Liquid cooling distribution in a modular electronic system

An apparatus comprising:

• a coolant distribution module for insertion into a chassis of a network device in a first orientation for delivering coolant to one or more modules inserted into the chassis in a second orientation orthogonal to said first orientation, the coolant distribution module comprising:
• a plurality of internal connectors for connection to said one or more modules;
• and
• distribution lines for delivering coolant to said plurality of internal connectors.

A method comprising:

• receiving coolant at a coolant distribution module inserted into a slot of a chassis in a first orientation;
• delivering coolant to a plurality of modules inserted into a plurality of slots in the chassis in a second orientation orthogonal to said first orientation for cooling components on the modules;
• and
• delivering coolant to a second coolant distribution module inserted into one of the slots in said second orientation for delivering the coolant to a plurality of modules inserted into slots of the chassis in said first orientation.

A method comprising:

• receiving coolant at a coolant distribution module inserted into a slot of a chassis in a first orientation;
• delivering coolant to a plurality of modules inserted into a plurality of slots in the chassis in a second orientation orthogonal to said first orientation for cooling components on the modules;
• and
• air cooling one or more modules inserted into the chassis and configured only for air cooling.

An apparatus comprising:

• a chassis comprising a plurality of slots for receiving a plurality of modules, a first group of the modules received in a first orientation and a second group of the modules received in a second orientation orthogonal to said first orientation;
• and
• a coolant distribution module inserted into one of said plurality of slots in said first orientation for distributing coolant to at least one of the modules in said second group of the modules;
• wherein the coolant distribution module comprises internal connectors for mating with connectors on said second group of the modules receiving the coolant, the internal connectors offset from a location of an orthogonal connector on an air cooled module.

An apparatus comprising:

• a chassis comprising a plurality of slots for receiving a plurality of modules, a first group of the modules received in a first orientation and a second group of the modules received in a second orientation orthogonal to said first orientation;
• and
• a coolant distribution module inserted into one of said plurality of slots in said first orientation for distributing coolant to at least one of the modules in said second group of the modules;
• wherein the coolant distribution module comprises internal connectors for mating with connectors on said second group of the modules receiving the coolant, the internal connectors operable to move between a recessed position when mating with an air cooled module and an engaged position when mating with the connectors on said second group of the modules.