Network-connected power manager for rebooting remote computer-based appliances

• US 20060031454A1
• Filed: 10/04/2005
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sever Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sever Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Cleveland, Andrew J., Auclair, Brian P., Ewing, Carrel W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,510,424 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3209 Monitoring remote activity, e.g. over telephone lines or network connections
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3246 by software initiated power-off

Abstract

A network comprises a power manager with a network agent in communication over a network with an network manager. The power manager is connected to control several intelligent power modules each able to independently control the power on/off status of several network appliances. Power-on and load sensors within each intelligent power module are able to report the power status of each network appliance to the network manager with variables in response to commands. Each intelligent power module is equipped with an output that is connected to cause an interrupt signal to the network appliance being controlled. The network manager is able to test which network appliance is actually responding before any cycling of the power to the corresponding appliance is tried.

Claims

1. A power manager system, comprising:

a network interface controller (NIC) for providing a physical interface to a TCP/IP-type computer data network and for sending and receiving datapackets according to a local IP-address;

a network client providing for status reporting and commanding by a remote management workstation connected to said TCP/IP-type computer data network according to a remote IP-address; and

a power controller for encoding said datapackets with information obtained from a power sensor input, and for decoding said datapackets having information for directing a relay control output;

wherein, said relay control output provides for power-cycling of a computer-based appliance that is subject to software lock-up and requires an occasional power-on reset; and

wherein, said power sensor input provides at least one of a operating-power voltage measurement and current measurement for said computer-based appliance.

2. The power manager system of claim 1, wherein:

the network client comprises at least one of an http client, a Telnet client, and an SNMP client.

3. The power manager system of claim 2, further comprising:

a remote management workstation connected to said TCP/IP-type computer data network and having a remote IP-address that communicates said datapackets between it and said local IP-address.

4. The power manager system of claim 3, wherein:

the remote management workstation comprises at least one of an http browser application, a Telnet application, and an SNMP application program each able to command the network client.

5. The power manager system of claim 1, wherein:

the network client comprises an SNMP client and provides for issuance of trap messages in said datapackets that announce an event detected at said power sensor input.

6. A network power control system, comprising:

a host system with a network manager and providing for a network communication connection;

a plurality of intelligent power modules (IPM'"'"'s) connected to a power supply and providing at least one of power-on sensing, load sensing and power cycling on/off, and further including a “

tickle”

signal issued by a system administrator and the host system;

a plurality of computer-based appliances connected to receive operating power from a corresponding one of said IPMs such that each IPM may cycle operating power on/off in response a command issued by a system administrator and the host system; and

a power manager with a network agent connected to said network communication connection and able to individually control each IPM according to receipt of said commands;

wherein a user may confirm that a particular intelligent power module will respond to a command to affect power with said first command before said second command is issued to actually affect operating power to a particular one of the computer-based appliances.

7. The power control system of claim 6, wherein:

each of the plurality of IPMs has a first output port to issue said “

tickle”

signal and a second output port to control said operating power to an associated computer-based appliances.

8. The power control system of claim 7, wherein:

said “

tickle”

signal controls the logic status of a serial interface included in said associated computer-based appliances.

9. The power control system of claim 7, wherein:

said “

tickle”

signal is tested while said associated computer-based appliances is in a normal operating mode by issuing said first command.

10. The power control system of claim 7, wherein:

said second command is issued when said associated network appliance is in an abnormal operating mode and cannot respond to said “

tickle”

signal.

11. A network power control system, comprising:

a plurality of intelligent power modules (IPM'"'"'s) for connection to a common power supply, and providing independent on/off control of a corresponding plurality of individual power outlets according to commands issued by a system administrator from a host system;

a network agent providing for a plurality of user configuration choices regarding control of the plurality of IPM'"'"'s, and able to communicate with said host system over a network;

a power manager connected between the plurality of IPM'"'"'s and the network agent, and providing for a translation of said commands received by the network agent into actions affecting power delivery by the IPM'"'"'s to said corresponding plurality of individual power outlets; and

a data storage device connected to the power manager and providing for upload and download of said plurality of user configuration choices, wherein said system administer can be relieved of manually entering each configuration choice at said host system.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein:

a user may confirm that a particular IPM will respond to a command to affect power with a first command before a second command is issued to actually affect operating power.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a network manager having a network communication connection and for providing a display of user configuration choices and an input to choose amongst them.

14. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a plurality of computer-based appliances connected to receive operating power from said plurality of individual power outlets such that each IPM is enabled to cycle operating power on/off in response a command issued by a system administrator and the host system.