Control system and method for rack mounted computer units

• US 20040059903A1
• Filed: 09/05/2003
• Published: 03/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cirrascale Corporation (BOXX Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cirrascale Corporation (BOXX Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, John V., Hester, Victor P.
• Application Number:
  US10/656,024
• Publication Number:
  US 20040059903A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/24 Resetting means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3287 by switching off individual functional units in the computer system
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

The method includes receiving a command signal by a reset control module from another source such as a remote computer through a network. The command signal includes instructions to manipulate or control a computer unit such as a computer, computer component or computer system. An execution signal is transmitted for manipulation or control of the computer, computer component or computer system. The controlling or manipulation includes resetting, powering on or powering off the computer, computer component or computer system.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a group of computer units mounted on a rack, comprising:

receiving a computer unit performance signals at a reset control module mounted on the rack;

generating a control signal in response to the receipt of the performance signal for a given control unit; and

sending the control signal to the given one of the computer units for causing it to be controlled in response thereto.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said control signal is a reset signal for resetting the given one of the computer units.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said control signal is indicative of either controlling the power to the given one of the computer units or requesting it to trigger a reset mode of operation.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said receiving computer unit performance signals are received from a sensing device mounted on the rack for detecting malfunctions.

5. A method according to claim 4, further including determining whether the condition is within pre-determined limits.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein said control signal is a reset signal generated when the condition is determined to be outside of the predetermined limits.

7. A method according to claim 4, wherein said sensing device is a temperature sensing device.

8. A method according to claim 5, further including sending an alarm message to a remote computer to indicate that a malfunction has occurred when it is determined that the condition is outside said limits.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein said message is sent after a predetermined time delay following the determination that the condition is outside said limits.

10. A method according to claim 9, further including repeating the sending of the alarm message after another time delay interval.