System with fabric modules

Abstract

In some examples, a chassis contains a fabric module and a plurality node modules that are arranged in a plurality of rows. The fabric module is positioned in a space between a first row and a second row of the plurality of rows, and the fabric module is connected to at least two node modules of the plurality of node modules to provide communications connectivity between the at least two node modules, the chassis to accept longitudinal insertion in a longitudinal direction of the plurality of node modules and the fabric module, the fabric module being removable in the longitudinal direction from the chassis by moving the fabric module in the space between the first row and the second row without first removing the node modules in the plurality of rows.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a chassis;   a fabric module contained inside the chassis; and   a plurality node modules contained inside the chassis and arranged in a plurality of rows, the fabric module positioned in a space between a first row and a second row of the plurality of rows, the fabric module physically connected to at least two node modules of the plurality of node modules to provide communications connectivity between the at least two node modules, the chassis to accept longitudinal insertion in a longitudinal direction of the plurality of node modules and the fabric module, the fabric module being removable in the longitudinal direction from the chassis by moving the fabric module in the space between the first row and the second row without first removing the node modules in the plurality of rows.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the chassis is to provide power to the plurality of node modules when held by the chassis. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the node modules include processor modules, and the fabric module provides for coherent processing between at least two of the processor modules. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the chassis is to hold vertically adjacent pairs of horizontal rows of node modules and plural fabric modules. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two node modules comprise processor modules, and the communications connectivity provided by the fabric module between the processor modules provide for coherent processing between the processor modules. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the fabric module is to provide for different groupings of coherent processor modules in response to commands without being removed from the chassis. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the fabric module is to provide for glueless coherent processing between processor modules of different rows of the plurality of rows. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric module is to provide for different groupings of coherent processor modules according to a physical inversion state of the fabric module. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric module is a first fabric module, the system further comprising a second fabric module, and wherein after the first fabric module is removed from the chassis and disconnected from the at least two node modules, the at least two node modules are communicatively connected to the second fabric module to establish communications connectivity with the second fabric module. 
     
     
         10 . A method comprising:
 providing, in a chassis, a fabric module;   providing, in the chassis, a plurality node modules arranged in a plurality of rows;   positioning the fabric module in a space between a first row and a second row of the plurality of rows; and   connecting the fabric module to at least two node modules of the plurality of node modules to provide communications connectivity between the at least two node modules, the chassis to accept longitudinal insertion in a longitudinal direction of the plurality of node modules and the fabric module, the fabric module being removable in the longitudinal direction from the chassis by moving the fabric module in the space between the first row and the second row without first removing the node modules in the plurality of rows.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the first and second rows are vertically adjacent rows of node modules. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising, while the fabric module is in the space, reconfiguring the fabric module so as to change a grouping of node modules. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising communicatively coupling the fabric module and another fabric module through one of the plurality of node modules disposed between the fabric modules. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising after removing a first fabric module of the fabric modules, reinserting, into the chassis, the first fabric module inverted relative to its previous orientation. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 ,
 wherein at least some of the node modules are processor modules, and the fabric module provides for glueless coherent running of a group of the processor modules.