CENTRALIZED SERVER RACK MANAGEMENT USING USB

• US 20090031051A1
• Filed: 07/26/2007
• Published: 01/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: NGUYEN, VINCENT
• Granted Patent: US 7,761,622 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0605 by facilitating the interaction with a user or administrator
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0653 Monitoring storage devices or systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]

Abstract

A multi-server computing system includes a plurality of server modules mounted in an enclosure; each server has a universal serial bus (USB) interface. An enclosure onboard administration (OA) module is also mounted in the enclosure and has an addressable communication interface for connection to a remote management system and a USB interface connected to each of the plurality of servers. The USB interface of the enclosure OA operates as a master and the USB interface of each of the plurality of servers acts as a slave to the enclosure OA, such that each of the server modules can be managed by the remote management system using a single communication address.

Claims

1. A multi-server computing system, comprising:

a plurality of server modules mounted in an enclosure, each server having a universal serial bus (USB) interface; and

an enclosure onboard administration (OA) module mounted in the enclosure having an addressable communication interface for connection to a remote management system and a USB interface connected to each of the plurality of servers, wherein the USB interface of the enclosure OA operates as a master and the USB interface of each of the plurality of servers acts as a slave to the enclosure OA, such that each of the server modules can be managed by the remote management system using a single assigned communication address.

2. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the enclosure OA further comprises a wireless interface for wireless communication with a local management system.

3. The computing system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the plurality of servers is connected to the enclosure OA using a wireless USB connection protocol.

4. The computing system of claim 1, further comprising one or more power supplies each having a USB interface connected to the enclosure OA USB interface, whereby the enclosure OA can monitor the status of each power supply via the USB interface.

5. The computing system of claim 1, further comprising one or more peripheral devices each having a USB interface connected to the enclosure OA USB interface, whereby the enclosure OA can monitor the status of each peripheral device via the USB interface.

6. The computing system of claim 1, further comprising a second plurality of server modules mounted in one or more additional enclosures, each server of the second plurality of servers having a USB interface connected to the enclosure OA USB interface.

10. The computing system of claim 1, further comprising a second plurality of server modules mounted in one or more additional enclosures, each server of the second plurality of servers having a WUSB interface operable to connect to the enclosure OA WUSB interface.

7. A multi-server computing system, comprising:

a plurality of server modules mounted in an enclosure, each server having a wireless universal serial bus (WUSB) interface; and

an enclosure onboard administration (OA) module mounted in the enclosure having an addressable communication interface for connection to a remote management system and a wireless USB (WUSB) interface operable to wirelessly connect to each of the plurality of servers, wherein the WUSB interface of the enclosure OA operates as a master and the WUSB interface of each of the plurality of servers acts as a slave to the enclosure OA, such that each of the server modules can be managed by the remote management system using a single assigned communication address.

8. The computing system of claim 7, further comprising one or more power supplies each having a WUSB interface operable to connect to the enclosure OA WUSB interface, whereby the enclosure OA can monitor the status of each power supply via the WUSB interface.

9. The computing system of claim 7, further comprising one or more peripheral devices each having a WUSB interface operable to connect to the enclosure OA WUSB interface, whereby the enclosure OA can monitor the status of each peripheral device via the WUSB interface.

11. A method for managing a plurality of server modules, comprising:

sending a first maintenance command for a first one of the plurality of servers from a remote location using an assigned communication address; and

sending a second maintenance command for a second one of the plurality of servers from the remote location using the assigned communication address;

receiving the first and second maintenance commands at a single administration device responsive to the assigned communication address; and

forwarding the first and second maintenance commands to the respective first server and second server via a universal serial bus interconnection, wherein the administration device operates as a host and the first server and second server USB interfaces operate as USB devices.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

sending a third maintenance command for a power supply from the remote location using the assigned communication address;

receiving the third command at the administration device responsive to the assigned communication address; and

forwarding the third maintenance command to the power supply via a USB interconnection.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

sending a fourth maintenance command for a peripheral device from the remote location using the assigned communication address;

receiving the third maintenance command at the administration device responsive to the assigned communication address; and

forwarding the third maintenance command to the peripheral device via a USB interconnection.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein at least a portion of the USB interconnected devices are wireless USB.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

sending a first local maintenance command for the first one of the plurality of servers from a local location via a WUSB interconnection;

sending a second local maintenance command for the second one of the plurality of servers from the local location via the WUSB interconnection;

receiving the first and second local maintenance commands at the administration device responsive to the WUSB interconnection; and

forwarding the first and second local maintenance commands to the respective first server and second server via the USB interconnection.

16. A server for a computer system, comprising:

a processor and memory operable to execute stored instructions;

a USB host port connected to the processor operable as a host for connecting to peripheral USB devices; and

a USB device port connected to the processor operable as a USB device for connecting to another USB host.

17. The server of claim 16, wherein the USB device port is comprises a module that is connected to the processor via the USB host port.

18. A digital system, comprising:

a module, comprising;

a processor and memory, the processor being configured to execute programs stored in the memory;

a first USB device port connected to the processor being configured to emulate a user interface device; and

a second USB device port connected to the processor being configured to receive commands, wherein the first USB device port emulates a user action in response to a command received on the second USB device port.

19. The computer system of claim 18, further comprising a server having at least one USB host port connected to the first USB device port.

20. The digital system of claim 18, wherein the first USB device port is also configured to emulate a mass storage device.