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limulus_compute_blades [2021/05/04 15:08] brandonm [Design Details] Spelling, punctuation, case, word, phrasing, and spacing fixes |
limulus_compute_blades [2021/05/04 15:23] (current) brandonm [Conclusion] Word and punctuation fixes |
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====Physical Configuration/ | ====Physical Configuration/ | ||
- | Blades are easily inserted (or removed) from the standard Limulus case. Power is applied through a blind 12V power connector in the rear of the blade. All other connections are brought to the front of the blade (see Figure Three). These connections include all motherboard IO connectors (e.g. USB ports, processor video (if available), keyboard, mouse, and 1 GbE network), power button and indicator light, two SATA (as eSATA connectors), | + | Blades are easily inserted (or removed) from the standard Limulus case. Power is applied through a blind 12V power connector in the rear of the blade. All other connections are brought to the front of the blade (see Figure Three). These connections include all motherboard IO connectors (e.g. USB ports, processor video (if available), keyboard, mouse, and 1 GbE network), power button and indicator light, two SATA connectors |
===Blade Removal/ | ===Blade Removal/ | ||
- | On Limulus systems, blade removal begins by using the system control GUI (or command line tools) to remove power to the blade. Although blades are hot-pluggable, | + | On Limulus systems, blade removal begins by using the system control GUI (or command line tools) to remove power to the blade. Although blades are hot-pluggable, |
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===Blade Power=== | ===Blade Power=== | ||
- | As mentioned, power is supplied though a single blind 12V (DC) power connector. Using an adaptor, this power rail is converted (efficient DC to DC) to the appropriate voltages required by the motherboard (see Figure Five). Also see [[Powering Up/Down Nodes|Powering Up/Down Nodes]] and [[Node Power Control|Node Power Control]] | + | As mentioned, power is supplied though a single blind 12V (DC) power connector. Using an adaptor, this power rail is converted (efficient DC to DC) to the appropriate voltages required by the motherboard (see Figure Five). Also see [[Powering Up/Down Nodes|Powering Up/Down Nodes]] and [[Node Power Control|Node Power Control]]. |
- | ===Video, Keyboard, | + | ===Video, Keyboard, |
- | All motherboard ports are available on the front of the blade. In general, access to these ports is normally not needed when the system is operating a unified cluster. If these ports are needed and if the blade processor provides an onboard video option (mainly Intel processors), | + | All motherboard ports are available on the front of the blade. In general, access to these ports is normally not needed when the system is operating |
===Cabling=== | ===Cabling=== | ||
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===Blade Size=== | ===Blade Size=== | ||
- | Blades measure 11" x 11.3" x 1.9" (280mm x 287mm x 49mm) as shown in Figure Five. | + | Blades measure 11" x 11.3" x 1.9" (280mm x 287mm x 49mm), as shown in Figure Five. |
{{ : | {{ : | ||
- | **Figure Five:** //μATX blade dimensions with front and top view. Note power connector is in lower right corner.// | + | **Figure Five:** //μATX blade dimensions with front and top view. Note: power connector is in lower right corner.// |
===Blade Enclosures=== | ===Blade Enclosures=== | ||
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-A mate for the power connector | -A mate for the power connector | ||
- | The following CAD drawing is for the enclosure that mounts in the standard Limulus case. Additional | + | The following CAD drawing is for the enclosure that mounts in the standard Limulus case. Additional |
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===Reliability, | ===Reliability, | ||
- | As described above, blades are easily removed by users for return to depot service. Because all blades are powered independently, | + | As described above, blades are easily removed by users for return-to-depot service. Because all blades are powered independently, |
==== 3-D Printed Flexibility==== | ==== 3-D Printed Flexibility==== | ||
- | The use of 3-D printing helps lower construction cost and provides a new level of system flexibility. | + | The use of 3-D printing helps lower construction cost and provides a new level of system flexibility. |
====Environmental==== | ====Environmental==== | ||
- | Limulus systems are designed to work in non-data center environments (Edge Computing). The Limulus 2.0 μATX blades are designed to run quietly (equipped with efficient CPU coolers and fans) and produce low amounts of heat due to the use of lower TDP processors. | + | Limulus systems are designed to work in non-data center environments (Edge Computing). The Limulus 2.0 μATX blades are designed to run quietly (equipped with efficient CPU coolers and fans) and produce low amounts of heat due to the use of lower-TDP processors. |
Blades are designed to be used in close quarters in ventilated, yet rugged, environments. Other than the processor cooler, there are no moving parts. All non-blade storage is external to the blade, allowing multiple removable storage devices to be used with each blade. | Blades are designed to be used in close quarters in ventilated, yet rugged, environments. Other than the processor cooler, there are no moving parts. All non-blade storage is external to the blade, allowing multiple removable storage devices to be used with each blade. | ||
- | A central issue for all computing equipment is the accumulation of dust within the components (due to the need for moving air to cool hot components). Because the blades are designed to use cooler processors, the amount of cooling (moving air) is less than hotter processors. Thus, using a case with proper air filters (such as those used for Limulus systems) blades normally do not experience large amounts of dust accumulation. In addition, should dust find its way to a blade, it is easily removed and cleaned using compressed air. | + | A central issue for all computing equipment is the accumulation of dust within the components (due to the need for moving air to cool hot components). Because the blades are designed to use cooler processors, the amount of cooling (moving air) is less than for hotter processors. Thus, using a case with proper air filters (such as those used for Limulus systems), blades normally do not experience large amounts of dust accumulation. In addition, should dust find its way to a blade, it is easily removed and cleaned using compressed air. |
- | Concerns about 3-D printed parts in a " | + | Concerns about 3-D printed parts in a " |
====Conclusion==== | ====Conclusion==== | ||
- | The Limulus 2.0 μATX blade design provides convenient " | + | The Limulus 2.0 μATX blade design provides convenient " |