OpenSFF Enclosure Specification

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2. Enclosure Classes

OpenSFF defines two enclosure classes: Enterprise and Core. An Enterprise Enclosure is one that MUST include all required infrastructure for shared power delivery, internal networking, and centralized management. Any enclosure capable of housing OpenSFF compute nodes that DOES NOT meet all of these requirements is classified as a Core Enclosure.

These classes accommodate a spectrum of use cases, from basic single-node systems to fully managed, multi-node, remote-capable options.

2.1 Enterprise Enclosure

An Enterprise Enclosure is a fully integrated chassis designed for scalable, managed deployments. It provides centralized infrastructure for power distribution, internal networking, and KVM signal routing, all coordinated through a dedicated Management Module.

Enterprise enclosures are intended for edge or remote-managed environments where reliability, centralized control, and field serviceability are essential.

2.1.1 Key Characteristics

To qualify as an Enterprise Enclosure, the following features are REQUIRED:

  • Management Module Slot: Includes a dedicated slot using the 4C+ connector, enabling local or remote KVM access and system management. (See Section 3.2)
  • Shared Power Architecture: Provides centralized power delivery supporting all node and MM slots, with redundancy and hot-swap capability. (See Section 4.1.1)
  • Internal Ethernet Switches: Integrates a switched network connecting all compute nodes and exposing uplinks for external network access. (See Section 6.1)
  • KVM Signal Routing: Routes USB and DisplayPort signals from all nodes to the Management Module for console redirection and switching. (See Section 7)
  • Dual Connector Support: Provides both the Core (4C+) and Enterprise (4C) connectors at each compute node slot to support full signal and power integration.
  • Management Network: Provides an out-of-band network using USB-to-Ethernet bridges and a private internal switch, accessible by a management module. (See Section 6.2)
  • Configuration Storage: Includes a chassis-mounted SD Card accessible via SPI, used for storing enclosure metadata and Management Module configuration backups. (See Management Module Specification, Section 8)

Enterprise Enclosures enable advanced functionality such as IP-KVM, centralized power control, and out-of-band management — features which are only active when paired with a full-featured Management Module (See Section 3.2).

2.2 Core Enclosure

A Core Enclosure is any OpenSFF Node compatible enclosure that DOES NOT implement the full set of infrastructure features required for Enterprise classification.

Core Enclosures are mechanically compatible with all OpenSFF compute nodes and MAY support one or more nodes. However, they are not required to provide centralized power, shared networking, or chassis-level management.

They MAY include Enterprise-level features (e.g., a Management Module slot, internal Ethernet switching, or a shared PSU), but if any required Enterprise feature is missing, the enclosure MUST be classified as Core.



1. Introduction
3. Enclosure Interfaces