Patent ID: 7551456

Claim:
A control unit apparatus comprising: a control module comprising a first interface to communicatively connect to a midplane module in an interface column and a plurality of first electronic devices connected to the interface column, a second interface capable of having a user module connected to it, and a plurality of processors capable of controlling a plurality of user modules, the plurality of processors also capable of controlling a plurality of server interface modules, a plurality of backplane modules, and a plurality of midplane modules in the interface column; a computing device communicatively coupled to the control module, the computing device configured to control the plurality of first electronic devices over the first interface, maintain an inventory of those devices coupled to the interface column and recognize when electrical devices have been added, and provide centralization security access to the first electronic devices, and collect and analyze usage of the first electronic devices for proper preventive maintenance and provisioning of the first electronic devices; and a dual redundant power supply connected to the computing device or the control module.