ANALYZING AND/OR DISPLAYING POWER CONSUMPTION IN REDUNDANT SERVERS

• US 20070179723A1
• Filed: 01/30/2006
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Huang, Chih-Hsiung, Kasprzak, Keith
• Granted Patent: US 7,295,935 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/60
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/28 Supervision thereof, e.g. detecting power-supply failure by out of limits supervision

Abstract

A method of analyzing power consumption in an information handling system is provided. A voltage associated with a current share signal may be determined. A power load associated with the information handling system may be determined based at least on the determined voltage associated with the current share signal. An indication of the determined power load may be visually displayed.

Claims

1. A method of analyzing power consumption in an information handling system, comprising:

determining a voltage associated with a current share signal;

determining a number of power supplies supplying current to the information handling system;

determining a power load associated with the information handling system based at least on the determined voltage associated with the current share signal and the determined number of power supplies supplying current to the information handling system; and

causing an indication of the determined power load to be visually displayed for use by a user in managing power supplies.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein determining the power load associated with the information handling system comprises accessing a look-up table that relates current share signal voltages to system power loads.

3. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

determining a number of power supplies supplying current to the information handling system; and

determining the power load associated with the information handling system based on both the determined voltage associated with the current share signal and the determined number of power supplies supplying current to the information handling system.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein determining the power load associated with the information handling system comprises:

accessing a look-up table that includes, for each of a plurality of different numbers of power supplies, data relating current share signal voltages to system power loads; and

using the look-up table to determine a power load corresponding to the determined voltage associated with the current share signal and the determined number of power supplies supplying current to the information handling system.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

the current share signal is associated with a power supply; and

determining a voltage associated with a current share signal comprises reading a current share signal at a location external to the power supply.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

the current share signal is associated with a power supply; and

determining a voltage associated with a current share signal comprises reading a current share signal at a location within the power supply.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

determining a power load associated with the information handling system comprises determining a percentage loading of the information handling system; and

causing an indication of the determined power load to be visually displayed comprises causing the determined percentage loading of the information handling system to be visually displayed.

8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving one or more status signals regarding the status of one or more power supplies;

determining a number of power supplies cooperating to supply current to the information handling system based at least on the one or more received status signals; and

determining the power load associated with the information handling system based on both the determined voltage associated with the current share signal and the determined number of power supplies cooperating to supply current to the information handling system.

9. Logic encoded in computer-readable media and executable by a processor, comprising:

logic encoded in computer-readable media for determining a voltage associated with a current share signal;

logic encoded in computer-readable media for determining a number of power supplies supplying current to the information handling system;

logic encoded in computer-readable media for determining a power load associated with the information handling system based at least on the determined voltage associated with the current share signal and the determined number of power supplies supplying current to the information handling system; and

logic encoded in computer-readable media for causing an indication of the determined power load to be visually displayed for use by a user in managing power supplies.

10. Logic according to claim 9, wherein the logic for determining the power load associated with the information handling system comprises logic for accessing a look-up table that relates current share signal voltages to system power loads.

11. Logic according to claim 9, further comprising:

logic for determining a number of power supplies supplying current to the information handling system; and

logic for determining the power load associated with the information handling system based on both the determined voltage associated with the current share signal and the determined number of power supplies supplying current to the information handling system.

12. Logic according to claim 11, wherein the logic for determining the power load associated with the information handling system comprises:

logic for accessing a look-up table that includes, for each of a plurality of different numbers of power supplies, data relating current share signal voltages to system power loads; and

logic for using the look-up table to determine a power load corresponding to the determined voltage associated with the current share signal and the determined number of power supplies supplying current to the information handling system.

13. Logic according to claim 9, wherein:

the logic for determining a power load associated with the information handling system comprises logic for determining a percentage loading of the information handling system; and

the logic for causing an indication of the determined power load to be visually displayed comprises logic for causing the determined percentage loading of the information handling system to be visually displayed.

14. Logic according to claim 9, further comprising:

logic for receiving one or more status signals regarding the status of one or more power supplies;

logic for determining a number of power supplies cooperating to supply current to the information handling system based at least on the one or more received status signals; and

logic for determining the power load associated with the information handling system based on both the determined voltage associated with the current share signal and the determined number of power supplies cooperating to supply current to the information handling system.

15. An information handling system, comprising:

a voltage detection module for determining a voltage associated with a current share signal; and

a power management module communicatively coupled to the voltage detection module and operable to;

determine a number of power supplies supplying current to the information handling system;

determine a power load associated with the information handling system based at least on the determined voltage associated with the current share signal and the number of power supplies supplying current to the information handling system; and

, and to cause an indication of the determined power load to be visually displayed for use by a user in managing power supplies.

16. An information handling system according to claim 15, further comprising a memory device operable to store a look-up table that relates current share signal voltages to system power loads;

and

wherein the power management module is operable to access the look-up table to determining a power load corresponding to the determined voltage associated with the current share signal.

17. An information handling system according to claim 15, further comprising the power management module operable to determine a number of power supplies supplying current to the information handling system, and determine the power load associated with the information handling system based on both the determined voltage associated with the current share signal and the determined number of power supplies supplying current to the information handling system.

18. An information handling system according to claim 17, further comprising a memory device operable to store a look-up table that includes, for each of a plurality of different numbers of power supplies, data relating current share signal voltages to system power loads;

and

wherein the power management module is operable to access the look-up table to determine a power load corresponding to the determined voltage associated with the current share signal and the determined number of power supplies supplying current to the information handling system.

19. An information handling system according to claim 15, further comprising:

a power supply associated with the current share signal; and

the voltage detection module is operable to read the current share signal at a location external to the power supply.

20. An information handling system according to claim 15, further comprising:

a power supply associated with the current share signal; and

the voltage detection module is operable to read the current share signal at a location within the power supply.

21. An information handling system according to claim 15, further comprising:

the power management module operable to determine a percentage loading of the information handling system; and

a display device communicatively coupled to the power management module and operable to display an indication of the determined power load.