MODULAR, SCALABLE, EXPANDABLE, RACK-BASED INFORMATION HANDLING SYSTEM

摘要

A modular, scalable and expandable (MSE) rack-based information handling system (RIHS) includes: a rack assembly having a frame that defines: a front bay chassis with height, depth and width dimensions that enable insertion of a plurality of different sizes of IT gear; and a rear bay that accommodates power and cooling components to support operation of the different sizes of IT gear. The power and cooling for the IT gear are provided from the rear bay and are separate from and independent of the IT gear installed within the front bay chassis. The rack assembly further includes a power and management chassis in which is inserted a power and management module having power and management components located thereon to provide rack-level power and management. A modular configuration of fan modules are inserted within fan receptacles within the rear bay to provide block level cooling of adjacent blocks of IT gear.

主权项

1. A modular, scalable/expandable (MSE) rack assembly for physically supporting information technology (IT) gear of one or more information handling systems (IHSes), the IT gear having different dimensions of at least one of height, width, and depth, the rack assembly comprising:
a rack chassis comprising a plurality of interconnected panels forming a volumetric space having a front section and a rear section, both with opposing side panels forming a front access space and a rear access space, respectively, between corresponding opposing side panels; a plurality of guides located within interior surfaces of the opposing side panels at the front section, the plurality of guides running in a lateral direction along the front access space towards the rear section; and one or more block chasses each having a frame that provides a block height, which enables insertion of at least one layer of N fully functional IT gears within the block chassis, the frame defining a corresponding information technology (IT) bay, having a total width that enables attachment to opposing guides on the opposing side panels and configured to support insertion of one or more IT gears having at least a first size dimension selectable from among multiple supported height, width, and depth dimensions ranging from a fractional or partial width, height and depth dimension to a full height, full width, and full depth dimension of IT gear insertable into the particular block chassis, wherein the block chassis is physically inserted into the front section of the rack chassis and held in place by at least two opposing guides on the opposing side panels.