Configurable PCIe bandwidth utilization between PCI riser and other internal functions
View Patent ↗Embodiments allow an IHS to be configured for different distributions of available PCIe bandwidth. An IHS is reconfigured by utilizing different PCIe riser cards that interface with the PCIe bus of the IHS and route different portions of the available PCIe lanes. PCIe bandwidth may be further distributed using an interposer card that allows a portion of the PCIe bandwidth to be routed to a PCIe device that is supported by the PCIe interposer card. The IHS may be reconfigured by manually switching the riser cards and interposer that are coupled to the IHS. The PCIe distribution is reconfigured without relying on hardware switching components that redirect PCIe lanes. The riser cards and the interposer are coupled to a PCIe baseboard connector of the IHS, where the baseboard connector is divided into two baseboard sub-connectors that each interface with the PCIe bus of the IHS.
1. An IHS (Information Handling System) comprising:
a PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) bus comprising a plurality of PCIe lanes; and
a PCIe baseboard connector coupled to the PCIe bus, wherein the PCIe baseboard connector comprises a first baseboard sub-connector and a second baseboard sub-connector and wherein the PCIe baseboard connector:
interfaces with a first riser card that distributes the plurality of PCIe lanes to one or more PCIe connectors provided on the first riser card, wherein the first riser card connects to the first baseboard sub-connector and the second baseboard sub-connector;
interfaces with a second riser card that distributes a first portion of the plurality of PCIe lanes to one or more connectors provided on the second riser card, wherein the second riser card connects to the first baseboard sub-connector; and
interfaces with an interposer card that distributes a second portion of the plurality of PCIe lanes to a PCIe compliant device, wherein the interposer card connects to the second baseboard sub-connector.
2. The IHS of claim 1 , wherein the interposer card comprises a PCIe interface for establishing a PCIe connection with the PCIe compliant device.
3. The IHS of claim 2 , wherein the PCIe compliant device is an I/O (Input/Output) controller installed as a component of the IHS.
4. The IHS of claim 3 , wherein the I/O controller is a storage controller.
5. The IHS of claim 4 , wherein the PCIe interface of the interposer card is a PCIe form factor supported by the storage controller.
6. The IHS of claim 1 , wherein the PCIe baseboard connector comprises ×32 PCIe lanes, the first baseboard sub-connector comprises ×8 PCIe lanes and the second baseboard sub-connector comprises ×24 PCIe lanes.
7. A system for coupling a PCIe compliant device to a PCIe bus, the system comprising:
the PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) bus comprising a plurality of PCIe lanes;
a PCIe baseboard connector coupled to the PCIe bus, wherein the PCIe baseboard connector comprises a first baseboard sub-connector and a second baseboard sub-connector;
a first riser card that distributes the plurality of PCIe lanes to one or more PCIe connectors provided on the first riser card, wherein the first riser card connects to the first baseboard sub-connector and the second baseboard sub-connector;
a second riser card that distributes a first portion of the plurality of PCIe lanes to one or more connectors provided on the second riser card, wherein the second riser card connects to the first baseboard sub-connector; and
an interposer card that distributes a second portion of the plurality of PCIe lanes to the PCIe compliant device, wherein the interposer card connects to the second baseboard sub-connector.
8. The system of claim 7 , further comprising:
a retention and support housing, wherein the retention and support housing provides a mechanical support for attaching the PCIe compliant device to a baseboard and wherein the retention and support housing comprises a surface for receiving a portion of an interposer card; and
the interposer card further comprising a first PCIe interface for coupling with the second baseboard sub-connector and further comprising a second PCIe interface for coupling with the PCIe compliant device, wherein a portion of the interposer rests on the receiving surface of the retention and support housing when coupled with the second baseboard sub-connector and the PCIe compliant device.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the PCIe compliant device is an I/O (Input/Output) controller installed as a component of the IHS.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the I/O controller is a storage controller.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the second PCIe interface of the interposer card is a PCIe form factor supported by the storage controller.
12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the retention and support housing comprises two or more pins, and wherein the interposer comprises two or more holes that correspond respectively to the two or more pins.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the two or more pins of the retention and support housing are mated respectively with the two more holes of the interposer to rest the portion of the interposer on the receiving surface of the retention and support housing.
14. A method for coupling a PCIe (Peripheral Component Interconnect Express) compliant device to a PCIe bus comprising a plurality of PCIe lanes, wherein the PCIe bus is accessed via a PCIe baseboard connector comprising a first baseboard sub-connector and a second baseboard sub-connector, the method comprising:
coupling a first riser card to the first baseboard sub-connector and the second baseboard sub-connector, wherein the riser card distributes the plurality of PCIe lanes of the PCIe bus to one or more PCIe connectors provided on the first riser card;
coupling a second riser card to the first baseboard sub-connector, wherein the second riser card distributes a first portion of the plurality of PCIe lanes to one or more connectors provided on the second riser card; and
coupling an interposer card to the second baseboard sub-connector, wherein the interposer card distributes a second portion of the plurality of PCIe lanes to the PCIe compliant device.
15. The method of claim 14 ,
wherein the PCIe compliant device is attached to the baseboard via a retention and support housing,
wherein the retention and support housing provides a mechanical support for attaching the PCIe compliant device to the baseboard and wherein the retention and support housing comprises a surface for receiving a portion of the interposer card; and
wherein the interposer card further comprises a first PCIe interface for coupling with the second baseboard sub-connector and further comprises a second PCIe interface for coupling with the PCIe compliant device, wherein a portion of the interposer rests on the receiving surface of the retention and support housing when coupled with the second baseboard sub-connector and the PCIe compliant device.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the PCIe compliant device is an I/O (Input/Output) controller installed as a component of the IHS.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the I/O controller is a storage controller.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the second PCIe interface of the interposer card is a PCIe form factor supported by the storage controller.
19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the retention and support housing comprises two or more pins, and wherein the interposer comprises two or more holes that correspond respectively to the two or more pins.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the two or more pins of the retention and support housing are mated respectively with the two more holes of the interposer to rest the portion of the interposer on the receiving surface of the retention and support housing.