Power budgeting in an information handling system

• US 10,459,733 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2018
• Issued: 10/29/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Jenne, John E., Cross, Kyle E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stoynov, Stefan
• Application Number:
  US15/880,058
• Publication Number:
  US 20190227616A1
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3206 Monitoring of events, devices or parameters that trigger a change in power modality
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2284 by power-on test, e.g. power-on self test [POST]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4401 Bootstrapping security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4403 Processor initialisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4406 Loading of operating system

Abstract

A halt event separates a boot up operation from a run time operation. A controller grants a request from a baseboard management controller for an electrical power associated with a boot-up operation. As the baseboard management controller completes the boot-up operation (such as a power on self-test), the baseboard management controller predicts the electrical power that is required for a run time operation (e.g., executing an operating system). The baseboard management controller is then required or forced to submit a subsequent request for the additional electrical power that is required for the run time operation. The controller compares the electrical power predicted for the run time operation to a power availability from a power supply (such as a safe or maximum operating condition). If the power supply can provide the electrical power predicted to be required during the run time operation, then the controller may permit or authorize a transition from the boot up operation to the run time operation. However, if the power supply cannot provide the electrical power predicted to be required during the run time operation, then the controller denies the run time operation.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

granting a baseboard management controller to enter a boot up procedure that executes a power on self-test;

receiving a request from the baseboard management controller for a run time operation at which an operating system is executed;

predicting a run time value of an electrical power needed by the baseboard management controller for the run time operation;

denying the request from the baseboard management controller for the run time operation in response to the run time value of the electrical power being greater than an available electrical power that is available from a power supply unit; and

executing a halt event that prevents the baseboard management controller from transitioning from the boot up procedure to the run time operation at which the operating system is executed.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising comparing a threshold value to the run time value of the electrical power needed by the baseboard management controller for the run time operation.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining the baseboard management controller at a boot value associated with the boot up procedure.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising granting the baseboard management controller to consume the electrical power needed for the boot up procedure.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a denial via an interface to the baseboard management controller, the denial denying the request from the baseboard management controller for the run time operation.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining the baseboard management controller at a power consumption associated with the boot up procedure.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining the run time value of the electrical power needed by the baseboard management controller based on at least one of a number of central processing units and the number of dual inline memory modules.

8. A server ecosystem, comprising:

a hardware processor; and

a memory device accessible to the hardware processor, the memory device storing instructions that when executed cause the hardware processor to perform operations including;

granting a request from a baseboard management controller for an electrical power associated with a boot-up operation that executes a power on self-test;

receiving a subsequent request from the baseboard management controller for a run time operation at which an operating system is executed;

predicting a run time value of the electrical power needed by the baseboard management controller for the run time operation;

determining the run time value of the electrical power needed by the baseboard management controller for the run time operation exceeds an available electrical power that is available from a power supply unit; and

sending a denial that causes the baseboard management controller to execute a halt event, the halt event preventing the baseboard management controller from transitioning from the boot up procedure to the run time operation at which the operating system is executed.

9. The server ecosystem of claim 8, wherein the operations further include comparing a threshold value to the run time value of the electrical power needed by the baseboard management controller for the run time operation.

10. The server ecosystem of claim 8, wherein the operations further include approving a boot value of the electrical power associated with the boot up procedure.

11. The server ecosystem of claim 8, wherein the operations further maintaining the baseboard management controller at the boot value associated with the boot up procedure.

12. The server ecosystem of claim 8, wherein the operations further include sending the denial via an interface to the baseboard management controller.

13. The server ecosystem of claim 8, wherein the operations further include determining the run time value of the electrical power needed by the baseboard management controller based on a number of central processing units.

14. The server ecosystem of claim 8, wherein the operations further include determining the run time value of the electrical power needed by the baseboard management controller based on a number of dual inline memory modules.

15. A memory device storing instructions that when executed cause a hardware processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

granting a request from a baseboard management controller for an electrical power associated with a boot-up operation that executes a power on self-test;

receiving a subsequent request from the baseboard management controller for a run time operation at which an operating system is executed;

predicting a run time value of the electrical power needed by the baseboard management controller for the run time operation;

determining the run time value of the electrical power needed by the baseboard management controller for the run time operation exceeds an available electrical power that is available from a power supply unit; and

sending a denial that causes the baseboard management controller to execute a halt event, the halt event preventing the baseboard management controller from transitioning from the boot up procedure to the run time operation at which the operating system is executed.

16. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the operations further include comparing a threshold value to the run time value of the electrical power needed by the baseboard management controller for the run time operation.

17. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the operations further include approving a boot value of the electrical power associated with the boot up procedure.

18. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the operations further include maintaining the baseboard management controller at the boot value associated with the boot up procedure.

19. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the operations further include sending the denial via an interface to the baseboard management controller.

20. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the operations further include determining the run time value of the electrical power needed by the baseboard management controller based on at least one of a number of central processing units and the number of dual inline memory modules.