IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,934,187
Granted Patent B2
US 9,934,187 · App. 14/708,857 · Granted Apr 3, 2018

Hot-pluggable computing system

Inventor: Ching-Chih Shih (Taoyuan, TW)
Assignee: QUANTA COMPUTER INC.
G06F13/4081G06F1/3203G06F13/16G06F13/385G06F13/4022G06F13/4282
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,934,187
App. No.
14/708,857
Granted
Apr 3, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

Embodiments generally relate to hot-plug technology. The present technology discloses hardware and software specifications that can enable hot-plug functions for high-bandwidth and low-latency data transmission within a computing system. The present technology can provide hot-plug functions to PICe devices within a server rack by utilizing various controllers and power indicators embedded in the system. In addition to PCIe, the present technology can provide hot-plug functions to other high-throughput computer I/O (Input/Output) expansion technologies.

Claims (44)

1. A hot-pluggable computing system, comprising:

a plurality of nodes, the plurality of nodes being associated with a plurality of service controllers each configured to generate a signal indicating an operational state of a node of the plurality of nodes;

a hot-swappable switch in communication with the plurality of nodes, the hot-swappable switch being associated with a switch controller configured to at least manage a switch power indicator;

at least one processor; and

memory including instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the hot-pluggable computing system to:

receive, at the switch controller, a plurality of signals from the plurality of service controllers, each of the plurality of signals indicating an operational state of one of the plurality of nodes;

determine, using at least one indicator pattern logic, a work mode of the switch power indicator based at least in part on the plurality of signals; and

enable the switch power indicator to display the determined work mode.

2. The hot-pluggable computing system of claim 1 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the hot-pluggable computing system to:

receive, at a first service controller of a first node of the plurality of nodes, a second plurality of signals each indicating an operational state of another node of the plurality of nodes or the hot-swappable switch;

determine, using at least one indicator pattern logic, a work mode of a first node power indicator based at least in part on the second plurality of signals; and

enable the first node power indicator to display the determined work mode.

3. The hot-pluggable computing system of claim 1 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the hot-pluggable computing system to:

transmit a hot-remove request of disconnecting the hot-swappable switch to the plurality of service controllers; and

enable a power supply unit to terminate a power supply to the hot-swappable switch.

4. The hot-pluggable computing system of claim 1 , wherein the determined work mode indicates a progress of one of a hot-add sequence or a hot-remove sequence.

5. The hot-pluggable computing system of claim 1 , wherein each node of the plurality of node is associated with a node power indicator, the node power indicator configured to indicate an operational state of the node including one of a transition state, a power-on state or a power-off state.

6. The hot-pluggable computing system of claim 1 , wherein the hot-swappable switch comprises a plurality of network interface controllers, each of the plurality of network interface controllers configured to be associated with a node of the plurality of nodes.

7. The hot-pluggable computing system of claim 1 , wherein the determined work mode of the switch power indicator comprises one of a blinking mode, a power-on mode or a power-off node.

8. The hot-pluggable computing system of claim 5 , wherein the node power indicator comprises a node power LED, the switch power indicator comprises a switch power LED, and the at least one indicator pattern logic comprises a LED pattern logic.

9. The hot-pluggable computing system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of service controllers are configured to transmit the plurality of signals using an I2C bus.

10. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving, at a controller of a hot-swappable switch, a plurality of signals from a plurality of hot-plug devices in communication with the hot-swappable switch, the plurality of signals configured to be generated by a plurality of service controllers each being associated with one of the plurality of hot-plug devices;

determining, using at least one indicator pattern logic, a work mode of a power indicator of the hot-swappable switch, based at least in part on the plurality of signals; and

enabling the power indicator to display the determined work mode, the determined work mode including one of a transition state, a power-on state or a power-off state.

11. The computer-implemented method claim 10 , further comprising:

transmitting a hot-plug request to the plurality of service controllers, the hot-plug request including one of a hot-add request or a hot-remove request.

12. The computer-implemented method claim 10 , wherein the hot-swappable switch and the plurality of hot-plug devices are electrically connected by a PCIe bus.

13. The computer-implemented method claim 10 , further comprising:

enabling the hot-swappable switch to be connected to or disconnected from the plurality of hot-plug devices without a rebooting of the plurality of hot-plug devices.

14. The computer-implemented method claim 10 , wherein the hot-swappable switch comprises a plurality of network interface controllers, each of the plurality of network interface controllers configured to be associated with a device of the plurality of hot-plug devices.

15. The computer-implemented method claim 10 , wherein the plurality of service controllers are configured to transmit the plurality of signals using an I2C bus.

16. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory device including instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to:

receive, at a controller of a hot-swappable switch, a plurality of signals form a plurality of hot-plug devices in communication with the hot-swappable switch, the plurality of signals configured to be generated by a plurality of service controllers each being associated with one of the plurality of hot-plug devices;

determine, using at least one indicator pattern logic, a work mode of a power indicator of the hot-swappable switch, based at least in part on the plurality of signals; and

enable the power indicator to display the determined work mode, the determined work mode including one of a transition state, a power-on state or a power-off state.

17. The system of claim 16 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to:

transmit a hot-plug request to the plurality of service controllers, the hot-plug request including one of a hot-add request or a hot-remove request.

18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the hot-swappable switch and the plurality of hot-plug devices are electrically connected by a PCIe bus.

19. The system of claim 16 , further comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to:

enable the hot-swappable switch to be connected to or disconnected from the plurality of hot-plug devices without a rebooting of the plurality of other hot-plug devices.

20. The system of claim 16 , wherein the hot-swappable switch comprises a plurality of network interface controllers, each of the plurality of network interface controllers configured to be associated with a device of the plurality of hot-plug devices.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 11, 2015
From: SHIH, CHING-CHIH
To: QUANTA COMPUTER INC.
Reel/Frame 035635/0006 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 62093267 · Dec 17, 2014
Related Publication 20160179734A1 · Jun 23, 2016