Power Optimization Through Datacenter Client and Workflow Resource Migration

• US 20090119233A1
• Filed: 11/05/2007
• Published: 05/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Hamilton, James R., Dunagan, John
• Application Number:
  US11/934,933
• Publication Number:
  US 20090119233A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/412
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply

Abstract

Systems and methods for power optimization through datacenter client and workflow resource migration are described. In one aspect, the systems and methods estimate how much power will cost for different and geographically distributed datacenters to handle a specific set of actual and/or anticipated workflow(s), where the workflow(s) are currently being handled by a particular one of the distributed datacenters. These estimated power costs are based on current power prices at each of the datacenters, and prior recorded models of power actually used by each of the datacenters to handle similar types of workflows for specific numbers of client applications. If the systems and methods determine that power costs can be optimized by moving the workflow(s) from the datacenter currently handling the workflows to a different datacenter, service requests from corresponding client applications and any data resources associated with the workflows are migrated to the different datacenter.

Claims

1. In a system comprising multiple datacenters, a method implemented at least in part by a computing device in a first datacenter of the multiple datacenters, the method comprising:

estimating power costs to handle workflow(s) at the first datacenter and one or more other datacenters of the multiple datacenters;

evaluating the power costs to determine whether power use in the system can be optimized by handling the workflow(s) at a different datacenter of the other datacenters, power use optimization in the system comprising one or more of use of a more efficient resource to handle the workflow(s) and executing the workflow(s) where power is less costly; and

if power use in the system can be optimized by handling the workflow(s) at the different datacenter, and if any additional constraint(s) for consideration are satisfied, migrating client application(s) associated with the workflow(s) to the different datacenter.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the workflow(s) comprise workflow(s) being handled by the first datacenter and anticipated workflow(s) at the first datacenter.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the additional constraint(s) comprise a null set of constraints or constraints based on one or more of prior contractual agreement(s), policy, performance, end-user experience, end-user preference, and other arbitrary constraint(s).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein estimating the power costs further comprises:

for each datacenter of the first datacenter and the one or more other datacenters;

calculating a respective power value to implement the workflow(s) at the datacenter, the respective power value being based on prior measured power consumed at the datacenter to process workflows for specific numbers of type-differentiated client applications; and

determining a respective power cost based on the respective power value and an indication of a power price in a geographical area within which the datacenter is located.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein estimating the power costs further comprises, for each datacenter of the first datacenter and the one or more other datacenters:

maintaining a respective power consumption model, the power consumption model indicating;

(a) a first set of data indicating actual historical power consumption of the datacenter to process workflows for particular numbers of type-differentiated client applications; and

(b) a second set of data indicating actual historical power consumption of the one or more other datacenters to process workflows for specific numbers of type-differentiated client applications; and

calculating the power costs to handle the workflow(s) for a current number of type-differentiated client applications based on the first and second sets of data.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein calculating further comprises, if the current number of type-differentiated client applications is not equal to indicated numbers of type-differentiated client applications upon which historical power consumption information in the power consumption model is based, extrapolating the power costs from the historical power consumption information.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

identifying the client application(s); and

wherein migrating the client application(s) further comprises redirecting the client application(s) to communicate service request(s) corresponding to the workflow(s) to the different datacenter.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying data resources for the workflow(s); and

transferring the data resources from the first datacenter to the different datacenter to facilitate handling, by the different datacenter, of the workflows.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the data resource(s) comprise one or more of a database, calculation(s), an e-mail mailbox, a user space, a webpage, and data not exposed to user(s) of the client application(s).

10. A computer-readable data storage medium having computer-program instructions encoded thereon, the computer-program instructions being executable by a processor for performing datacenter workflow migration operations comprising:

evaluating historic power consumption models and power prices corresponding to respective ones of multiple datacenters to determine if power use can be optimized by handling a specific set of workflows at a particular datacenter of the multiple datacenters;

if the power use can be optimized and if the specific set of workflows is not currently being handled by the particular datacenter;

migrating any data resource(s) associated with the specific set of workflows from a datacenter of the multiple datacenters to the particular datacenter, the specific set of workflows currently being handled by the datacenter; and

redirecting service requests corresponding to the specific set of workflows to the particular datacenter.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein power use is optimized if it is less expensive to implement the specific set of workflows at the particular datacenter.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the service requests are from client applications that are one or more of external to the datacenter and internal to the datacenter.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the datacenter workflow migration operations are implemented by a combination of distributed logic comprising workflow power cost determination and optimization logic, partitioning manager logic, back-end logic and front-end logic.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the historic power consumption models for each datacenter of the multiple datacenters comprises a first set of data indicating actual historical power consumption of the datacenter to process workflows for particular numbers of type-differentiated client applications, and a second set of data indicating actual historical power consumption of the one or more other datacenters to process workflows for specific numbers of type-differentiated client applications.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the type-differentiated clients comprise one or more of instant messaging clients, search clients, browser clients, and page rendering and caching clients.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein operations for the migrating and the redirecting are performed only if predetermined constraint(s) independent of optimizing power use are satisfied.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the operations further comprise operations for receiving, from one or more data feeds, the power prices, the power prices indicating price rates for power at geographical locations of respective datacenters of the multiple datacenters.

18. A system for optimizing power in a system of datacenters, the system being implemented on one or more computing devices comprising workflow migration management logic, partitioning manager logic, back-end logic and front-end logic, and wherein:

the workflow migration management logic is configured to;

(a) estimate power costs to handle workflow(s) at a first datacenter of the datacenters and one or more other datacenters of the datacenters;

(b) evaluate the power costs to determine whether power use in the system can be optimized by handling the workflow(s) at a different datacenter of the other datacenters; and

(c) if power use in the system can be optimized by handling the workflow(s) at the different datacenter, and if any additional constraint(s) for consideration are satisfied, directing partitioning manager logic to migrate the workflow(s) to the different datacenter; and

the partitioning manager logic, responsive to receiving directions to migrate the workflow(s), being configured to;

(d) map the workflow(s) to one or more client applications;

(e) direct the front-end logic to redirect the one or more client applications to send service request(s) corresponding to the workflow(s) to the different datacenter, and direct the back-end logic to move any data resource(s) corresponding to the workflow(s) that are not already available to the different datacenter, to the different datacenter; and

(f) clean-up the workflow(s) at the first datacenter.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein each datacenter of datacenters maintains a respective power consumption model, the power consumption model having been pre-configured by an administrative entity to indicate:

(a) a first set of data indicating actual historical power consumption measurements of the datacenter to process workflows for particular numbers of type-differentiated client applications; and

(b) a second set of data indicating actual historical power consumption measurements of the one or more other datacenters to process workflows for specific numbers of type-differentiated client applications; and

wherein the workflow migration management logic is further configured to estimate the power costs based on the first and second sets of data.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the workflow migration management logic is further configured to estimate the power costs by linearly extrapolating power use measurements indicated by the first and second sets of data.