Server-on-module brings server-grade functionality and performance to COM Express-based computing designs

Congatec offers the PICMG release of the COM Express 3.0 specification. The revision 3.0 of the specification formally integrates the new Type 7 pinout type which is the basis for the company’s server-on-modules. The official release fires the starting shot for the race to a new generation of server designs based on standardized server-on-modules. These products enable the most cost efficient server designs and performance upgrades across all existing and upcoming generations of server class processors and sockets from any vendor. Modular server designs can be started instantly as modules, carrier boards, starter kits, design guides and circuit schematics are readily available. "Server farms need constant upgrades to improve the performance and energy efficiency per rack. With the new server-on-modules, operators can execute these upgrades by simply exchanging standardized modules instead of complete and costly server boards or even rack systems," explains Christian Eder, editor of the PICMG COM Express 3.0 specification and director marketing at Congatec, the benefits of server-on-modules for cloudlets, edge and fog severs as well as any kind of data center servers tasked with delivering constantly improved rack performance at lower prices. Server-on-modules are also an excellent fit for all the various embedded and IoT server designs in harsh industrial environments where space is restricted and dedicated high-bandwidth interfaces are essential to connect the various controls in the industry 4.0 fields. Here, Server-on-Modules can massively improve design efficiency. This is of major significance for embedded design engineers as recent studies report that they are facing the challenge to constantly manage more projects within a given or even shorter time frame, leading to massive time pressure for executing each project. Server-on-modules can deliver the vital design efficiency improvements by providing an application ready server core instead of only a hand full of individual components.