6U rackmount cluster / 6 nodes DC61 : DV Industrial Computer

Good alternative equivalent to traditional 1U rackmount servers. Uses regular Micro-ATX architecture and memory modules while building a high density server cluster. Chassis DC61 is 6U heigh and include 6 independent nodes each equivalent of 1U arcitecture, but with perfect cooling in contrast to 1U chassis. With all this going on, the DC61 is cheaper than six equivalent chassis of 1U. The final product (server) can be even cheaper than equivalent server in chassis of 1U as there is appearance to use regular non-proprietary, therefore low cost, components. Each node has its own power supply, processor, memory and hard drive units. Since subrack does not use a power supply back plane and each tray provides independent power connector for each node, you can remove any node without shutting down other node. Subrack and Trays are specially designed to offer you more flexibility for your application needs. In other words, cluster nodes are completely independent of each other. And more. You can have different configuration of nodes installed in the same subrack. You can mix and match different type of nodes in the same cluster.

Typical uses for the DC61 include high-powered multi-processor clustering, rendering server farms, security analysis, telecoms, as well as a dedicated server and for web hosting.


CPU Cooler installation and airflow direction
click to view large picture click to view large picture	Attention! There is 3.8mm clearance between the bottom and the mboard (look at the picture Riser Card..installation below). But some CPU coolers (especially from Intel® CPU with cooler box) deform mboard as much that can cause short-circuiting of jut out conductors of components i.e. VRM modules or so on. Use a non-conductive self-adhesive bumpone (3M-SJ-5076) to prevent the mboard from short-circuiting (look at the left photo). Stick the bumpon on the bottom under CPU (the chassis has four rectangular holes there) but aside the possible soldered SMD components on the mboard. Install the CPU as instructed in manuals. Please remember to apply the thermal grease on the CPU, otherwise the CPU will overheat. The CPU is cooled from a low profile active (heatsink with fan) cooler which has been blown both by blast from its own fan and by blast from subrack fans. Also remember that the subrack fans and tray fans exhaust air from the DC61 chassis. If your CPU cooler blows in appointed direction then it must be installed in a way that it blows in the same direction as other DC61 fans. Leave airflows inside the DC61 tray free from wires, memory modules etc. Slightly bend the motherboard power connector's wiring (as shown left) to ensure a better fit. Do not bend these wires when the connector is plugged into the motherboard. Doing so will damage the motherboard. Repeat for 12V auxiliary power cable. Put all cable ties down to minimize airflow resistance. Adjust the airflows of cool and warm air outside of the DC61 subrack with corresponding airflows inside the DC61.
Low profile I/O card installation
click to view large picture	More and more card manufacturers are reducing the size of add-on cards to be compatible with the low-profile PCI (PCIe) standard. Unfortunately the DC61 tray does not fit a standard low-profile card in full measure. The add-on card should be 52.5mm height and lower while a standard low-profile card can be up to 72mm height. In oder to install add-on card the first step is to replace the metal bit (bracket) at the end of the card. The one supplied with the card will not fit into a DC61 tray. Of course, you can cut excess part away and drill mount hole in standard bracket; at the same time we provide a smaller version brackets for the most popular cards. In this case it is easily replaced only with the help of screwdriver. The DC61 tray front panel provides 3 low-profile card slots. The add-on card can be plugged into position-7, position-6, position-5 on the Micro-ATX system board (counting from the slot farthest from the CPU starting from 4). Note! Position-4 is not available for use. Also, you should cutout some metal connection straps on the back side of chassis by nipper. You should cutout only those connection straps that would interfere with panel connectors. To make it easier, the connector zone of tray front side has been made netlike.
Full-height I/O card installation with Riser Card PCI (1R5L) or PCIe (1U5L-e1, 1U5L-e4)
click to view large picture click to view large picture click to view large picture	Only one full-height card can be installed in DC61 tray using riser card. Riser cards 1R5L (PCI), 1U5L-e1 (PCIe x1) and 1U5L-e4 (PCIe x4) are used to change the insert direction of I/O card to the slot of motherboard by 270 degrees. The I/O card is plugged into the riser card and resides parallel with the motherboard. The PCI riser card can be plugged only into the fixed positions on the motherboard. It is important to consider this when selecting a motherboard. Picture at the left shows the slots location on a 4-slots standard Micro-ATX form factor board (starting from the left counting from the 4): PCI (PCIe) slot-4, slot-5, slot-6 and PCIe (or AGP) slot-7. The riser card 1R5L, 1U5L-e1 or 1U5L-e4 has a slot at the necessary height and should be attached to position-6, position-5 or position-4 on the system board (counting from the slot farthest from the CPU starting from 4-th). You can't attache the full-height card to the position-7 because of CPU presence. Keep in mind that your motherboard should have PCI (PCIe) slot at required position in order to provide riser card plugging in required position. I/O card should be fastened in chassis with an additional holder (look at the photo below). First fasten holder with a screw and a nut M3. The holder you have to install outside back panel in one of three holes (the holder on the photo is installed in the middle hole). Install riser card in the slot and then install and fasten I/O card. Also, keep in mind a safe space between components on both surfaces of I/O card and the rest components of your system (especially between CPU cooler or memory modules). Use a non-conductive self-adhesive bumpone to prevent the I/O card from short-circuiting with components of your system or elements of the chassis. Riser card is supplied as option, but it is advisable to order required riser card together with chassis.
Cooling Fan Fast Swapping
click to view large picture	Cooling fan service in subrack
Installation into Rack
click to view large picture	420..440mm
click to view large picture	498..518mm
click to view large picture	560..580mm
click to view large picture	637..657mm
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