Configurable Blade Card via Base and Secondary Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high cost of providing a wide variety of blade server card configurations in blade systems, as administrators often need different configurations such as single processor with or without hard disk drives, which requires designing and stocking multiple blade cards for each unique setup.
Innovation Solution
A configurable blade card system comprising a base card, a secondary card, and a coupler, where the base card is connected to a blade connector and the secondary card is connected to the base card, forming a blade card that is co-planar and compatible with the blade card form factor, allowing for various configurations without the need to design and stock each unique configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple blade card configurations are provided to meet administrator requirements, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The blade card is divided into a base card and a secondary card that can be separately configured and combined. The base card contains common components while the secondary card provides configurable options, allowing administrators to create different configurations without designing entirely separate blade cards for each scenario.
Solution Approach 2:
The base card is designed as a universal platform that can work with multiple types of secondary cards. This multi-functional design allows a single base card design to support various blade card configurations by simply changing the secondary card, thereby reducing the number of unique blade card designs needed.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple blade card configurations are provided to meet administrator requirements, then adaptability is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the blade card into base card and secondary card, the manufacturing process can be optimized. The base card can be manufactured in large quantities as a standard component, while secondary cards with varying configurations can be manufactured more efficiently than completely custom blade cards, reducing overall manufacturing costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The universal base card design allows for economies of scale in manufacturing. Instead of producing multiple unique blade card designs, the same base card can be mass-produced and then combined with different secondary cards, significantly reducing per-unit manufacturing costs while maintaining configuration variety.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple blade card configurations are provided to meet administrator requirements, then adaptability is improved, but inventory complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Segmenting the blade card system allows inventory to be divided into base cards and secondary cards. Instead of stocking multiple complete blade card assemblies for different configurations, the inventory can be reduced to stocking one type of base card and a limited selection of secondary cards, which can then be combined to fulfill various configuration requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The universal base card serves multiple configuration purposes, reducing the need to stock multiple specialized blade card types. Administrators can obtain any required configuration by combining the standard base card with the appropriate secondary card, thereby simplifying inventory management while maintaining adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for a configurable blade card. A base card is in physical and electrical communication with a blade connector. The blade connector is in physical and electrical communication with a blade enclosure connector. A secondary card is in physical and electrical communication with the base card to form a blade card. A coupler physically couples the base card and the secondary card. The base card and the secondary card are co-planar and compatible with a blade card form factor.