Enterprise power and thermal management

• US 20040163001A1
• Filed: 02/14/2003
• Published: 08/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Bodas, Devadatta V.
• Granted Patent: US 7,210,048 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/206 comprising thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/305 in the event of power-supply fluctuations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1498 Resource management, Optimisation arrangements, e.g. configuration, identification, tracking, physical location thermal management H05K7/20836
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

Power consumption by a computer system may vary all the time based upon software and the workload. Facility such as data centers host multiple of computer systems. With continuous growing demand for power and cooling of computer systems, data centers face limitations on their ability to provide the power and cooling capability. These limitations are occasionally exasperated by problems in either power or cooling systems. The computer systems may have a method to maintain total power consumption below a set target level. An enterprise power and thermal manager, EPTM, may change this setting dynamically to improve efficiency of supporting power and cooling infrastructure. In addition, the EPTM may use this ability to improve performance, availability and to provide ability to implement various administrative policies.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

managing power consumption of a first computer system by controlling power allocated to the first computer system, wherein when the power consumption of the first computer system is to be decreased, power allocated to the first computer system is decreased from a first power target to a second power target.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein when the power consumption of the first computer system is to be increased, the power allocated to the first computer system is increased from the first power target to a third power target.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the power allocated to the first computer system is increased when there is enough available power.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein when there is not enough available power, the power allocated to the first computer system is increased by reducing power allocated to a second computer system.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the power allocated to the second computer system is reduced when power consumption of the second computer system is less than the power allocated to the second computer system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the power consumption of the first computer system is to be decreased in response to a warning associated with the first computer system.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the warning relates to insufficient cool air.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the warning relates to high thermal energy.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the warning relates to a change in available power.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein the power consumption of the first computer system is to be decreased or increased based on one or more policies.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the one or more policies include a cost-based policy.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the one or more policies include a time-based policy.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the one or more policies include a fee-based policy.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the one or more policies include a rate-based policy.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the one or more policies include a cost-based policy, a time-based policy, a fee-based policy, and a rate-based policy.

16. A method, comprising:

defining one or more target power for a first computer system, wherein each of the one or more target power is associated with an amount of power allocated to the first computer system;

setting the first computer system at a first target power; and

when power consumption of the first computer system is near the first target power, generating a request for more power to be allocated to the first computer system.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

responsive to the request for more power by the first computer system,

determining if there is enough power to satisfy the request.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein determining if there is enough power comprises:

determining if power allocated to a second computer system can be reduced.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the power allocated to the second computer system can be reduced when performance of the second computer system is minimally affected.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein when there is not enough power to satisfy the request, power delivered to one or more components of the first computer system is throttled.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

setting the first computer system at a second target power when there is enough power to satisfy the request.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the second target power is higher than the first target power.

23. A method, comprising:

defining one or more target power for a computer system, wherein each of the one or more target power is associated with power allocated to the computer system; and

allocating power to the computer system based on one or more policies, wherein the one or more policies relate to which of the one or more target power is to be used for the computer system.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the one or more policies include a cost-based policy.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the cost-based policy relates to a target power that enables lowering power consumption of the computer system.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the one or more policies include a fee-based policy.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the fee-based policy relates to a target power that enables the computer system to operate based on a fee or a service level.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein the one ore more policies include a rate-based policy.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the rate-based policy relates to a target power that enables the computer system to operate based on time-of-day rates charged by a utility power company.

30. The method of claim 23, wherein the one or more policies include a time-based policy.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the time-based policy relates to a target power consumption that enables the computer system to operate based on when a predicted workload is to occur.

32. A method, comprising:

receiving a request from a first computer system to increase allocated power, the first computer system being in a group of two or more computer systems; and

responsive to the request, re-evaluating power allocated to the two or more computer systems in the group to determine if the request can be satisfied.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein said re-evaluating power allocated to the two or more of the computer systems does not include the first computer system.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said re-evaluating power comprises:

comparing power consumption of a second computer system with power allocated to the second computer system to determine if the power allocated to the second computer system can be reduced.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the power allocated to the second computer system can be reduced to a level higher than the power consumption of the second computer system.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein the request is received when power consumption of the first computer system approaches the allocated power.

37. The method of claim 32, wherein when the request cannot be satisfied, power delivered to components of the first computer system is throttled.

38. A computer readable medium having stored thereon sequences of instructions which are executable by a system, and which, when executed by the system, cause the system to perform a method, comprising:

receiving a request from a first computer system to increase allocated power from a first amount to a second amount, the first computer system being in a group of two or more computer systems; and

responsive to the request, re-evaluating power allocated to the two or more of the computer systems in the group to determine if the request can be satisfied.

39. The computer readable medium of claim 38, wherein said re-evaluating power allocated to the two or more of the computer systems does not include the first computer system.

40. The computer readable medium of claim 39, wherein said re-evaluating power comprises:

comparing power consumption of a second computer system with an amount of power allocated to the second computer system to determine if the amount of power allocated to the second computer system can be reduced.

41. The computer readable medium of claim 40, wherein the amount of power allocated to the second computer system can be reduced to an amount higher than the current power consumption level of the second computer system.

42. The computer readable medium of claim 38, wherein the request is received when power consumption of the first computer system approaches the first amount of allocated power.

43. The computer readable medium of claim 38, wherein the first amount and the second amount are predetermined.

44. A computer readable medium having stored thereon sequences of instructions which are executable by a system, and which, when executed by the system, cause the system to perform a method, comprising:

managing power consumption of a first computer system by controlling power allocated to the first computer system, wherein when the power consumption of the first computer system is to be decreased, power allocated to the first computer system is decreased from a first target power to a second target power.

45. The computer readable medium of claim 44, wherein when the power consumption of the first computer system is to be increased, the power allocated to the first computer system is increased from the first target power to a third target power.

46. The computer readable medium of claim 45, wherein the power allocated to the first computer system is increased when there is enough available power.

47. The computer readable medium of claim 46, wherein when there is not enough available power, the power allocated to the first computer system is increased by reducing power allocated to a second computer system.

48. The computer readable medium of claim 47, wherein the power allocated to the second computer system is reduced when power consumption of the second computer system is less than the power allocated to the second computer system.

49. The computer readable medium of claim 44, wherein the power consumption of the first computer system is to be decreased in response to a warning associated with the first computer system.

50. The computer readable medium of claim 49, wherein the warning relates to insufficient cool air.

51. The computer readable medium of claim 49, wherein the warning relates to high thermal energy.

52. The computer readable medium of claim 49, wherein the warning relates to a change in available power.

53. The computer readable medium of claim 49, wherein the warning relates to a light workload.

54. The computer readable medium of claim 44, wherein the power consumption of the first computer system is to be decreased based on one or more policies.

55. The computer readable medium of claim 54, wherein the one or more policies include a cost-based policy.

56. The computer readable medium of claim 54, wherein the one or more policies include a time-based policy.

57. The computer readable medium of claim 54, wherein the one or more policies include a fee-based policy.

58. The computer readable medium of claim 54, wherein the one or more policies include a rate-based policy.

59. A computer readable medium having stored thereon sequences of instructions which are executable by a system, and which, when executed by the system, cause the system to perform a method, comprising:

defining one or more target power consumption levels for a first computer system, wherein each of the one or more target power consumption levels is associated with an amount of power allocated to the first computer system;

setting the first computer system at a first target power; and

when power consumption of the first computer system approaches the first target power, generating a request for more power to be allocated to the first computer system.

60. The computer readable medium of claim 59, further comprising:

responsive to the request for more power by the first computer system,

determining if there is enough power to satisfy the request.

61. The computer readable medium of claim 60, wherein determining if there is enough power comprises:

determining if power allocated to a second computer system can be reduced.

62. The computer readable medium of claim 61, wherein the power allocated to the second computer system can be reduced when performance of the second computer system is not affected.

63. The computer readable medium of claim 60, wherein when there is not enough power to satisfy the request, power delivered to one or more components of the first computer system is throttled.

64. The computer readable medium of claim 60, further comprising:

setting the first computer system at a second target power when there is enough power to satisfy the request,

65. The computer readable medium of claim 64, wherein the second target power is higher than the first target power.

66. A computer readable medium having stored thereon sequences of instructions which are executable by a system, and which, when executed by the system, cause the system to perform a method, comprising:

defining one or more target power for a computer system, wherein each of the one or more target power is associated with an amount of power allocated to the computer system; and

allocating power to the computer system based on one or more policies, wherein the one or more policies relate to the one or more target power used for the computer system.

67. The computer readable medium of claim 66, wherein the one or more policies include a cost-based policy.

68. The computer readable medium of claim 67, wherein the cost-based policy relates to a target power that enables cost savings by lowering power consumption of the computer system.

69. The computer readable medium of claim 66, wherein the one or more policies include a fee-based policy.

70. The computer readable medium of claim 69, wherein the fee-based policy relates to a target power that enables the computer system to operate based on a fee or a service level.

71. The computer readable medium of claim 66, wherein the one ore more policies include a rate-based policy.

72. The computer readable medium of claim 71, wherein the rate-based policy relates to a target power that enables the computer system to operate based on time-of-day rates charged by a utility power company.

73. The computer readable medium of claim 66, wherein the one or more policies include a time-based policy.

74. The computer readable medium of claim 73, wherein the time-based policy relates to a target power that enables the computer system to operate based on when a predicted workload is to occur.

75. A system, comprising:

a controller to allocate power to one or more computer systems based on one or more of a cost-based policy, a fee-based policy, a rate-based policy, and a time-based policy.

76. The system of claim 75, wherein the cost-based policy relates to controlling cost associated with power allocated to the one or more computer systems.

77. The system of claim 75, wherein the fee-based policy relates to maintaining a service level.

78. The system of claim 75, wherein the rate-based policy relates to time-dependent rate charged by power utility company.

79. The system of claim 75, wherein the time-based policy relates to when a predicted workload is to occur.

80. The system of claim 75, wherein the controller is to further allocate power to the one or more computer systems based on power consumption and target power associated with the one or more computer systems.

81. A system, comprising:

a controller to manage power consumption of a first computer system by controlling power allocated to the first computer system, wherein when the power consumption of the first computer system is to be decreased, the controller is to decrease power allocated to the first computer system.

82. The system of claim 81, wherein the controller is to decrease power allocated to the first computer system from a first level to a second level.

83. The system of claim 82, wherein the first level and the second level are predetermined.

84. The system of claim 81, wherein when the power consumption of the first computer system is to be increased, the controller is to increase power allocated to the first computer system.

85. The system of claim 84, wherein the controller is to increase power allocated to the first computer system from a first level to a third level when there is enough available power.

86. The system of claim 85, wherein the first level and the third level are predetermined.

87. The system of claim 85, wherein when there is not enough available power, the controller is to reduce power allocated to a second computer system.

88. The system of claim 87, wherein the power allocated to the second computer system is reduced when power consumption of the second computer system is less than the power allocated to the second computer system.

89. A system, comprising:

a controller to control power allocated to the first computer system and to a second computer system; and

a performance monitor coupled to the controller, the performance monitor is to monitor performance of the first computer system and of the second computer system, wherein when the performance of the first computer system is to increase, the performance monitor requests the controller to allocate additional power to the first computer system.

90. The system of claim 89, wherein the controller allocates the additional power to the first computer system by reducing power allocated to the second computer system.

91. The system of claim 89, further comprising a temperature monitor coupled to the controller, the temperature monitor is to monitor temperature associated with the first computer system, wherein when the temperature of the first computer system is to be decreased, the temperature monitor requests the controller to decrease power allocated to the first computer system.

92. The system of claim 89, further comprising a policy handler coupled to the controller, the policy handler is to indicate to the controller a power allocation policy to follow in allocating power to the first computer system and to the second computer system.

93. The system of claim 92, wherein the power allocation policy includes a cost-based policy, a fee-based policy, a rate-based policy, and a time-based policy.