Server chassis with different width front end module

Embodiments generally relate to a optimizing the design of a chassis, such that the chassis features a different width front end hard disk drive module. Key components of the design include chassis flexibility for different hard drive quantities, and sliding rails which can be installed for sliding the chassis in and out of the rack, taking into account the housing contours of both the chassis and the front end hard disk drive module of different width. The rails can be reinforced with different backing materials for improved load support. The sliding rails include an inner set of rails attached to the chassis, and an outer set of rails which extend along the housing of both the chassis and the hard disk drove module.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The disclosure relates generally to chassis design, and in particular to a chassis featuring a different width front end module.

BACKGROUND

Servers are core components for serving computers in a network system. Servers provide a variety of functions for network users, including storage and sharing of resources within a server system. Servers generally contain an architecture with a central processing unit, a memory, one or more hard drives, and other components which are connected through a bus. In general, a server system can consist of one or more server racks and a number of server blades, sleds, or chassis insertable into slots or locations in the server racks that physically supporting one or more servers or other type of computing devices. Typically, the racks and the chassis are designed according to unified international cabinet standards. That is, the physical specifications for the racks and chassis are based on agreed-upon standards. In this way, the configuration, assembly, and management of a server system is convenient and standardized.

Locations within a rack are generally classified according to a standard unit of height for the chassis or multiples thereof, such as 1U, 2U, 3U, etc. Thus, a chassis is referred to as a 1U chassis, meaning that it is one rack unit in height. A 2U server consumes two rack units of space within the rack. In addition to such standard height configurations, there are also standard width configurations for the rack, define by the width of the locations in the rack and accounting for any sliding rails or other attachment devices for attaching the chassis to the rack. Thus, the width dimensions of the chassis are generally constrained by the dimensions of the server rack and the attachment devices.

Typical server cabinets provide hard drive modules which allow for multiple hard drives to be disposed in a portion of a chassis along its width. However, these hard drive modules are generally constrained by the width dimensions of the chassis. This limits the amount of hard drives which will fit inside of the chassis, and thus the hard drive capacity is fixed.

SUMMARY

The present technology provides for the optimized design of a chassis, such that the chassis features a different width front end hard disk drive module. In particular, a front end hard drive module with a width greater than the rest of the chassis. As hard disk drives in a traditional design are limited in quantity according to the housing of the hard disk drive module, which conform to the uniform specifications and width of the chassis, hard drives are typically a restricted resource. This presents problems for the demands of current servers, which can be tasked with storing and utilizing massive amounts of electronic data. The present technology allows for a greater width for hard disk drive modules, leading to a greater quantity of hard drives and more resources for data storage. This allows for chassis flexibility, leading to different hard disk drive quantity. This also allows for sliding rails, which are able to be installed for easy serviceability and maintenance.

To accommodate the chassis of the present technology in a standard rack, the present technology also provides a set of sliding rails that attach to the mounting rails of the server rack. Each of the sliding rails consists of five parts: a front support, a rear support, outer rail, inner rail, and a middle rail. The inner rail extends adjacent to and along the entire length of the narrower, rear portion of the chassis. The inner rail is able to slide out, sliding the chassis along with it. The middle rail is placed outside of the inner rail and extends along the sides of the chassis. The outer rail is placed outside of the middle rail, and extends along the entire length of the chassis. The outer rail is able to slidably engage with the middle rail, such that the outer rail slides forward and back with the middle rail. In the sliding operation, the inner rail slides forward and back first, sliding the chassis with it. Once the entire length of the chassis is slidably engaged, the chassis may still be pulled out further with the outer rail. The outer rail then slides out further, and is slidably engaged with the middle rail, which allows the outer rail to slide forward and back. In addition, a front support piece is dimensioned to accommodate a larger width and extends along the length of the front end width module. The front support piece may contain a flange wall which is placed over the inner rail, outer rail, and middle rail. The front support piece is able to attach to the front mounting rails of the server rack. Finally, a rear support piece extends partway along the length of the chassis, and is able to attach to the rear mounting rails of the server rack. The result of these rails is that the full service chassis can be slid in and out of the server rack easily, and no problems are presented by the differing, larger width of the hard disk drive module.

In some embodiments, the server rack is a 1U server rack, and the hard disk drive module is expanded to fit a quantity of twelve hard disk drives. In other embodiments, the server rack may be 2U, 4U, or another size, and the quantity of hard disk drives which can fit into the hard disk drive module can vary accordingly.

In some embodiments, the front support piece of the rails can be reinforced with ribs. In other embodiments, the front support piece of the rails can be reinforced by metal backing.

In some embodiments, flange walls can appear in opposite directions within the front support piece of the rails, providing increased support and reinforcement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments of the present technology are discussed in detail below. While specific implementations are discussed, it should be understood that this is done for illustration purposes only. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other components and configurations may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the present technology.

In server computing systems, a massive amount of electronic data is generated, stored, and recalled. The amount of data needed to be stored and recalled within these server systems is growing at an exponential rate. With the advent of new massive data applications that demand several trillions of pieces of data to be processed, the demand for hard drive space has grown more persistent.

While the demands have grown, current hard drive technology still demands a certain amount of physical space. However, as noted above, the hard drive resources are constrained by physical limitations. That is, although hard drive space can expand by additional hard drives being installed within a chassis, the unified server standards specify physical dimensions limiting the number of hard drives which can fit within a hard drive enclosure that conforms to the height and width of a 1U rack, a 2U rack, etc. In a common conventional setup, for example, a 1U server may only be able to fit four 2.5-inch hard disk drives within a single row, or eight 2.5-inch hard disk drives within two rows. Thus, to install more hard drives within a chassis, a 2U or 4U server unit may be required.

The solution proposed by the present invention is to alter the physical design of the chassis, such that the chassis features a different width front end hard disk drive (or “HDD”) module. With a front end HDD module of a greater width, the chassis can include a greater number of hard drives enclosed within the module, resulting in a greater amount of electronic data to be stored and utilized. This enables chassis flexibility for different hard disk drive quantities. For an example in one embodiment, within a 1U chassis, the design can be such that the front end HDD module is of a greater width than the traditional 1U server, and can include twelve pieces of 2.5 inch drives in the chassis.

Although the different width front end module discussed in the exemplary embodiment here is a hard drive module, it should be appreciated by those with skill in the art that other modules can be substituted. The present invention can be used to increase space for other types of components.

In order for a chassis with a different width front end HDD module to be operable within the specifications of a traditional server rack, the present technology also provides a new configuration of sliding rails for the chassis to permit the different width front end HDD module. The new sliding rail configuration still allows for sliding the chassis out of the server rack as in conventional server systems. This new sliding rail configuration includes a set of sliding rails placed on each side of the chassis. The sliding rails each consist of a front support piece, rear support piece, inner rail, middle rail, and outer rail. Each of the rails extends along the length of the narrower, rear portion of the chassis. The inner rail is attached to the chassis and slidably engages with the middle rail to allow the inner rail to slide out of the middle rail to slide the chassis out of the server rack. The outer rail slidably engages with the middle rail to allow the middle rail to slide out of the outer rail to slide the chassis further out of the server rack. The rails are attached to the server rack via the front and rear support pieces, where the front support piece is configured to accommodate the wider front end HDD module when the chassis is slid in and out of the server rack. This allows for the chassis with the different front end width HDD module to easily and reliably slide in and out of the server rack for easy maintenance and serviceability. Specifics will be provided in the following discussion of the figures.

FIG. 1AandFIG. 1Bare schematic diagrams of a chassis100with a different width front end hard drive module102. As shown inFIG. 1AandFIG. 1B, the rear chassis101of chassis100is connected to the front end hard disk drive module102. In some embodiments, the rear chassis101and front end HDD module102are permanently attached and form a single unified chassis. In other embodiments, the rear chassis101and front end HDD module102are separate components that can be removably attached, allowing for replacement of the HDD module102and/or rear chassis101as needed. In some embodiments, the front end HDD module102and rear chassis101are connected and secured by screws. However, the present disclosure contemplates any type of fasteners or fastening system can be utilized in the present technology. WithinFIG. 1AandFIG. 1B, the width of the rear chassis101is less than the width of the front end HDD module102. In particular, the width of the rear chassis101would be a standard width for the rack into which it is to be inserted into.

As a single example within one embodiment, the width of the chassis100may be 438 millimeters, while the width of the front end HDD module102may be 447 millimeters. However, it will be appreciated that a wide variety of different widths and variances are possible within differing embodiments.

Returning toFIG. 1AandFIG. 1B, the front end HDD module102can include hard drive slots108or other similar supporting structures to allow for a number of hard disk drives to be inserted into the front end HDD module102. In the exemplary embodiment, several hard disk drives are capable of being inserted into the front end HDD module102. The greater width of the front end HDD module102allows for an increased quantity of hard disk drives to be inserted. Although space for ten hard disk drives is depicted in the exemplary embodiment, the number of hard disk drives may be six, ten, sixteen, twenty, or any number of hard disk drives, depending on the dimensions of each hard disk drive and the dimensions of the front end HDD module102.

Referring back to the particular example, in the case of a 447 millimeter width for the front end HDD module102, ten 2.5 inch hard disk drives can be inserted into the front end HDD module102. In contrast, a conventional chassis of 438 millimeters would allow less than ten 2.5 inch hard disk drives to be inserted.

As with a conventional chassis, chassis100is attached to a server rack via a set of sliding rails. However, conventional sliding rails are configured to extend along an entire length of a chassis, where the width of such a chassis is constant. Accordingly, to accommodate a chassis according to the present technology, the present disclosure contemplates a new sliding rail design, as shown inFIG. 1AandFIG. 1B.

As shown inFIG. 1AandFIG. 1B, a set of sliding rails112is placed along each side of the chassis100. Each set of sliding rails112consists of a front support piece116, a rear support piece110, and a sliding portion106which consists of an inner rail, an outer rail, and a middle rail.

The front support piece116can includes flange walls and extends along a portion of the chassis100, specifically along the length of the different width front end HDD module102. The front support piece116attaches to a front mounting rail of the cabinet enclosure, via the rail mounting flange104, as shown in further detail below. The two rail mounting flanges104are provided for securing the chassis100within a server rack. A mounting ear and captive screw within each rail mounting flange104allow for such securing. In some embodiments, the mounting ear and captive screw can be replaced with other forms of securing the rail mounting flanges104to the mounting rails. One of the flange walls of the front support piece116covers the sliding portions106of the rails112.

The sliding portions106comprise an inner rail, outer rail, and middle rail. The inner rail, outer rail and middle rail all extend along the entire length of the rear chassis101, and are capable of slidably engaging with each other. The sliding portions106will be discussed below in greater detail inFIG. 3A,FIG. 3B, andFIG. 3C. The rear support piece110of the sliding rails extends along a portion of the rear chassis101and attaches to a rear mounting rail of the cabinet enclosure.

As the sliding portions106of the rails112extend only along the rear chassis101and no portion of the rails is directly attached to the front end HDD module102, the weight of the chassis100is not evenly distributed along the rails112. In particular, the front support piece116and forward portions of the sliding peortions106may experience greater levels of mechanical stress than the rear support piece110and rear portions of the sliding portions106. Accordingly, the present disclosure contemplates that the front support pieces116are configured to provide additional support for this purpose, as further described below with respect toFIGS. 4 and 5.

FIG. 2is a schematic diagram of a rail and cabinet enclosure, i.e., a server rack200, for a chassis with different width front end hard drive module.FIG. 2illustrates server rack200that includes a rack body or base202to support front mounting rails or supports204and rear mounting rails or supports206, which are used for connecting a chassis214to the server rack200via the sliding rails216of the chassis214. InFIG. 2, chassis214and sliding rails216can be configured substantially similar to chassis100and sliding rails106inFIG. 1AandFIG. 1B.

Referring back toFIG. 2, the front support pieces208of the sliding rails216are connected to front mounting supports204of the to the server rack200. The front mounting supports204can run along the height of the server rack. In some embodiments, the front mounting supports204can contain holes for fitting a mounting ear and captive screw of a rail mounting flange of the front support pieces208. Similarly, back mounting supports206may be connected to the rear support pieces210of the sliding rails216with additional rail mounting flanges.

FIG. 3Ais a schematic diagram of one of sliding rails300according to the present technology. The sliding rail300includes a front support piece302, a rear support piece304, an inner rail306, a middle rail308, and an outer rail310.FIG. 3Bis a magnified view of the front portion ofFIG. 3Athat focuses on the front support piece302, inner rail306, middle rail308, and outer rail310.FIG. 3Cis a magnified portion ofFIG. 3Athat focuses on the rear support piece304, inner rail306, middle rail308, and outer rail310.

As previously discussed each of sliding rails300consists of five components: a front support piece302, a rear support piece304, an inner rail306, a middle rail308, and an outer rail310. The inner rail306is configured to attachment to a chassis. Thus, as shown inFIGS. 3A-3C, the inner rail306may have mounting holes for fasteners. However, the present disclosure contemplates that the inner rail306can include other types of mounting structures.

As previously noted, the inner rail306slidably engages with the middle rail308. This can be accomplished in a variety of ways. For example, each of inner rail306and middle rail308may have corresponding channels or tracks that engage with each other to allow the rails to slide with respect to each other. In another example, the rails may have corresponding channels for supporting ball bearings or the like to allow the rails to slide with respect to each other. InFIGS. 3A-3C, the inner rail306is shown as being inside middle rail308. However, present disclosure contemplates other configurations are possible for arranging the inner rail306and the middle rail308.

As also previously noted, the outer rail310slidably engages with the middle rail308. This can also be accomplished in a variety of ways. For example, each of outer rail310and middle rail308may have corresponding channels or tracks that engage with each other to allow the rails to slide with respect to each other. In another example, the rails may have corresponding channels for supporting ball bearings or the like to allow the rails to slide with respect to each other. InFIGS. 3A-3C, the middle rail308is shown as being inside outer rail310. However, present disclosure contemplates other configurations are possible for arranging the outer rail310and the middle rail308.

As noted above, The inner rail306, outer rail310, and middle rail308all extend along the length of the narrower, rear portion of the chassis, but do not extend to the different width front end module. The inner rail306includes several points of attachment for connection with the chassis of the server unit. In operation, when the chassis is pulled out of the server rack, the inner rail306slides out of the middle rail308. The present disclosure contemplates that the inner rail306, the middle rail308, or both, can have structures to prevent the inner rail306from sliding completely out of the middle rail308. Once the inner rail306is fully extended, the middle rail308is capable of sliding the chassis out further. In particular, the middle rail308slides out of the outer rail310. The present disclosure contemplates that the outer rail310, the middle rail308, or both, can have structures to prevent the middle rail308from sliding completely out of the outer rail310.

In this way, the chassis, along with the different width front end module which is attached to it, can be pulled out and in with respect to the server rack which encloses the server unit, in the traditional way that server units can slide out of racks.

As previously discussed, the sliding rail300additionally includes a front support piece302. A first end of the front support piece302attaches to a front mounting support within the cabinet enclosure via a rail mounting flange312. The front support piece302contains flange walls, or lips, which provide stability and support. One of the flange walls covers the inner rail306, outer rail310, and middle rail308of the sliding rails. The front support piece302covers the full length of the different width front end module, and is wider than the chassis in order to support the larger width of the different width front end module. The second end of the front support piece302attaches to the outer rail310. Screws or any other type of fasteners can be used to provide this attachment.

The sliding rail300additionally includes a rear support piece304. A first end of the rear support piece304attaches to a rear mounting support within the cabinet enclosure. The rear support piece304extends along a portion of the chassis, and wraps around the inner rail306, outer rail310, and middle rail308of the sliding rails. A second end of the rear support piece304attaches to the outer rail310. Screws or any other type of fasteners can be used to provide this attachment.

In some embodiments, the sliding components of the sliding rails may consist merely of an inner rail306and an outer rail310, with a middle rail308absent and inner rail306and outer rail310configured to slidably engage with each other. In these embodiments, the inner rail slidably engages with the middle rail308until fully extended. Without a middle rail308, extension may be limited, but sufficient for some chassis configurations.

In some embodiments, the front support piece302and rear support piece304may be embodied as a single, unified support piece which wraps around the inner rail, outer rail and middle rail, and which connects to both a front mounting support and a rear mounting support.

FIG. 4is a schematic diagram of a portion of the front support piece402of the rail with reinforcement by ribs406. As noted above, because of the uneven weight distribution along rail, stress is likely to be greatest at front support piece. The portion of the front support piece402is illustrated as a long strip, and can be composed of any sturdy material suitable for a server rail, such as steel. Although the portion of the front support piece402is depicted inFIG. 4as a single long strip, it may be represented in other ways to fit the housing of both a front end HDD module and a chassis, as depicted inFIG. 1AandFIG. 1B.

In some embodiments, the front support piece402includes flange walls. In the exemplary embodiment, two flange walls404in a first direction are built into the front support piece402. Two flange walls408in a second, opposite direction are also built into the front support piece402. The first two flange walls404and the second two flange walls408provide a stronger backing support and reinforcement which will compensate for some of the stress put on the front support piece by a chassis.

In the exemplary embodiment, the front support piece402is further reinforced by ribs406, which serve to reinforce loading strength of the sliding rails. The reinforcement ribs406provide an added joining support for the front support piece402.

FIG. 5is a schematic diagram of a portion of the front support piece402of the rail with reinforcement by metal backing.FIG. 5is nearly identical toFIG. 4, in that it depicts a portion of front support piece502, flange walls504in one direction, and flange walls508in an opposite direction. Rather than reinforcement ribs, a metal backing506is used inFIG. 5to reinforce the loading strength of the front support piece. This metal backing, in the exemplary embodiment, provides additional support that may be needed to deal with the stress which is put on the front support piece502by the server rack.

Although the foregoing examples have been described in some detail for purposes of clarity of understanding, the above-described inventive techniques are not limited to the details provided. There are many alternative ways of implementing the above-described invention techniques. The disclosed examples are illustrative and not restrictive.