Patent Application
20180276171
Server computers include a housing defining an enclosure in which are provided one or more processors, memory devices, input/output (I/O) devices, and storage devices. A server can include multiple pluggable storage drives that can be mounted e.g. in a side-by-side arrangement in which the front portions of each pluggable drive can be accessible by a user through the front or rear of the server enclosure. With such an arrangement, a user can remove or insert the front pluggable drive from or into the server enclosure. A storage device can contain different types of storage media, including non-volatile memory. Non-volatile memory (NVM) is a type of computer memory that can retrieve stored information even after having been power cycled (turned off and back on).
The examples of storage drives shown in the present disclosure are non-volatile memory (NVM) hot-pluggable drives which can be hot inserted or hot removed into or from a network fabric attached memory pool shared by multiple servers or into or from a server computer for local storage. A hot-pluggable storage drive is a storage drive that can be inserted and removed from the fabric attached memory pool while the server computer remains powered. A NVM storage drive refers to any storage device that has an NVM storage medium (e.g., chip, magnetic or optical storage medium) to store data.
A blade enclosure is a chassis housing multiple modular electronic circuit boards in their own chassis, known as server blades. Each blade is a server in its own right, often dedicated to a single application. The blades contain processors, memory, integrated network controllers, (example a Fiber Channel host bus adaptor (HBA) and other input/output (IO) ports. Hot plugging (also called hot swapping) is the ability to add and remove devices to a computer system while the computer is running and have the operating system automatically recognize the change. This is useful when a system component fails as it enables a new device to be installed without system downtime.
The example of the NVM drive 100 presents a new form factor optimized for the fabric attached memory pool comprising the PCA 102 centered in the housing 101 for uniform cooling on each side of the drive 100 and permitting a symmetric thermal profile. In some examples, the controller can be a NVM media controller.
In some examples, the PCA includes electrical contact pads comprising last mate-first break features for in-rush current control and electrostatic discharge protection. In-rush current is the maximum, instantaneous input current drawn by an electrical device when first turned on. An electrostatic discharge is the sudden flow of electricity between two electrically charged objects caused by contact, an electrical short, or dielectric breakdown.
In some examples, the NVM chips comprise flash, read-only-Memory (ROM), memristor, MRAM (Magneto-resistive RAM), F-RAM (Ferroelectric RAM) and ReRAM (Resistive RAM). A flash memory is electronic (solid-state) non-volatile computer storage medium that can be electrically erased and reprogrammed. A Read-only memory (ROM) is a type of non-volatile memory used in computers and other electronic devices. Data stored in ROM can only be modified slowly, with difficulty, or not at all, so it is mainly used to store firmware (software that is closely tied to specific hardware, and unlikely to need frequent updates) or application software in plug-in cartridges. MRAM (magnetoresistive random access memory) related to a method of storing data bits using magnetic charges instead of the electrical charges used by DRAM (dynamic random access memory). Ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM, F-RAM or FRAM) is a random-access memory similar in construction to DRAM but uses a ferroelectric layer instead of a dielectric layer to achieve non-volatility. A memory resistor (memristor) is a non-linear passive two-terminal electrical component considered to be the fourth fundamental electrical circuit element, in addition to the original fundamental circuit elements: resistors, capacitors and inductors. Like a resistor, it creates and maintains a safe flow of electrical current across a device, but it can also remember the last charge that was flowing through it. It differs from a regular resistor as it can “remember” charges even when there is no current or voltage present, allowing information storage even when the device is turned off.
In another example, the NVM drive 400 can comprise one or more mezzanine connectors attached to the first expansion PCA 402 A and the second expansion PCA 402 B, the one or more mezzanine connectors interconnecting the PCA 402 and the first expansion PCA 402 A and the second expansion PCA 402 B.
The diagram 600 comprises step 620 for obtaining a PCA by attaching to a printed circuit board at least a connector, one or more NVM chips and a controller attached to the one or more NVM chips to manage the access to the NVM chips and communicate to a network.
The diagram 600 comprises step 630 for establishing the PCA in the center of the housing. A PCA centered in the housing can improve the thermal performance of the NVM drive by achieving a symmetric thermal profile. In other examples, the diagram 600 can comprise a further step for hot-plugging the NVM drive into a fabric attached memory pool by the rear portion of the housing.
In another example, the diagram 600 can comprise a further step for accessing the NVM drive hot-plugged in the fabric attached memory pool by the front portion of the housing. In another examples, the diagram 600 can comprise further steps for obtaining one or more expansion PCA's, wherein each expansion PCA comprises one or more NVM chips and for interconnecting the PCA and the one or more expansion PCA's with one or more flex cables.
In another example, the diagram 600 can comprise further steps for obtaining one or more expansion PCA's, wherein each expansion PCA comprises one or more NVM chips and interconnecting the PCA and the one or more expansion PCA's with one or more mezzanine connectors.
In another example, the diagram 600 can comprise a step for establishing hot-plugging features into the non-volatile memory NVM drive. In another examples, the diagram 600 can comprise a step for establishing in-rush voltage control features to the NVM drive, the in-rush control features comprising one or more last mate-first break features.
In some examples, the aforementioned flux diagram 600 for obtaining an NVM drive can be used to obtain a fabric attached memory pool. The fabric attached memory pool can be obtained by using an enclosure, obtaining a plurality of NVM drives according to the diagram 600 and aggregating into the enclosure the one or more obtained non-volatile memory NVM drives.
Furthermore, relative terms used to describe the structural features of the figures illustrated herein are in no way limiting to conceivable implementations. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methods, but one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that many further combinations and permutations are possible. Accordingly, the invention is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the scope of this application, including the appended claims. Additionally, where the disclosure or claims recite “a,” “an,” “a first,” or “another” element, or the equivalent thereof, it should be interpreted to include one or more than one such element, neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements.
