Designing application server blades – Industrial computing solutions for guaranteed availability - By Johni Chan

What is an ideal blade server system? Industry requirements A high availability system should have the following characteristics: ! Simplicity. Open architecture and compliance with

Federal and Telcordia generic requirements and design quality standards (Telcordia, ITU-T, UL/CSA, NEBS, etc.)

! Density. Highest density with smallest form factor ! Performance. Maximize the processor utilization

and bus speed ! Reliability. Lowest MTBF without any single point

of failure ! Serviceability. Lowest MTTR and ease of service

and support ! Maintainability. Ease of use and hardware and

software product upgrades ! Scalability. Support system growth and increasing

volumes of traffic ! Time-to-market. Quicker ! Total cost of ownership. Lower

Figure 1 illustrates an ideal HA blade server system. The I-Bus solutions A comprehensive design of the overall application ready industrial computing platform through the use of a from-the-ground-up approach, from concept to commercialization, is a fundamentally important aspect of creating a robust high-performance and high-availability computing system capable of operating across a wide dynamic range of harsh and unforgiving environments. The I-Bus Continuon™ family blade server product introduces a 16 blade system with dual 6U/4HP switch fabric slots. A dual star topology packet, switched backplane compliant to PICMG 2.16 and PICMG 2.9 standards with N+1 redundant – 48VDC, or 90-250VAC power subsystem together with a patented dual isolated hot-swap input modules provide a formidable HA solution. The I-Bus Continuon™ family product features a FailSafe Opticool thermal management using an I-Bus patented hot-swap redundant “push-mix-pull” cooling architecture. Continuon™ also has an optional PICMG 2.9 compliant system management module with SNMP agent support, which may be integrated in the rear to maximize the number of available I/O slots. With 11 patent applications filed and 7 patents pending,

this new I-Bus Continuon™ product family is poised to overcome many of the industry’s toughest availability problems. I-Bus Continuon™ family product 2801 System Master Blade The IBC 2801 blade is fully cPSB PICMG 2.16 compatible to support Ethernet switched fabric backplane architectures. Figure 2 shows a block diagram of the IBC 2801. In addition to the compatibility of PICMG 2.1 full hot swap and PICMG 2.9 full IPMI system management, the IBC 2801 blade is a powerful, scalable, open architecture building block in a high-reliability and high-availability CompactPCI-based server blade system from I-Bus. The IBC 2801 supports dual low voltage Intel Pentium III processors, operating at 800 MHz / 933 MHz. Program and data storage needs are met with support for up to 2 Gbytes of DDR SDRAM as well as 256+ Mbytes of CompactFlash or 1 Gbyte IBM Microdrive, and a 20 Gbyte IDE hard drive on board, and/or on the IBC 2703 rear I/O transition module. Additional features include Ultra 160 SCSI with rear I/O, dual 10/100BaseTX Ethernet, 32bit / 33 MHz PMC expansion and on-board AGP Video. Also supported is the full set of standard PC peripherals including Ultra ATA/100, 1.44 Mbyte floppy, USB, RS-232 serial ports and parallel port, mouse and keyboard. Figure 2. IBC 2801 Block Diagram The IBC 2802 blade is identical to the IBC 2801 features set except for the additional dual Gigabit Ethernet support instead of SCSI (see block diagram in Figure 3). The 2802 blade server is fully cPSB PICMG 2.16 compatible to support Gigabit Ethernet switched fabric backplane architectures, PICMG 2.1 full hot-swap, and PICMG 2.9 full IPMI system management. Figure 3. IBC 2802 Block Diagram

E-UPS

IBP 2801/2

IBP 2801/2

IBP 2801/2

IBP 2801/2

IBP 2801/2

CMC

BMC/PM

BMC/PM

BMC/PM

BMC/PM

BMC/PM

Power Supply

Power Supply

Power Supply

Power Supply

Input Module

Input Module

IPMB Management Bus

I2C Monitoring

Dual StarSwitched

Fabric

Dual StarSwitched

Fabric

Primary PowerSource

Backup Power Source

PowerBus

EthernetUplink

EthernetUplink

Fans BlowersTemp

Sensors

Switch

BMC/PM

Switch

BMC/PM

PCI to ISA BridgeM icron

Copperta ilBG A 352IDE Connector

M ez za nine H e ad er & Re ar Pa ne l Super I/O

National Sem iPC87417PQ FP1 28

Switch ing Regulator

Vcore

BIO S Flash512K Socket

PL CC32

Seria l ConnectorRe ar Pa ne l

Seria l ConnectorRe ar Pa ne l

K ey bo ard /M ou se C onnecto r

Fron t & Re ar Pa nel

F loppy C onnec torM ez za nine H e ad er &

Re ar Pa ne l

M obile Tuala tinuP G A 47 8 S oc ke t

North BridgeM icron

CopperheadBG A 629

Sys tem SDRA MUp to 2GBbytesA n gled D IMM 1 84

Socket #1Socket #2

10/100 Base-TX Ethernet

In tel 82559BG A 196

Ethernet ConnectorFron t Pan el &

Re ar Pa ne l

10/100 Base-TX Ethernet

In tel 82559BG A 196

M obile Tuala tinuP G A 47 8 S oc ke t

E thernet ConnectorFron t Pan el &

Re ar Pa ne l

Switch ing Regulator

Vcore

CompactPCI64-Bit @ 66M Hz

USB ConnectorFron t Pan el &

Re ar Pa ne l

Tem p Sensor

Tem p Sensor

PCI to PCI BridgeIn tel 21154

BG A 304

32-Bit PM CExpansion

SVGA Video In tel 69030

BG A 256

VG A ConnectorFron t Pan el &

Re ar Pa ne l

Clock Generators

32-Bit 33M Hz PCI B us 64-Bit 66M Hz PCI B us

Ultra160 SCSILSI53C1000

BG A 329

SCSI ConnectorRe ar Pa ne l

P ara lle l Connec torRe ar Pa ne l

Lithium Battery

Co in Cell

Status LE DsSpe aker He ader

Re set Pushb utton

System M onitorW atchdog Tim erHo t Swa p C ontrol

IPM I Ma nagem ent

Fron t Pan el & Re ar Pa ne l

LPC B US

X-BU S

P C I to IS A B ridg eM icron

C o p per ta ilB G A 3 1 6ID E C on nec tor

M e z z a n in e H e a d e r & R e a r P a n e l S up er I/O

N ation a l S em iP C 8 74 17

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S w i tch in g R e gu la tor

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B IO S F la sh5 12 K S oc ke t

P L C C 3 2

S er ia l C on n ec to rR e a r P a n e l

S er ia l C on n ec to rR e a r P a n e l

K ey b o ard /M o u se C o n n ec to r

F ro n t & R e a r P a n e l

F lo pp y C o n nec torM e z z a n in e H e a d e r &

R e a r P a n e l

M ob ile T u a la tinu P G A 4 7 8 S o c k e t

N or th B r id geM icron

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S ys tem SD R A MU p to 2G B b ytesA n g le d D IM M 1 8 4

S oc ke t # 1S oc ke t # 2

1 0/1 0 0 B a se-T X E th erne t

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E th erne t C o nn ec torF ro n t P a n e l &

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M ob ile T u a la tinu P G A 4 7 8 S o c k e t

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T em p Se nso r

P C I to P C I B r id geIn te l 21 55 5

B G A 3 0 4

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S V G A V id eo In te l 69 03 0

B G A 2 5 6

V G A C o nn ec to rF ro n t P a n e l &

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C loc k G ene ra tors

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G ig abi t E th erne t8 25 46

B G A 3 6 4

P ack e t S w itch ingR e a r P a n e l

P a ra l le l C o n n ec to rR e a r P a n e l

L ith iu m B a tte ry

C o in C e ll

S ta tu s L E D sIP M I H e a d e r

S p e a k e r H e a d e rR e s e t P u s h b u tto n

S ys te m M o n ito rS e ria l E E P R O MW a tc h d o g T im e r

H o t S w a p C o n t ro l

F ro n t P a n e l & R e a r P a n e l

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P ack e t S w itch ingR e a r P a n e l

I-Bus Continuon™ 0818D Server Blade Platform The I-Bus Continuon™ 0818D 8U rackmount network grade blade server application ready platform (see Figure 4) introduces dual star topology packet, switched backplane fully compliant to PICMG 2.16 to support Ethernet switched fabric architectures, PICMG 2.9 full IPMI system management, and PICMG 2.1 full hot-swap standards. The Continuon™ 0818D supports up to 16 blades with dual switch fabric slots and features a patented Failsafe Opticool™ with redundant “push-mix-pull” thermal management for a high density blade server in a small form factor. Figure 4. IBus Continuon™ 0818D The I-Bus Continuon™ 0818D features a patented dual isolated hot-swap 90-250VAC or –48VDC power input modules providing system independent over or under voltage protection. Continuon™ 0818D is also available with a patented optional non-disruptive field upgradeable embedded “Zero U” UPS backup for orderly shut-down or event ride-through, and a patented cable management for ease of use and management. By combining CompactPCI technology, packet switch backplane, and IP switch routing into a single platform, the Continuon™ 0818D system platform allows OEMs and end users to reduce cabling, footprint, and power consumption in one common system management interface. Together with the IBC 2801 and IBC 2802 blade servers, the I-Bus Continuon™ 0818D server blades system allows ISP and enterprise customers to bring a new level of density and manageability to their data centers. I-Bus CMC Chassis Management Controller and Redundant dual power input The I-Bus Chassis Management Controller (CMC) is a rear accessible 6U x 4HP x 80mm CompactPCI rear I/O board which allows the chassis to be managed remotely with SNMP agent by system management software application (see Figure 5). The CMC monitors and/or manages the chassis power, temperature, fans, and blower speed. The I-Bus CMC features 6x I²C channels and dry contact relay outputs, it communicates with the I-Bus Baseboard Management Controller/Peripheral Management (BMC/PM) mezzanine module on each IBC 2801 or IBC 2802 server blade. The I-Bus CMC option can be mounted on the rear of Continuon™ 0818D platform to maximize the number of available I/O slots.

The I-Bus Orion Blade Server platform features a patented Redundant Isolated Power Input Architecture. It is available with redundant dual-48VDC input modules or redundant dual 90-250 VAC input modules. Continuon™ 0818D is also available with a patented optional non-disruptive field upgradeable embedded “Zero U” UPS backup for orderly shut-down or event ride-through, and a patented cable management for ease of use and management Figure 5. IBus Continuon™ Enabling Technologies I-Bus 2703 Rear I/O The IBC 2703 is 6U CompactPCI Rear I/O transition module designed to support the rear panel I/O for the IBC 2801 and IBC 2802 CompactPCI server blades (see Figure 6 & 7). The IBC 2703 occupies a single 6U x 4HP x 80mm rear I/O slot and is designed to support the most common rear panel functions.

Figure 6. IBC 2703 RearI/O Module

Figure 7. IBC 2703 Rear I/O w/ 2802

SVGA Video(Fuse F1 above connector)

10/100 Ethernet #2

10/100 Ethernet #1

Gigabit Ethernet #1

Gigabit Ethernet #2

USB(Fuse F2 on back)Keyboard/Mouse(Fuse F3 on back)

COM1 Serial

COM2 Serial

J5 CompactPCI

J4 CompactPCI

J3 CompactPCI

SCSI

Drive Mount Bracket

Primary IDE Disk Drive

Printer PortFloppy

Primary IDE Expansion

Continuon™ overcoming industry’s most common problems Performance The IBC 2801 and IBC 2802 server blades feature dual 800/933 MHz Tualatin Pentium III processors, up to 2 Gbyte DDR memory, up to 40 Gbyte on-board disk storage, and a dual Gigabit Ethernet network connection. Performance data and independent benchmark test reports are available upon request. Density The I=Bus Continuon™ 0818D with the dual star topology packet switch backplane compliant to PICMG 2.16 and PICMG 2.9 standards can support up to 16 server blades plus dual fabric switches and a Chassis Management Controller (CMC) in an 8U network carrier grade CompactPCI chassis, including a 600W N+1 redundant power subsystem with patented dual redundant isolated power input modules and an optional “Zero U” embedded UPS. Availability The full hot-swap PICMG2.1 compliant Continuon™ 0818D with a dual redundant isolated power input is a stepping stone for the I-Bus next-generation Infini-Availability™ blade server platform. Continuon™ 0818D is designed to support the most common third party HA software, including but not limited to Windows 2000 Advanced Server Cluster option, GoAhead SelfReliant 7500, Continuous Computing UpSuite for Solaris and Linux, Sun Cluster, and Veritas Cluster Server, etc. Maintainability Both IBC 2801, IBC 2802 blade servers with BMC/PM mezzanine board are PICMG 2.9 compliant. With the I-Bus patented cable management option, the Continuon™ 0818D provide an additional manageability in term of ease of use and serviceability. The Continuon™ 0818D with a hot-swap Chassis Management Controller (CMC) which monitors all chassis functions including the health of each individual blade, backplane voltages, cooling system, power supplies, and power input modules, etc. All of the chassis management data can be reported to management utilities or to network managers such as HP open View, using SNMP. Conclusion The critical industry wide issues of density, performance, power, availability, maintainability, serviceability, scalability, and the total cost of ownership have been addressed in the I-Bus Continuon™ family products. As a result of advanced modular design techniques, simulation and analysis, the entire Orion product family successfully passed all rigorous tests and qualifications. The I-Bus Continuon™ product family will be officially released on February 14, 2003 with production quantities available in March 2003 to meet the industry toughest MARS requirements for use in the demanding business critical 24x7 operating environment. There are 11 patent applications filed with seven patents pending in this new I-Bus Continuon™ product family. Not only providing the ease of management and service of a system consisting of heterogeneous types of blades, the I-Bus Continuon™ is the stepping stone to Infini-Availability™ blade server platform.

Johni Chan is President and CEO of I-Bus Corporation. Johni has more than 15 years of high-tech industry experience. He was previously President and CTO of AdStor Corporation, Vice President of Engineering at IBus/Phoenix, Director of Engineering at FORCE Computers Inc., and has held numerous senior management positions at IBM. Johni earned his B.S. from Ohio University and his M.S. and D.E. from Stanford University.

For more information visit www.ibus.com or contact: I-Bus Corporate Headquarters 2391 Zanker Road, #380 San Jose, Ca 95131 USA Tel: 408-428-6100 Fax: 408-428-6101 Email:sales@ibus.com I-Bus European Headquarters #6 Chichester Business Park City Fields Way, Tangmere West Sussex, PO20 2LB, UK Tel: +44(0)1243-756300 Fax: +44(0)1243-756301 Email: sales@ibus.co.uk I-Bus France B.P 45 Valbonne 06901 Sophia Antipolis CEDEX, France Tel: +33(0)493-00-4360 Fax: +33(0)493-00-4369 Email: sales@ibus.com I-Bus Scandinavia Drakegatan 10 – BOX 184 401 23 Goteborg, Sweden Tel: +46(0)31-773-7117 Fax: +460(0)31-773-7075 Email: pry@ibus.com About I-Bus: Founded in 1982, I-Bus is a leading provider of innovative high availability embedded computing solutions, a global supplier of open-standard architecture boards and systems for communications, industrial, enterprise, and military applications.