Patent ID: 8107244

Claim:
A first chassis, comprising: a housing defining one or more slots and comprising an exterior; a first backplane comprised in the housing, wherein the first backplane is configured to receive one or more cards in the one or more slots; and a first coupling element comprised on the exterior of the housing and electrically coupled to the first backplane, wherein the first coupling element is configured to mate with a first rigid connection in order to convey communication through the first rigid connection between the first backplane of the first chassis and a second backplane of a second chassis, and wherein a second coupling element of the second chassis also mates with the first rigid connection; a third coupling element comprised on the exterior of the housing and electrically coupled to the first backplane, wherein the third coupling element is configured to mate with a second rigid connection in order to convey communication through the second rigid connection between the first backplane of the first chassis and a third backplane of a third chassis, and wherein a fourth coupling element of the third chassis also mates with the second rigid connection.