Systems and methods of forming a backplane airflow guide

A server system, comprising:

• a motherboard including a processor;
• a network interface device (NID);
• a power supply unit;
• a fan system operatively coupled to the processor to create an airflow throughout the server system as part of a thermal control system;
• at least one hard disk drive (HDD) operatively coupled to the processor;
• a backplane physically separating the at least one HDD from the motherboard, processor, and fan system, the backplane including:
• data and power connectors for connectivity to the at least one HDD;
• a plurality of vent holes formed through the backplane;
• and a duct plate including a plurality of duct plate vent holes with a plurality of duct extensions operating as acoustic dampening devices, where the duct extensions are operatively coupled to the backplane via the duct plate and sized to align with the vent holes at the backplane and the duct extensions protrude away from the vent holes formed through the backplane and the duct plate vent holes where the duct extensions mitigate acoustic energy to the at least one HDD.

A method of forming a server system, comprising forming a server chassis;

• coupling a power supply and a motherboard including a processor to the server chassis;
• mechanically coupling a fan system to the server chassis and operatively coupling the fan system to the power supply;
• mechanically coupling a backplane to the server chassis, the backplane physically separating HDD from the fan system, the backplane including a plurality of vent holes formed therethrough;
• mechanically coupling a hard disk drive (HDD) to the backplane that operatively couples the HDD to the processor;
• coupling an acoustic dampening device including a duct plate having a duct vent hole with a duct extension to the backplane sized to align with at least one of the plurality of vent holes at the backplane, the duct extension protruding away from the at least one of the plurality of vent holes and aligned duct vent hole in the duct plate.