Patent attributes
A flexible architecture for installing electronic equipment in a data center rack is provided, in the form of a virtual chassis. The virtual chassis simultaneously accepts multiple types of equipment items (e.g., computing devices, storage devices, communication devices) and/or multiple versions of a given type of equipment item, by altering the physical configuration of the chassis. As a result, cells or spaces of multiple different form-factors may be defined for receiving the equipment. Also, services such as data and power may be pre-attached to a virtual chassis so that when a computer server or other item is installed, it is automatically connected to the services without separate effort. One or more electronic equipment items, when installed in a cell of the chassis, may mate automatically with multiple data connectors and/or power connectors.