Update 9.9
over 2 years ago – Fri, Nov 03, 2023 at 02:06:52 AM

Latest Shipping Updates

It's time for the next and last V9 update. Everyone is waiting for the 'shipment has started' message and the updated final schedule. We reserved the upcoming 10.0 update post for it! The very first team cluster shipments will go out manually on Black Friday. After that, the first test shipment from our 3PL provider will happen in the first week of December, following the order history. This week, we'll get the last fan-unit validation prototypes, check the cases, and confirm them for mass production. That will be finished within two weeks.

How many Blades are in Production?

About production, people on Discord asked about the number of blades to be made. The current production run includes a total of 12,000 blades. Of those, around 40% are Dev versions, 10% are TPM versions, and 50% are basic blades. These will be made in batches of about 4,000 pieces each. To cover Q1 early next year, we'll produce an additional 12,000 compute blades, fan units, and accessories.

The first production run includes Kickstarter orders, which will be given priority, along with "big orders" from companies and universities. The next production wave, starting early next year, will focus on B2B orders and distributors. We've chosen the first set of distributors in the EU (DE, CH, E), US (NY), and India. They'll announce details as per our agreement, so you'll need to wait for that info, and available on our website later this year.

Computeblade-Agent

Now, for the exciting part! Once you have your blades, we're working on updated documentation and tools to help you get started easily. This will give you access to all blade features, no matter your experience level. Matthias has done amazing work with developing the Computeblade-Agent. Please share your thoughts on Discord to make the onboarding process as smooth as possible. 

We'll keep you updated on the first shipments.

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Your Uptime Team

Update 9.8
over 2 years ago – Mon, Oct 23, 2023 at 11:55:57 AM

Hello Bladers,

Addresses are now locked, and the countdown to our team cluster shipment is underway with our shipping providers standing by. We've received numerous inquiries about the production process, particularly concerning the fan units, cases, and general accessories. Rest assured, we haven't overlooked these aspects. We anticipate receiving new fan unit validation prototypes next week to confirm the recent changes regarding connector and component placement. There's no need to worry; the PCBs themselves were kicked-off on the same day as the blade PCBs and will arrive simultaneously. The only pending item to validate and confirm is the assembly and adjustment of the new blade connector. This means that next week, we'll be ready to finalize the remaining adjustments for all cases. We'll determine whether the issue of the 0.8mm shift has been resolved, which it should be. The case manufacturers are already at a stage where they can produce within the required timeframe to adhere to the shipment dates outlined in our previous update.

Furthermore, you may have already seen our design prototype for the Uptime Orchestrator tool on Discord. We would be thrilled if you could join the active conversation on Discord, where you can share your thoughts, ideas, and the features you'd like to see in the future. Your input will be invaluable in helping us release a targeted initial version of the Uptime Orchestrator tool, which will benefit all of you. This tool is designed for users of every experience level, from streamline onboarding to automate daily routines. Here's a list of the main features covered in this design prototype:

1. Network-Based OS Installation: Designed to handle installations and updates for multiple blades simultaneously, eliminating hassles in large setups.
    
2. Package Installations: Facilitate the installation of blades in predefined packages tailored to specific use cases, such as lab experiments, smart home setups, hosting environments, and file servers.
    
3. Integrated Command Line: Switch seamlessly between the UI and command line at any moment.
    
4. Kubernetes Cluster Management: Robust tools to create, manage, and monitor Kubernetes clusters, streamlining the deployment and operation of containerized applications across Compute Blades.
    
5. Module Compatibility: Works seamlessly with additional modules like TPM, RTC, Fan Units, and others, ensuring that the Compute Blades are equipped with the necessary tools for optimal operation.
    

So, as mentioned, please join the discussion on Discord if you haven't already. We want to build this tool for you! Additionally, we will keep you updated as soon as the fan unit prototypes are verified and the first blades of the team cluster level are packed.

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Your Uptime Team

Update 9.7 - Locking Addresses
over 2 years ago – Tue, Oct 10, 2023 at 08:40:03 PM

Hi Bladers!

Another update cycle has flown by, and our update will primarily cover preparations for shipment. We're thrilled to announce that we have received the green light from all channels to produce blades in large quantities, bringing us one step closer to delivery. Now, it's time to discuss locking in your addresses.

We will be locking all addresses one week from today, on Wednesday, October 18th. To ensure a smooth shipping process, we need your assistance. Please log in once more to your BackerKit account and double-check your shipping address.

Our initial phase will focus on team cluster fulfillment. However, to streamline the final stage of the delivery process, we will lock all addresses next week and hand them over to our 3PL shipping partners. This way, they can prepare for all upcoming shipments, and we won't waste any more time in this regard.

As we mentioned in our recent Discord update, we anticipate that the team cluster blades will finish production in approximately 4.5 weeks, with a worst-case scenario of 8.5 weeks. We can't wait to see the blades in your hands and learn more about your projects.

Additionally, we'd like your help with an initial tool we're working on. In a few days, you'll see some ideas for it on Discord. Please share your thoughts, ideas, and unpolished feedback to help us develop a useful solution for all of us.

Thank you for your ongoing support, and we look forward to delivering your blades soon!

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Your Uptime Team

Update 9.6
over 2 years ago – Fri, Sep 29, 2023 at 12:49:24 PM

Hello, everyone!

Continuing what was covered in the previous update.

I have completed the testing, and everything went great. Technically, there are no complaints about Blade. It showed stable performance with Raspberry Pi CM4 overclocked to 2350 GHz and air-cooled (pibenchmarks SSD test result). 

I used FPGA to create sufficient load on the power supply systems, and everything went well with it as well.

As I feared, a small problem was discovered. The Fan Unit connector on the blade is 0.8mm higher than its second part on the Fan Unit. This is due to the fact that I soldered the prototypes by hand and, unfortunately, placed the connector differently than the robot does.

Nevertheless, we sent all the blades for the Uptime Lab Team Cluster into production. The housings for this enclosure will be made on a 3D printer (using SLS technology). These enclosures will take into account the connector offset, and everything will be fine. If you want to use these blades in future enclosures (particularly metal one), the connector can be bent a bit without damaging it.

I think it will be worth it. In parallel, we'll adjust the PCB for the Compute Blade, and they'll go into production soon as well. 

All last week, I have been working on the enclosure and testing it on the FDM printer. I think it works great. The blade's edge is machined differently than it was for the RC2 and glides perfectly on the enclosure without any additional modification. I will share the results soon and order a sample made on the SLS printer.

P.S. As for the release of the Raspberry Pi 5, it won't affect our plans in any way. Unfortunately, I don't have any information about the CM5, but following the example of the past, I don't expect it to be released in the next year. However, anything can happen.

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Ivan

Update 9.5
over 2 years ago – Mon, Sep 18, 2023 at 12:57:33 PM

Good news, everyone!

The news may be late, but it's excellent news.

I received a test batch from Compute Blade v1 today.

These are already fully ready for mass production Compute Blades. 

They will have several changes along with silkscreen compared to the Compute Blade RC2. And they're also being produced in a new factory that I've been talking about on Instagram (pinned story).

As for the changes, I'll add the full list to the Compute Blade Changelog later this week. You can look at it now; it's pretty impressive when you look at it since the concept.

But the most important changes are:

• New PoE module, Silvertel Ag5400. According to the manufacturer - "The Ag5400 is now the Highest Efficiency IEEE 802.3AT Module in the world". 
• The compute module mount has been changed, as well as the connectors. This added 1.5mm of clearance. And now you will be able to use, I hope, any Raspberry Pi CM4 clones (a full list will be in the documentation one day) 

I've been testing out the new blades today almost online on X (Twitter) 

And so far, I haven't revealed any problems. In the next few days, mechanical things like installation in the enclosures and connection to the Fan Unit will have to be checked. Since I soldered prototypes by hand, there may be discrepancies in port positions compared to factory assembly. We'll see; I'll post updates on social media and Discord.

So you probably have one question: "WHEN?"

If no modifications are needed, I think within a month for orders that only include the Compute Blade. For orders with a Fan Unit and enclosures, it can take about six weeks because the Fan Unit required modifications, which resulted in the need to order new PCBs.

I'll try to give a more or less realistic estimate in the next update. But if the blade itself requires PCB modifications for some reason, it may cause a delay of another 3-6 weeks. But let's not get ahead of ourselves.

I am extremely sorry that we have faced all these delays. Fortunately, now the project's completion path is clear and straightforward, and all the stages have been negotiated and planned. The bills have been paid, and there is a sufficient financial reserve. According to the test results it will be clear what to expect and what to adjust. 

Stay tuned!

P.S. In the picture, you can see the metal enclosure, which definitely needs tweaking, but even in prototype form, it will work.

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Ivan