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Cases for Multiple Single Board Computers?

Posted by Cliff on from the many-computers-one-box dept.

dewboy asks: "We're trying to set up a rack of SBC's (Single Board Computers) that will allow us to plug a certain number of SBC's into a backplane which will provide power. All interfaces (mouse, keyboard, VGA, Enet, etc) are on the faceplates of the cards, so all they really need is power. All we've been able to find so far are chasses that support a single SBC and a (4-20 slot) backplane. What we'd like is a chassis that supports 20 SBC's. Has anyone found anything like this?"

3 of 11 comments (clear)

  1. Computer Telephony gear? by SEWilco · · Score: 2
    As others have mentioned, there are a number of systems with 4-segment passive bus planes. Searches for terms such as "SBC segment passive bus" and "multiple SBC passive case" find them.

    Such devices are also popular for computer telephony, so you can also search for sites which refer to that. But first start with Computer Telephony magazine. They have buyer's guides and related info.

    If you haven't bought the SBCs yet, also consider VME devices...

  2. Power usage by Mark+F.+Komarinski · · Score: 2

    The next spin of Intel chips will take up to 100W of power. Combine that with 25W/PCI card, fan, hard drive, CD-ROM, etc. and you can easily blow a 400W power supply in no time flat.

    And more fun: cooling! At 100W/CPU, you'll need a lot of airflow to keep it below 55C, which is where things like the hard drives start to burn out. And probably the power supply too.

    20CPUs in a single chassis isn't going to happen. 4 is a better possibility, since you can load-share 2 400W power supplies in a 19" rack.
    Given space requirements, you can do two 400W supplies, but probably not many more than that.

    --
    -- Ever notice that fast-burning fuse looks exactly the same as slow-burning fuse? I didn't... (Edgar Montrose)
  3. Re:They are called a rack I believe :P by yiffyfox · · Score: 2

    This isn't solving the problem of housing all the boards in one case all on the same backplane. Using a rack full of boxes isn't always the best solution. Although putting them all on the same backplane isn't much different. Sometimes you just don't need everything that comes with a complete rackmount system. There are products available that take .5u per system, 32 systems in 16u

    I'm curious about this kind of configuration also. Althogh I just want to pack as many cpu's in as small of space as possible and have them all on a fast switched backplane for comunication.

    SBS-BIT3 has some solutions. They have a 20 slot ISA passive backplane that has 4 segments.
    www.sbs-bit3.com

    and some others;
    www.arisecomputer.com
    www.apw-elsol.com
    www.ziatech.com

    good article on cPCI systems and lists some other resources..
    www.telecomlibrary.com

    .02$