Configurable PCIe Backplane Lane Routing for Bandwidth Flexibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rack-mounted server systems face limitations in configuring PCIe storage device connections, as they require consecutively ordered lanes for multi-lane PCIe links, restricting flexibility in bandwidth distribution among drive bays.
Innovation Solution
A configurable backplane that allows for reconfiguration of PCIe connections by routing lanes to different connectors, enabling distribution of sixteen-lane PCIe bus connections among four or eight drive bays with two-lane or four-lane links, and supporting mixed configurations using standard cabling without additional electronics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If consecutively ordered lanes are used for multi-lane PCIe links, then PCIe bus connection reliability is improved, but flexibility in bandwidth distribution among drive bays deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The backplane is segmented into multiple cable connectors (first cable connector, second cable connector, third cable connector, fourth cable connector) that can independently route different sets of PCIe lanes to different drive bays. This segmentation allows the system to maintain reliable consecutive lane connections while providing flexible bandwidth distribution by selecting which segments are activated and how they are configured.
Solution Approach 2:
The backplane implements dynamic configurability where cable connectors can be selectively enabled or disabled, and lane routing can be reconfigured based on operational needs. This allows the system to adapt bandwidth distribution dynamically while maintaining the reliability of consecutive lane connections when required, resolving the contradiction between fixed reliability requirements and flexible adaptability needs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple backplane configurations are supported, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The backplane is designed with multi-functional cable connectors that can serve multiple purposes: routing different numbers of lanes (2, 4, or more), connecting to different drive bays, and supporting various PCIe link configurations. This universality allows a single backplane design to support multiple configurations without increasing complexity, as the same physical infrastructure adapts to different operational requirements through selective activation and routing.
Data Source
AI summary
A configurable rack server backplane that provides either two-lane or four-lane PCIe bus connections at each the individual drive bays supported by the backplane. The backplane may be configured to provide each drive bay with a two-lane PCIe connection or a four-lane PCIe connection based on the selection of cable connectors that are provided by the backplane. The backplane may be re-configured to distribute the bandwidth of a sixteen-lane PCIe bus connection among four drive bays, each using four-lane PCIe links or among eight drive bays, each using two-lane PCIe links. The backplane may additionally support tiered distribution of the PCIe bus connection bandwidth, such as two-lane PCIe links for certain drive bays and four-lane PCIe links for other drive bays. Each two-lane and four-lane PCIe link provided by the backplane is comprised of consecutively numbered PCIe lanes of the PCIe bus connection.