WO2017127070A1

WO2017127070A1 - Cage to house a storage device

Info

Publication number: WO2017127070A1
Application number: PCT/US2016/014104
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tim KO; Joseph Wang; Cheng Yang Chen
Original assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development Lp
Priority date: 2016-01-20
Filing date: 2016-01-20
Publication date: 2017-07-27

Abstract

An example consistent with the present disclosure includes a cage to house a storage device. The cage can be mounted within the server, and the cage can include a cage enclosure. The cage enclosure can include cage columns and side cage panels, wherein the side cage panels include a plurality of flanges. The plurality of flanges can be punched from the side cage panels. The cage can also include a plurality of stops. The plurality of stops are punched from the side cage panels, and the plurality of stops are to prevent further movement of a storage device within the cage enclosure.

Description

CAGE TO HOUSE A STORAGE DEVIC

BACKGROUND

[0001] A server is a computing device that typically includes a disk subsystem that has several storage drives, such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or solid state drive (SSD), that appear as a single drive. A Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks (RAID) setup is often used to combine a number of storage drives in a server, and help protect against data loss if a particular storage drive fails. Many servers include hot-swappable and hot-pluggable storage drives that can be removed and exchanged as required or desired.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0002] Certain examples are described in the following detailed description and in reference to the drawings, in which:

[0003] FIG. 1 is an example perspective view of a computing device with an enclosure including a cage in accordance with examples of the present techniques;

[0004] FIG. 2 is a diagram of an example server that includes a cage for housing storage devices;

[0005] FIG. 3A is an inside perspective view of an example cage within a computing device in accordance with examples of the present techniques;

[0006] FIG. 3B is a perspective view of an example flange and stop;

[0007] FIG. 3C is an expanded perspective view of an example flange and stop;

[0008] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an example storage device carrier; and

[0009] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an example of a method for forming a cage to secure a storage device within a server.

[0010] The same numbers are used throughout the disclosure and the figures to reference like components and features. Numbers in the 100 series refer to features originally found in FIG. 1 ; numbers in the 200 series refer to features originally found in FIG. 2, and so on. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EXAMPLES

[0011] in some servers, processors and system memory are typically coid- pluggabie, but it is common for high-end servers to feature hot-plug capability of these components. More advanced servers utilize many different storage devices that are organized in server bays for purposes of cost-effective computing, cooling, and coordination efficiency. If an HDD that is capable of hot swapping needs to be replaced, the server will not need to be shut down for maintenance. A RAID controller is typically used to restore or rebuild the RAID array of HDDs when a hot- pluggable storage device is replaced.

[0012] Hot plugging and hot swapping of computing device components like storage devices generally describes the functions of inserting or replacing the computing device components without the need to shut down the computing device. More specifically, hot plugging describes the addition of components that would expand the computing device without interruption to the operation of the device, hot swapping describes replacing components without significant interruption to the device. A cold-pluggable computer component is one that has a computing device powered down to add or remove the component, whereas a hot-pluggable computer component can be added or removed to the computer device without the necessity of powering down the computing device. As discussed, a server typically permits hot-plugging and hot-swapping of various components. In addition, a hot-swap RAID operation typically requires a RAID controller card. A server can include a server enclosure, and the server enclosure can use a cage design to house a number of storage devices.

[0013] The common design used to house drives in a range of server systems includes implementing more than one type of metal to support a storage drive and keep it in place inside a server. A server cage or simply a "cage" can be used as the housing for storage drives within a server. Typically, there are two types of metals used in the cage for securing the position of an HDD, for example. The separate metals usually differ in composition and often in relative size to one another. The use of multiple metals in server cages usually includes stainless steel as one example metal. Stainless steel can be a relatively expensive factor of production, especially when accounting for the scale of large manufacturing operations for server systems of all sizes. The present techniques improve upon the common design for storage drive housing within a server by using the parent material of the cage itself to mount a storage drive inside the server, while permitting efficient hot-plug and hot- swap procedures. The cage described herein is useful for mounting a storage device effectively within an enclosure of a computing device by using the parent material of the cage itself to help mount and secure the storage device, thereby saving on cost while effectively keeping the storage device in place.

[0014] As disclosed herein, for an example of a cage for mounting within a server, the cage can include a cage enclosure. The cage enclosure can include cage columns and side cage panels, wherein the side cage panels include a number of flanges. In examples, the plurality of flanges are punched from the side cage panels. The cage can include a storage device, wherein the storage device is mounted within the cage on a set of flanges of the plurality of flanges punched into the side cage panels and at a stop punched into the side cage panels. The cage including the flanges, the stops, the cage columns, and the side cage panels are all made of the same metal or piece of metal,

[0015] FIG. 1 is an example perspective view of a computing device 100 with an enclosure 102 including a cage 104 in accordance with examples of the present techniques. The computing device 100 can be a density optimized server, personal computer, or other computing device, for example. The enclosure 102 may include an upper frame and a lower frame parallel to the upper frame. In examples, the enclosure 102 is a density optimized server enclosure. The cage 104 is mountable to the enclosure 102 and can be connected to the enclosure 102. The cage 104 may include four vertical cage columns 106. The term "vertical," as used herein, may refer to a directional orientation that extends in a plane substantially

perpendicular to a reference surface, such as the bottom of the enclosure 102. The term "substantially" is defined as being largely but not wholly of that which is specified.

[0016] The cage 104 may include side cage panels 108. In examples, one or more side cage panels 108 can be configured to insert and house different components. The side cage panel 108 can be punched by a press, specifically milled or precisely drilled, for example, in order to create a flange 1 10. The flange 1 10 is made of the same material as the side cage panel 108. The flange 1 10 may be used to guide a computing component into the cage 104, for example, a storage device 1 12 such as an HDD or SSD. In examples, the flange 1 10 is configured to mount the storage device 1 12 within the cage 104 by using a minimal amount of material, and while occupying a minimal amount of space within the enclosure 102. The storage device 1 12 may include any number of devices, such as a solid-state drive, a hard disk drive, an optical drive, a flash drive, an array of drives, or any combinations thereof.

[0017] The flange 1 10 can form a slot for the insertion of a storage device 1 12. Multiple storage devices 1 12 can be inserted into the cage 104 using flanges 1 10 that have been punched out from the material, such as a metal or metai alloy, of the cage 104 at various levels. The design of the flange 1 10 may eliminate an added piece of material, such as stainless steel, to form the flange for mounting and keeping a storage device 1 12 in place. The flange 1 10 uses the parent material of the cage 104 and thus can be more economical.

[0018] The computing device 100 can include various computing components 1 14, including any number of electronic devices that facilitate the operation of the computing device 100. Additional components within the computing device 100 could include power sources, power converters, input/output ports, switches, fans, pumps or may simply be empty space, or where various wiring and other

connections are stored. In examples, the computing components 1 14 can include a processor that is configured to execute stored instructions, as well as a memory device that stores instructions that are executable by the processor to implement the techniques described herein. The processor can be a single core processor, a dual- core processor, a multi-core processor, a computing cluster, or the like. The processor may be coupled to the memory device by a bus 1 16, where the bus 1 16 may be a communication system that transfers data between various components of the computing device 100. The computing components 1 14 can be connected to one or more storage device 1 12 in the cage 104 through the bus 1 16, for example, or other suitable connection.

[0019] In examples, the enclosure 102 can be a four-sided structure including a front surface, a rear surface, and side surfaces. In examples, the enclosure 102 may include side panels 1 18 located at the side surfaces of an example computing device 100. in some examples, the enclosure 102 may also include a top panel 120. in examples, the side panels 1 18 and top panel 120 of the enclosure 102 can be removed to permit access to the inside of the computing device 100 and the various components described herein. The storage devices 1 12 and the various computing components 1 14 located within the enclosure 102 may be heat-generating computing components. To maintain reliability and prevent equipment failure, the enclosure 102 may use a cooling system to maintain temperature by dissipating the heat generated by the computing components using ambient temperature air.

[0020] The block diagram of FIG. 1 is not intended to indicate that the computing device 100 is to include all of the components shown in FIG. 1 . Further, any number of additional components may be included within the computing device 100, depending on the details of the cage 104 design and the hot-swap and hot-plug requirements and accessibility of the storage devices 1 12. For example, the items discussed are not limited to the functionalities mentioned, but the functions could be done in different places, or by different devices, if at all.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a diagram of an example server 200 that includes a cage 104 for housing storage devices 1 12. Like numbered items are as described with respect to FIG. 1 . in examples, the server 200 can include internal computing components 202 such as a processor, memory, and a wireless local area network (WLAN) and a network interface controller (NIC) that may also be linked to the processor. The WLAN may link the server 200 to a network through a radio signal, for example. Similarly, the NIG may link the server to the network through a physical connection, such as a cable. Either network connection allows the server to network with resources, such as the Internet, printers, fax machines, email, instant messaging applications, and with files located on storage servers. In examples, the server 200 may also include a RAID controller as an internal computing component 202 to facilitate hot-plug and hot-swap capabilities of the storage devices 1 12 mounted on the flanges of the cage 104.

[0022] FIG. 3A is an inside perspective view of an example cage 104 within a computing device in accordance with examples of the present techniques. Like numbered items are as described with respect to FIG. 1. The cage 104 is configured to house a storage device such as an HDD or SSD and is mounted inside a computing device or server, such as the computing device 100 of FIG. 1 or server 200 of FIG. 2. As illustrated, the cage 104 shows a closer view of a side cage panel 108, a vertical cage column 106, and the example flange 1 10 to securely mount a storage device. The flange 1 10 can be made from the same material as the cage 104.

[0023] The cage 104 can also include a stop 302 located at the end of and in line with the flange 1 10. The stop 302 can be made by being punched from the as the side cage panel 108. The stop 302 is an angled guide used to stop a motion of a storage device 1 12 inserted into the cage 104 and slid along the flange 1 10. The stop 302 may prevent the storage device from being inserted too far into the cage 104. The stop 302 can be configured as a protruding groove in the side of the cage 104, and shaped, for example, at an angle of about 95° at the end of the flange 1 10. in examples, the stop 302 may be rounded to form, for example, a curved edge. The stop 302 can be configured and bent at an angle of about 80° to 100°, for example.

[0024] The stop 302 and flange 1 10 can permit accessibility for a storage device in the server, without having to utilize screws or an additional means to fasten the storage device in place. In examples, the storage devices are wedged into place within an example cage 104 through use of sheet metal springs to provide a better fit of a particular storage device within the cage 104.

[0025] The material of the cage 104, the vertical cage column 106, side cage panel 108, flange 1 10, and stop 302 may include a durable metal material such as a commercial grade steel, for example. A metal forming technique, for example, drilling, punching, or the like, may form the flange 1 10 and stop 302. The flange 1 10 and stop 302 can include perforations or slots that are punched into the side cage panel 108 and formed to specifically mount a storage device in place within a server. The flange 1 10 or perforation may extend along the horizontal length of the side cage panels 108 of the cage 104 and along the vertical length of the front side-face, for example. In examples, the length of the flange can be, for example, 85.7 millimeters long to conform with the specification of many cages for storage devices that are currently in use. In examples, the length of the flange can be in a range of about 75 to 95 millimeters. In examples, the width of the flange can be 4.67 millimeters wide to conform with cage designs typically used in modern servers, in examples, the width of the flange can be in a range of about 3 to 8 millimeters.

[0026] FIG. 3B is a perspective view of an example flange 1 10 and stop 302. The flange 1 10 and stop 302 can include perforations or slots that are punched into the side cage panel 108 and formed to specifically mount, for example, a storage device in place within a cage 104 in a server. FIG. 3C is an expanded perspective view of an example flange 1 10 and stop 302. The stop 302 can be to prevent further movement of a storage device, or an example blank or module to carry a storage device, within the cage 104.

[0027] The example cage 104, flange 1 10, and stop 302 illustrated in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C are not intended to indicate that the cage 104 is to include ail of the components shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C. Further, any number of additional components may be included, depending on the details of the cage 104 design. For example, the items discussed are not limited to the functionalities mentioned, but the functions could be done in different places, or by different devices, if at all. A cage 104 can include multiple flanges 1 10 and stops 302 in accordance with the size of the server enclosure and the number of storage devices that may fit within the server enclosure, and in accordance with the vertical length of the cage columns 106. Also, the number of computing components located within the server and the purpose of the server can be used to determine the number of flanges 1 10 and stops 302 used in a cage 104.

[0028] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an example storage device carrier 400. in some examples, the storage device carrier 400 can be used in addition to help secure a storage device 1 12 within a cage. The storage device 1 12 can be inserted into the storage device carrier 400. The storage device carrier 400 can include rotational vibration control springs 402. The rotational vibration control springs 402 can include a contact well and can be made of a sheet metal and made to come in contact with an example cage, providing a more secure fit in some examples.

[0029] The rotational vibration control springs 402 can be used to apply pressure to the side of the cage. The rotational vibration control springs 402, for example, can additionally help keep a storage device 1 12 that is surrounded by the storage device carrier 400 in place on the flanges. In some examples, no external screws or other means of fastening must be removed and added again when plugging and swapping a storage device 1 12. The rotational vibration control springs 402 can provide additional support and help further secure the storage device 1 12 within the cage, for example. The example storage device carrier 400 in FIG. 4 is not intended to indicate that the storage device carrier 400 is to include all of the components shown in FIG. 4. Further, any number of additional components may be included, depending on the details of the storage device carrier 400 and the example cage design discussed herein.

[0030] FIG, 5 is a process flow diagram of an example of a method 500 for forming a cage to secure a storage device within a server. At block 502, side cage panels are disposed between cage columns to form a cage enclosure. The cage columns can include front vertical columns and rear vertical columns. The cage enclosure can also include a top cage panel and bottom cage panel disposed above and below the side cage panels, in some examples, there are two side cage panels used to form the cage enclosure, and the two side cage panels are disposed perpendicularly to the top cage panel and the bottom cage panel.

[0031] At block 504, a number of flanges are punched out of the side cage panels, in examples, a metal forming technique such as drilling, punching, or the like, may form the plurality of flanges. The flanges can be formed from the same material of the cage itself, for example a metal such as stainless steel or other rigid metal material that makes up the cage. A flange is to facilitate the insertion and removal of modules and/or storage devices such as hard disk drives and solid state drives, for example, supporting hot-swap and hot-plug capabilities, in examples, no additional metal or material is used to form the plurality of flanges. In some examples, the flange can be configured to hold a blank that is used as a mechanical placeholder for a modular component. For example, a blank can include a HDD or SSD blank, media drive plates, CPU heat sink assembly blank, rack blanks, an adapter bulkhead plate for a power supply unit (PSU) or peripheral component interconnect (PCI) device, or the like.

[0032] At block 506, a number of stops are punched out of the side cage panels, in examples, a metal forming technique such as drilling, punching, or the like, may form the plurality of stops. The stops can be made to form a rounded slot, or groove that protrudes from the side cage panels, and that is used to specifically mount a number of storage devices in a designated place within a server, so the storage devices stop further movement within the server. The stops can be formed from the same material of the cage itself, for example a metal such as stainless steel or other rigid metal material. In examples, no additional metal or material is used to form the stops. The flanges and stops can create a minimal distance, or minimal sliding clearance distance for the storage devices that allows enough space for the hot swapping of storage devices without impacting surrounding components in the server,

[0033] At block 508, the cage enclosure is mounted within a server. In examples, the cage enclosure can be fastened to a server enclosure in an area of the server that is to house the cage enclosure. At block 510, a number of storage devices are mounted upon the flanges. The storage devices can be connected to the server when the storage devices are inserted in the cage enclosure and mounted on the flanges.

[0034] The method 500 concludes at block 512, where the plurality of storage devices are secured at the stops, in some examples, a storage device carrier can be included with rotational vibration control springs made of sheet metal and used to apply pressure to the side of the cage. The rotational vibration control springs, for example, can additionally help keep the storage device in place on the flanges, in examples, no use of external screws or other means of fastening that must be removed and added again are used when plugging and swapping a storage device, in examples, the method 500 can also include hot plugging and hot swapping the plurality of storage devices into the server without fastening the plurality of storage devices anywhere within the cage enclosure. In various examples described herein, support for a hot plug and hot swap functionality is used to disconnect and reconnect a storage device, for example, to allow the efficient docking and undocking without requiring a screw or other component to secure the storage device in place.

[0035] The process flow diagram in FIG. 5 is not intended to indicate that the method 500 is to include ail of the steps or components described in FIG. 5. Further, the process flow diagram may include fewer or more blocks than what is shown, depending on the details of the specific implementation. The items discussed are not limited to the functionalities mentioned, but the functions could be done in different devices, in different places, or by different structures, if at all.

[0036] While the present techniques may be susceptible to various

modifications and alternative forms, the embodiments discussed above have been shown only by way of example. However, it should again be understood that the techniques is not intended to be limited to the particular examples disclosed herein, indeed, the present techniques include all alternatives, modifications, and

equivalents falling within the true spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A cage to house a storage device, comprising:

a cage enclosure, wherein the cage enclosure comprises cage columns and side cage panels;

a plurality of flanges, wherein the plurality of flanges are punched from the side cage panels, and wherein the storage device is mounted on the plurality of flanges; and

a plurality of stops, wherein the plurality of stops are punched from the side cage panels, and wherein the plurality of stops are to prevent further movement of the storage device within the cage enclosure,

2. The cage of claim 1 , wherein the cage, the cage columns, the side cage panels, the plurality of flanges, and the plurality of stops are comprised of the same metal.

3. The cage of claim 1 , wherein the storage device is hot-plugged or hot- swapped from a computing device that supports the cage.

4. The cage of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of stops protrude from the side cage panels and are shaped at about a 95° angle, and wherein the plurality of stops are located at one end of the plurality of flanges.

5. The cage of claim 1 , wherein a stop of the plurality of stops is to prevent a storage device from sliding beyond the stop when the storage device is mounted on a set of flanges of the plurality of flanges.

6. The cage of claim 1 , further comprising a storage device carrier, wherein the storage device carrier surrounds the storage device and comprises a rotational vibration control spring, and wherein the rotational vibration control spring is to apply pressure to the side of the cage.

7. The cage of claim 1 , wherein the storage device is secured on a flange of the plurality of flanges without use of a screw or other means for fastening the storage device.

8. The cage of claim 1 , wherein a flange of the plurality of flanges comprises a width of about 3 to 8 millimeters, and wherein a flange of the plurality of flanges comprises a length of about 75 to 95 millimeters.

9. A density optimized server comprising a cage to house a storage device, wherein the cage comprises:

a flange punched into a side of the cage;

a stop punched into a side of the cage; and

wherein the cage is used in the density optimized server to house a storage device and supports hot-plugging and hot-swapping of the storage device into the density optimized server, and wherein the flange and the stop secure the storage device in the cage without fastening the storage device in place.

10. The density optimized server of claim 9, wherein the flange and the stop are comprised of the same metal as the cage.

1 1 . The density optimized server of claim 9, wherein the flange guides the storage device into place within the density optimized server, and the stop prevents the storage device from sliding beyond the stop.

12. The density optimized server of claim 9, wherein the flange comprises a width of about 3 to 8 millimeters, and wherein the flange comprises a length of about 75 to 95 millimeters.

13. A method for forming a cage to secure a storage device, comprising: disposing side cage panels between cage columns to form a cage enclosure; punching a plurality of flanges out of the side cage panels;

punching a plurality of stops out of the side cage panels; mounting the cage enclosure within a server;

mounting a plurality of storage devices upon the plurality of flanges; and securing the plurality of storage devices at the plurality of stops.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the cage enclosure, the plurality of flanges, and the plurality of stops are comprised of the same material.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising hot plugging and hot swapping the plurality of storage devices into the server without fastening the plurality of storage devices in place within the cage enclosure.