through the racks can be created via rack-side automation, as described previously, to provide access to the racks that need servicing or reconfiguration, thus allowing more racks to be installed in a data center.

[0025] Accordingly, according to one or more features of the present disclosure, numerous advantages can be achieved by enabling rack-side automation, including, for example, increased enclosure, rack, and data center densities; faster data center construction; higher-density data centers that save costs; improved system cooling; board simplification that reduces costs; simpler board designs; improved system I / O count (e.g., cable count); improved I / O system-to-system lengths (e.g., cable lengths); increased HPC rack configuration options, etc.

[0026] The various elements of the devices previously described with reference to the figures comprise various hardware elements, software elements, or a combination of both. Examples of hardware elements include devices, logic devices, components, processors, microprocessors, circuits, circuit elements (e.g., transistors, resistors, capacitors, inductors, and so on), integrated circuits, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), digital signal processors (DSPs), a free-programmable gate array (FPGA), memory units, logic gates, registers, semiconductor devices, chips, microchips, chipsets, etc.Examples of software elements include software components, programs, applications, computer programs, application programs, system programs, software development programs, machine programs, operating system software, middleware, firmware, software modules, routines, subroutines, functions, methods, procedures, software interfaces, application programming interfaces (APIs), instruction sets, computational code, computer code, code segments, computer code segments, words, values, symbols, or any combination thereof.However, determining whether an embodiment is implemented using hardware elements and / or software elements varies according to any number of factors, such as a desired computing rate, power levels, thermal tolerances, a processing cycle budget, input data rates, output data rates, memory resources, data bus speeds, and other design or performance constraints, as desired for a given implementation.

[0027] One or more aspects of at least one embodiment are implemented by representative instructions stored on a machine-readable medium representing different logic within the processor. When read by a machine, these instructions cause the machine to generate logic to perform the techniques described herein. Such representations, known as "IP kernels" (intellectual property), are stored on a tangible, machine-readable medium and delivered to various customers or manufacturing facilities to be loaded into the manufacturing machines that produce the logic or the processor. For example, some embodiments are implemented using a machine-readable medium or article that stores an instruction or set of instructions which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform a procedure and / or operations according to the embodiments.Such a machine comprises, for example, any suitable processing platform, computing platform, computing device, processing device, computing system, processing system, processing devices, computer, processor or the like, and is implemented using any suitable combination of hardware and / or software.The machine-readable medium or machine-readable article includes, for example, any suitable type of storage unit, storage device, storage article, storage medium, storage device, storage article, storage medium and / or storage unit, for example, memory, removable or non-removable media, erasable or non-erasable media, writable or rewritable media, digital or analog media, hard disk, floppy disk, CD-ROM (Compact Disk Read Only Memory), CD-R (Compact Disk Recordable), CD-RW (Compact Disk Rewritable), optical disk, magnetic media, magneto-optical media, removable memory cards or disks, various types of DVD (Digital Versatile Disk), a tape, a cassette or the like.The instructions include any suitable type of code, such as source code, compiled code, interpreted code, executable code, static code, dynamic code, encrypted code, and the like, implemented using any suitable high-level, low-level, object-oriented, visual, compiled, and / or interpreted programming language.

[0028] As used here, the terms "component," "system," "interface," and the like are intended to refer to a computer-related entity, hardware, software (e.g., in execution), and / or firmware. For example, a component is a processor (e.g., a microprocessor, a controller, or other processing device), a process running on a processor, a controller, an object, an executable program, a program, a storage device, a computer, a tablet PC, and / or a user device (e.g., a mobile phone, etc.) with a processing device. For illustration, an application running on a server, and the server itself, is also a component. One or more components reside within a process, and a component is localized on one computer and / or distributed across two or more computers.A set of elements or a set of other components is described here, where the term "set" can be interpreted as "one or more".

[0029] Furthermore, these components are executed from various computer-readable storage media with different data structures stored on them, such as a module. The components communicate via local and / or remote processes, such as according to a signal with one or more data packets (e.g., data from one component interacting with another component in a local system, distributed system, and / or across a network, such as the internet, a local area network, a wide area network, or a similar network with other systems, via the signal).

[0030] As another example, a component is a device with specific functionality provided by mechanical parts operated by an electrical or electronic circuit arrangement, wherein the electrical or electronic circuit arrangement is operated by a software application or firmware application executed by one or more processors. The one or more processors are internal or external to the device and execute at least part of the software or firmware application. As yet another example, a component is a device that provides specific functionality through electronic components without mechanical parts; the electronic components include one or more processors to execute software and / or firmware that confers at least some of the functionality of the electronic components.

[0031] The use of the word "exemplary" is intended to present concepts in a concrete way. As used in this application, the expression "or" is intended to mean an inclusive "or" rather than an exclusive "or". That is to say, unless otherwise specified or clear from the context, "X substitutes A or B" is intended to mean any of the natural inclusive permutations. That is to say, if X substitutes A; X substitutes B; or X substitutes both A and B, then "X substitutes A or B" is satisfied under any one of the preceding cases. Furthermore, the articles "a" and "an", as used in this application and the appended claims, should generally be interpreted as meaning "one or more", unless otherwise specified or it is clear from the context that they refer to a singular form.Furthermore, insofar as the expressions “containing”, “includes”, “featuring”, “has”, “with”, or variants thereof are used in either the detailed description or the claims, it is intended that such expressions are inclusive in a manner similar to the expression “comprehensive”. Moreover, in situations where one or more numbered items are discussed (e.g., a “first X”, a “second X”, etc.), generally the one or more numbered items may be distinct or they may be the same, although in some situations the context may indicate that they are distinct or that they are the same.

[0032] As used herein, the term “circuit arrangement” may refer to, or be part of, a circuit, an integrated circuit (IC), a monolithic IC, a discrete circuit, a hybrid integrated circuit (HIC), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a logic circuit, a microcircuit, a hybrid circuit, a microchip, a chip, a chiplet, a chipset, a multi-chip module (MCM), a semiconductor die, a system-on-chip (SoC), a processor (shared, dedicated, or group), a processor circuit, a processing circuit, or associated memory (shared, dedicated, or group) that is operationally coupled to, or is part of, the circuit arrangement that executes one or more software or firmware programs, a combination logic circuit, or other suitable hardware components that provide the described functionality.In some embodiments, the circuit arrangement or functions associated with the circuit arrangement are implemented by one or more software or firmware modules. In some embodiments, the circuit arrangement includes logic that is at least partially executable in hardware. It should be noted that hardware, firmware, and / or software elements may be referred to collectively or individually as "logic" or "circuit" herein.

[0033] Some embodiments are described by using the phrase "an embodiment" together with its derivatives. These terms mean that a particular feature, structure, or property described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. The appearance of the phrase "in an embodiment" at different points in the document does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, unless otherwise stated, the features described above are considered to be usable together in any combination. Thus, all features discussed separately may be used in combination with one another unless it is noted that the features are incompatible with each other.

[0034] Several embodiments are presented in relation to program procedures executed on a computer or a network of computers. A procedure is considered here, and generally, to be a self-consistent sequence of operations that leads to a desired result. These operations are those that require physical manipulation of physical quantities. Usually, but not necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical, magnetic, or optical signals that can be stored, transmitted, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated. It has sometimes proven convenient, mainly for reasons of shared use, to refer to these signals in terms of bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, concepts, numbers, or the like.However, it should be noted that all these and similar designations are intended to be associated with the corresponding physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to those quantities.

[0035] Furthermore, the manipulations performed are often described using terms such as adding or comparing, which are usually associated with mental operations performed by a human operator. In most cases, however, no such human operator capability is required for any of the operations described herein, which are part of one or more embodiments. Rather, the operations are machine operations. Helpful machines for performing operations of various embodiments include digital general-purpose computers or similar devices.

[0036] Some embodiments are described using the terms "coupled" and "connected" with their respective derivatives. These terms are not necessarily synonymous. For example, some embodiments are described using the terms "connected" and / or "coupled" to indicate that two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contact with each other. However, the term "coupled" also means that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other but nevertheless cooperate or interact with each other.

[0037] Various embodiments also relate to devices or systems for performing these operations. This device is specifically designed for the required purpose, or it comprises a general-purpose computer, such as that which is selectively activated or reconfigured by a computer program stored on the computer. The methods described herein do not necessarily refer to a specific computer or other device. Various general-purpose machines are used with programs written according to the teachings described herein, or it may prove advantageous to construct a more specialized device for carrying out the necessary process steps. The necessary structure for a variety of these machines will become apparent from the given description.

[0038] It is emphasized that the summary of disclosure is provided to allow a reader to quickly grasp the essence of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it is not to be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. Furthermore, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the full description, each claim standing alone as a separate embodiment. In the appended claims, the terms "include," "contain," and "in which" are used as the plain-text equivalents of the corresponding terms "comprise" and "whereby," respectively. In addition, the terms "first," "second," "third," and so forth are used only as designations and are not to be understood as imposing numerical requirements on their subject matter.

[0039] The following examples concern further embodiments, from which numerous implementations and configurations become apparent.

[0040] Example 1. A device comprising: a rack comprising a motorized system, wherein the motorized system comprises at least: a motor, a first engagement element and a second engagement element, wherein the first engagement element is operatively connected to a motor of the at least one motor, wherein the second engagement element is operatively connected to a motor of the at least one motor, wherein the at least one motor is operable to move the first engagement element and the second engagement element to move the rack between a first position and a second position.

[0041] Example 2. The setup from Example 1, wherein the first and second engagement elements are selected from a gear, rollers and a slide.

[0042] Example 3. The setup from Example 1, wherein the rack comprises: a front, a back opposite the front, and a first and a second lateral side extending between the front and the back, wherein the front and the back have a first length and the first and the second lateral side have a second length, the second length being greater than the first length, wherein the first and / or the second lateral side is not accessible when the rack is in the first position, and wherein the first and / or the second lateral side is made accessible when the rack is in the second position.

[0043] Example 4. The setup from Example 3, wherein the rack includes a slot for receiving an enclosure comprising multiple input / output (I / O) connectors for receiving a connector of a cable, wherein the multiple I / O connectors are arranged along one of the first and second lateral sides of the enclosure so that they are accessible when the rack is in the second position.

[0044] Example 5. The setup from Example 1, wherein the at least one motor is activated via a push button, a wireless control, or an application (APP) running on an electronic device.

[0045] Example 6. A system comprising: a floor comprising multiple lanes; and a first rack comprising a motorized system for interacting with the multiple lanes, wherein the motorized system comprises at least one motor, a first engagement element, and a second engagement element, wherein the first engagement element is operatively connected to a motor of the at least one motor and to a first lane of the multiple lanes, and the second engagement element is operatively connected to a motor of the at least one motor and to a second lane of the multiple lanes, wherein the at least one motor is operable to move the first engagement element and the second engagement element along the first lane and the second lane, respectively, between a first position and a second position.

[0046] Example 7. The system from Example 6, wherein the first and second engagement elements are selected from a gear, rollers and a slide.

[0047] Example 8. The system from Example 6, wherein the rack comprises: a front, a back opposite the front, and a first and a second lateral side extending between the front and the back, wherein the front and the back have a first length and the first and the second lateral side have a second length, the second length being greater than the first length, wherein the first and / or the second lateral side is not accessible when the rack is in the first position, and wherein the first and / or the second lateral side is made accessible when the rack is in the second position.

[0048] Example 9. The system from Example 8, wherein the first rack includes a slot for receiving an enclosure comprising multiple I / O connectors for receiving a connector of a cable, wherein the multiple I / O connectors are arranged along one of the first and second lateral sides of the enclosure so that they are accessible when the rack is in the second position.

[0049] Example 10. The system from Example 8, further comprising a second rack positioned adjacent to one of the first and second lateral sides of the first rack when the first rack is in the first position.

[0050] Example 11. The system from Example 6, wherein the at least one motor is activated via a push button, a wireless control, or an app running on an electronic device.

[0051] Example 12. The system from Example 6, wherein the first and second engagement elements are gears and the multiple tracks include a corresponding gear to interact with the gears on the first rack.

[0052] Example 13. The system from Example 6, where the floor comprises several prefabricated floor slabs.

[0053] Example 14. The system from Example 6, wherein the first rack further includes an anti-tip structure to secure the first rack in order to prevent it from tipping over during movement.

[0054] Example 15. The system from Example 14, wherein the anti-tip structure includes a guide extending from a bottom of the first rack, the guide being arranged to be received by a groove formed in the floor.

[0055] Example 16. The system from Example 6, further comprising an overhead cable management system for managing multiple cables running to and from the first rack.

[0056] Example 17. The system from Example 16, wherein the overhead cable management system includes multiple overhead cable trays, overhead guide wires, and pulleys.

[0057] Example 18. A system comprising: a floor comprising multiple lanes; a first rack comprising a motorized system for interacting with the multiple lanes, wherein the motorized system comprises: at least one motor, a first engagement element, and a second engagement element, wherein the first engagement element is operatively connected to a motor of the at least one motor and to a first lane of the multiple lanes, and the second engagement element is operatively connected to a motor of the at least one motor and to a second lane of the multiple lanes, wherein the at least one motor is operable to move the first engagement element and the second engagement element along the first lane and the second lane, respectively.the second track, to move between a first position and a second position; a second rack comprising a motorized system for interacting with the multiple tracks, the motorized system comprising: at least one motor, a third engagement element, and a fourth engagement element, wherein the third engagement element is operatively connected to a motor of the at least one motor and to a third track of the multiple tracks, and the fourth engagement element is operatively connected to a motor of the at least one motor and to a fourth track of the multiple tracks, wherein the at least one motor is operable to move the third engagement element and the fourth engagement element along the third track and the fourth track, respectively.the fourth lane, to move between a first position and a second position; wherein in the first position: the first rack and the second rack are positioned in a side-by-side configuration; and in the second position, one from the first and second racks is moved relative to the other from the first and second racks.

[0058] Example 19. The system from Example 18, wherein each of the first and second racks comprises: a front, a back opposite the front, and a first and a second lateral side extending between the front and the back, wherein the front and back have a first length, and the first and second lateral sides have a second length, the second length being greater than the first length, wherein the first and / or the second lateral side is not accessible when the first or second rack is in the first position, and the first and / or the second lateral side is made accessible when the first or second rack is in the second position.

[0059] Example 20. The system from Example 18, wherein each of the first and second racks includes a slot for receiving an enclosure comprising multiple I / O connectors for receiving a connector of a cable, wherein the multiple I / O connectors are arranged along a lateral side of the first and second enclosure such that they are accessible when the first and second racks are in the second position.

[0060] Example 21. The system from Example 18, wherein the first, second, third and fourth engagement elements are gears and the multiple tracks each include a corresponding gear to engage with the gears on the first and second rack.

[0061] Example 22. A system comprising multiple lanes coupled to or integrated with a floor; and multiple racks arranged side by side in one or more rows, wherein at least one of the racks includes a motorized system for interacting with at least one of the multiple lanes, wherein the rack is movable between a first position and a second position; wherein in the first position the rack is arranged side by side with adjacent racks, and in the second position the rack is moved so that a lateral side of the rack is accessible; and wherein the racks are movable from the first position to the second position while remaining in normal operation.

[0062] Example 23. The system from Example 22, wherein the motorized system comprises a motor and one or more gears for interacting with at least one of the multiple tracks; and wherein, upon activation of the motor, the one or more gears are rotated to move the rack.

[0063] Example 24. A system comprising multiple lanes coupled to or integrated with a data center floor; and multiple racks arranged side-by-side in one or more rows, the racks comprising a motorized system for interacting with at least one of the multiple lanes, the racks being movable between a first position and a second position; wherein: each of the multiple racks comprises multiple enclosures, at least some of the multiple enclosures comprising multiple I / O connectors to accommodate a cable connector, the multiple I / O connectors arranged along a lateral side of the enclosure; wherein in the first position the rack is arranged side-by-side with adjacent racks;wherein in the second position the rack is positioned such that a lateral side of the rack is accessible to provide access to the I / O connectors formed in the lateral side of the housing; and wherein the racks are movable from the first position to the second position while remaining in normal operation.

[0064] Example 25. The system from Example 24, wherein the motorized system comprises a motor and one or more gears for interacting with at least one of the multiple tracks; and wherein, upon activation of the motor, the one or more gears are rotated to move the rack.

[0065] Example 26. A device comprising several racks arranged side by side in one or more rows, wherein at least one of the racks includes a motorized system for moving the rack between a first position and a second position; wherein in the first position the rack is arranged side-by-side with adjacent racks and in the second position the rack is moved so that a lateral side of the rack is accessible.

Claims

[1] Facility for a modular data center, comprising the following: a rack comprising a motorized system, wherein the motorized system comprises at least the following: a motor, a first engagement element and a second engagement element, wherein the first engagement element is operatively connected to a motor of the at least one motor, wherein the second engagement element is operatively connected to a motor of the at least one motor, wherein the at least one motor is operable to move the first engagement element and the second engagement element in order to move the rack between a first position and a second position. [2] Device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second engagement elements are selected from a gear, rollers and a slide. [3] Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the rack comprises: a front, a rear opposite the front, and a first and a second lateral side extending between the front and the rear, wherein the front and the rear have a first length and the first and the second lateral side have a second length, the second length being greater than the first length, wherein at least one is not accessible from the first or second lateral side when the rack is in the first position, and the at least one is made accessible from the first or second lateral side when the rack is in the second position. [4] Device according to claim 3, wherein the rack includes a slot for receiving a housing comprising multiple input / output (I / O) connectors for receiving a connector of a cable, wherein the multiple I / O connectors are arranged along one of the first and second lateral sides of the housing so that they are accessible when the rack is in the second position. [5] Device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the at least one motor is activated via a push button, a wireless control or an application (APP) running on an electronic device. [6] System for a modular data center comprising the following: a floor that includes several lanes; and A first rack comprising a motorized system for interacting with the multiple tracks, wherein the motorized system comprises at least one motor, a first engagement element and a second engagement element, wherein the first engagement element is operatively connected to a motor of the at least one motor and to a first track of the multiple tracks, and the second engagement element is operatively connected to a motor of the at least one motor and to a second track of the multiple tracks, wherein the at least one motor is operable to move the first engagement element and the second engagement element along the first track and the second track, respectively, between a first position and a second position. [7] System according to claim 6, wherein the first and second engagement elements are selected from a gear, rollers and a slide. [8] System according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the rack comprises: a front, a rear opposite the front and a first and a second lateral side extending between the front and the rear, wherein the front and the rear have a first length and the first and the second lateral side have a second length, the second length being greater than the first length, wherein at least one is not accessible from the first or second lateral side when the rack is in the first position, and the at least one is made accessible from the first or second lateral side when the rack is in the second position. [9] System according to claim 8, wherein the first rack comprises a slot for receiving a housing comprising multiple I / O connectors for receiving a connector of a cable, wherein the multiple I / O connectors are arranged along one of the first and second lateral sides of the housing so that they are accessible when the rack is in the second position. [10] System according to claim 8 or 9, further comprising a second rack positioned adjacent to one of the first and second lateral sides of the first rack when the first rack is in the first position. [11] System according to any one of claims 6 to 10, wherein the at least one motor is activated via a push button, a wireless control or an APP running on an electronic device. [12] System according to any one of claims 6 to 11, wherein the first and second engagement elements are gears and the multiple tracks include a corresponding gear to interact with the gears on the first rack. [13] System according to any one of claims 6 to 12, wherein the floor comprises several prefabricated floor panels. [14] System according to any one of claims 6 to 13, wherein the first rack further comprises a tilt protection structure to secure the first rack to prevent it from tipping over during movement. wherein the anti-tip structure includes a guide extending from an underside of the first rack, the guide being arranged to be received by a groove formed in the floor. [15] System according to any one of claims 6 to 14, further comprising an overhead cable management system for managing multiple cables running to and from the first rack. [16] System according to claim 15, wherein the overhead cable management system includes multiple overhead cable trays, overhead guide wires and pulleys. [17] System for a modular data center comprising the following: a floor that includes several lanes; a first rack comprising a motorized system for interacting with the multiple tracks, the motorized system comprising at least one motor, a first engagement element and a second engagement element, the first engagement element being operatively connected to a motor of the at least one motor and to a first track of the multiple tracks, and the second engagement element being operatively connected to a motor of the at least one motor and to a second track of the multiple tracks, the at least one motor being operable to move the first engagement element and the second engagement element along the first track and the second track, respectively, between a first position and a second position; a second rack comprising a motorized system for interacting with the multiple tracks, the motorized system comprising at least one motor, a third engagement element, and a fourth engagement element, the third engagement element being operatively connected to a motor of the at least one motor and to a third track of the multiple tracks, and the fourth engagement element being operatively connected to a motor of the at least one motor and to a fourth track of the multiple tracks, the at least one motor being operable to move the third engagement element and the fourth engagement element along the third track and the fourth track, respectively, between a first position and a second position; wherein in the first position the first rack and the second rack are positioned in a side-by-side configuration; and in the second position one from the first and the second rack is moved relative to the other from the first and the second rack. [18] System according to claim 17, wherein each of the first and second rack comprises: a front, a rear opposite the front, and a first and a second lateral side extending between the front and the rear, wherein the front and the rear have a first length and the first and the second lateral side have a second length, the second length being greater than the first length, wherein at least one of the first or second lateral sides is not accessible when the first or second rack is in the first position, and the at least one of the first or second lateral sides is made accessible when the first or second rack is in the second position. [19] System according to claim 18, wherein each of the first and second racks comprises a slot for receiving a housing comprising multiple I / O connectors for receiving a connector of a cable, wherein the multiple I / O connectors are arranged along a lateral side of the first and second housing such that they are accessible when the first and second racks are in the second position. [20] System according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the first, second, third and fourth engagement element are gears and the multiple tracks each comprise a corresponding gear to engage with the gears on the first and second rack. [21] System according to any one of claims 18 to 20, wherein the first, second, third or fourth engagement element is selected from a gear, rollers and a slide. [22] System according to any one of claims 18 to 21, wherein the first rack or the second rack comprises: a front, a rear opposite the front, and a first and a second lateral side extending between the front and the rear, wherein the front and the rear have a first length and the first and the second lateral side have a second length, the second length being greater than the first length, wherein at least one of the lateral sides is not accessible from the first or second side when the first rack or the second rack is in the first position, and the at least one of the lateral sides is made accessible from the first or second side when the first rack or the second rack is in the second position. [23] System according to any one of claims 18 to 22, wherein the first rack or the second rack comprises a slot for receiving a housing comprising multiple input / output (I / O) connectors for receiving a connector of a cable, wherein the multiple I / O connectors are arranged along one of the first and second lateral sides of the housing so that they are accessible when the first rack or the second rack is in the second position. [24] System according to any one of claims 18 to 23, wherein the at least one motor of the first rack or the second rack is activated via a push button, a wireless control or an application (APP) running on an electronic device. [25] System according to any one of claims 18 to 24, wherein the first rack or the second rack comprises one or more processing units, storage units, accelerator units, network units, fan units, cooling units or power units.

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