

Raiding the Minibar
41 snips Apr 1, 2025
Ian Sobering and Doug Wibben from Oxide dive into the fascinating journey of the Minibar hardware rig, designed to connect to the Oxide server. They share amusing mishaps, like connector stabbing accidents, and the intense troubleshooting that comes with programming compute sleds. The duo also discusses the complexities of design transitions from Orcad to Altium, emphasizing the importance of user-friendly interfaces and innovative engineering solutions. Listeners will enjoy the humorous anecdotes while gaining insights into the challenges of hardware development.
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Early Manufacturing Challenges
- Oxide faced challenges testing sleds in racks during early manufacturing.
- Swapping components and cables was time-consuming and risked damage, exemplified by a rotated backplane connector incident.
Importance of Early Testing
- Testing sleds at the programming station improves troubleshooting and reduces rack wear.
- Knowing each sled's test history streamlines debugging and builds confidence.
The Dongle Desire
- Oxide engineers desired dongles to access interfaces behind backplane connectors.
- This need arose from limitations in accessing management networks and testing ignition.