Patent ID: 7137855

Claim:
An apparatus, comprising: a first circuit board, wherein the first circuit board has at least one first connector for mating with at least one corresponding connector in a backplane of a chassis; a mechanical adapter, comprising: a mounting portion coupling the mechanical adapter to the first circuit board; and a configurable portion, coupled to the mounting portion; a front plate coupled to the configurable portion; and a locking member coupled to the front plate; wherein when the mechanical adapter and coupled first circuit board combination are inserted into a slot of the chassis, the at least one first connector mates with the at least one corresponding connector in the backplane of the chassis, and wherein the locking member is operable to engage the chassis; wherein the configurable portion of the mechanical adapter is operable to mount to a second circuit board; wherein the mechanical adapter has a substantially planar surface with a substantially planar opening which includes a coupling mechanism for coupling to at least two peripheral edges of the second circuit board; wherein the substantially planar opening passes through the substantially planar surface.