Server retention mechanism

A system for retaining a rack-mounted computing asset in a rack, the system comprising:

• a tray for retaining a computing asset, the tray having a width greater than the width of the computing asset and having at least two opposing panels, each of the at least two opposing panels comprising flat end, each flat end having a planar edge, both flat ends having a thickness, and each flat end curling back onto itself so that its planar edge is facing downwards when the computing asset is secured in the tray and the surface plane of the edge being perpendicular to the flat end;
• a clip for securing the computing asset in the tray, the clip having a bent middle surface and two flat ends, each flat end of the clip having a planar edge and a thickness, the thickness of the clip's flat ends being the same as the thickness of the tray's flat ends, so that when the computing asset is placed in the tray and the clip is secured to the tray the bent middle surface presses against the computing asset and is being deformed away from the tray by the computing asset to prevent the computing asset from being dislodged from the tray;
• a first and second bend for each flat end of the clip, the second bend comprising the flat end of clip curling back onto itself so that its planar edge is facing upwards when the computing asset is secured in the tray and the surface plane of the edge being perpendicular to the flat end, wherein when the clip removably secured to the tray each planar edge of the clip's flat ends mates with the planar edge of the tray's flat ends and their respective thickness match up against each other;
• and
• a housing for the tray and the computing asset, the housing configured to receive the tray and having a width greater than the width of the computing asset.

A method for installing a rack-mounted computing asset on a rack, the method comprising:

• for each of a plurality of rack-mounted computing assets to be installed in a rack:
• placing the computing asset into a tray, the tray having at least two opposing panels, each of the at least two opposing panels comprising a flat end, each flat end having a planar edge, both flat ends having a thickness, and each flat end curling back onto itself so that its planar edge is facing downwards when the computing asset is secured in the tray and the surface plane of the edge being perpendicular to the flat end;
• installing one or more clips onto the tray, wherein each clip has two flat ends that comprise:
• a planar edge,
• a first and second bend, the second bend comprising the flat end of clip curling back onto itself so that its planar edge is facing upwards when the computing asset is secured in the tray and the surface plane of the edge being perpendicular to the flat end, and when the clip is installed onto the tray each planar edge of the clip's flat ends mates with the planar edge of the tray's flat ends and their respective thickness match up against each other, and
• a thickness, the thickness of the clip's flat ends being the same as the thickness of the tray's flat ends, and
• each clip has a bent middle section that when the computing asset is placed in the tray and each clip is installed onto the tray presses against the computing asset and is being deformed away from the tray by the computing asset to prevent the computing asset from being dislodged from the tray;
• and
• fixing the tray within the rack.

A system for retaining a rack-mounted computer server on a rack, the system comprising:

• a server for use in a computing system and having a width;
• a tray for retaining the server, the tray having at least two opposing panels, each of the at least two opposing panels comprising flat end, each flat end having a planar edge, both flat ends having a thickness, and each flat end curling back onto itself so that its planar edge is facing downwards when the server is secured in the tray and the surface plane of the edge being perpendicular to the flat end;
• a plurality of clips for securing the server in the tray, each clip having two flat ends, the two flat ends of the clips being identical and having a planar edge and a thickness, the thickness of the clip's flat ends being the same as the thickness of the tray's flat ends;
• a first and second bend for each flat end of the clips, the second bend comprising the flat end of clips curling back onto itself so that its planar edge is facing upwards when the server is secured in the tray and the surface plane of the edge being perpendicular to the flat end, wherein when the clips removably secured to the tray each planar edge of the clips' flat ends mates with the planar edge of the tray's flat ends and their respective thickness match up against each other;
• a rack for housing the tray and the server;
• and
• a notch on the tray that is configured to align with and insert into an opening in the rack to releasably secure the tray to the rack, the notch configured to be removed from the opening to release the tray from the rack.