Server infrastructure having independent backplanes to distribute power and to route signals

A server backplane comprising:

• a passive power backplane configured to distribute power and comprising a first set of alignment holes, wherein the passive power backplane is without active components, wherein the passive power backplane is provided with a conductive structure to distribute power but the passive power backplane does not route signals, and wherein the passive power backplane has first power delivery pins for providing power to servers, and second power delivery pins;
• a signal backplane separate from the passive power backplane and configured to route interface signals and comprising a second set of alignment holes, wherein the signal backplane has signal connectors and power input elements receiving and electrically connected to the second power delivery pins to provide power to the signal backplane;
• and
• a base bracket having a set of alignment pins configured to be inserted into the first and second sets of alignment holes to align the passive power backplane and the signal backplane, wherein an assembly of the aligned passive power backplane and the signal backplane provides an arrangement of the signal connectors and the first power delivery pins, the arrangement having a first group of the signal connectors and the first power delivery pins along a first side of the signal backplane, and a second group of the signal connectors and the first power delivery pins along a second side of the signal backplane, and where the signal connectors and the first power delivery pins of the arrangement are configured for connection to corresponding connectors of the respective servers.

A server infrastructure comprising:

• a server rack configured to house server blades;
• wherein each of the server blades comprises a blade power connector and a blade signal connector;
• and
• a server backplane comprising:
• a passive power backplane configured to distribute power and comprising a first set of alignment holes, wherein the passive power backplane is without active components, wherein the passive power backplane is provided with a conductive structure to distribute power but the passive power backplane does not route signals, and wherein the passive power backplane has power delivery pins;
• a signal backplane separate from the passive power backplane and configured to route interface signals and comprising a second set of alignment holes, and signal connectors and power input elements receiving and electrically connected to a subset of the power delivery pins to provide power to the signal backplane;
• and
• a set of common alignment pins, wherein each alignment pin has an axis, wherein the set of common alignment pins are inserted into the first set of alignment holes and the second set of alignment holes to align the passive power backplane and the signal backplane about the axis, wherein the set of common alignment pins comprise at least two alignment pins extending from a base bracket,
• wherein the aligned passive power backplane and the signal backplane provide an arrangement of the signal connectors and the power delivery pins, the arrangement having a first group of the signal connectors and the power delivery pins along a first side of the signal backplane, and a second group of the signal connectors and the power delivery pins along a second side of the signal backplane, and wherein the signal connectors and the power delivery pins of the arrangement are connected to corresponding blade signal connectors and blade power connectors of the server blades.