US Patent 7444532 System and method for autonomous power sequencing

A system and method are provided for autonomous power sequencing in a computer system. The system and method includes at least one server module such as a server blade or a server brick. A midplane receives the server modules and provides a unique address for each server module based on the location of the server modules on the midplane. The server modules each include an address module having a timer, the address module operable to obtain the unique address from the midplane and calculate a start-up time for the associated server module based on the unique address for each server module. A power supply sequences power to the server modules based on the start-up times for the server modules. Therefore, the server modules power up in a sequence instead of simultaneously and without the aid of a central controller controlling the sequencing of the powering of the server modules.