INTEGRATED ENERGY SAVINGS AND BUSINESS OPERATIONS IN DATA CENTERS

• US 20090187782A1
• Filed: 01/23/2008
• Published: 07/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center, Inc. (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Hindi, Haitham, Chu, Maurice K., Greene, Daniel H., Reich, James E., Preas, Bryan T., Parekh, Nitin S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,447,993 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/340
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination

Abstract

A power control system in a data center has a plurality of physical servers, each server having a local controller, at least one virtual server coupled to at least some of the physical servers, and a central controller to control task loading on the physical servers through the virtual servers. A method of controlling power consumption in a data center includes receiving inputs from local controllers residing on loads, the inputs including data about power consumption on the loads, receiving as an input at least one quality of service requirement, and allocating tasks to at least one server based upon the quality of service and the power consumption on the loads.

Claims

1. A power control system in a data center, comprising:

at least one physical server having a local controller;

at least one virtual server coupled to the physical servers; and

a server/power controller to control task loading on the physical server through the virtual server, wherein task loading is determined at least in part by quality of service requirements and power consumption.

2. The power control system of claim 1, further comprising an environmental control system in communication with the controller.

3. The power control system of claim 1, further comprising data lines coupled to the data center.

4. The power control system of claim 3, the controller coupled to the data lines.

5. The power control system of claim 1, further comprising at least one external power line coupled to the data center.

6. The power control system of claim 1, the controller coupled to the power line.

7. The power control system of claim 1, the controller to transmit signals to control assignments of the virtual servers to the physical servers.

8. A computer-controlled method of controlling power consumption in a data center, comprising:

receiving inputs from controllers monitoring loads, the inputs including data about power consumption on the loads;

receiving as an input at least one quality of service requirement; and

allocating virtual servers to at least one physical server based upon the quality of service and the power consumption on the loads.

9. The computer-controlled method of claim 8, further comprising developing a power usage model from the data about power consumption and the quality of service requirement.

10. The computer-controlled method of claim 9, further comprising updating the power usage model over time.

11. The computer-controlled method of claim 8, further comprising providing a recommendation as to assignment of virtual server to the physical server.

12. The computer-controlled method of claim 8, wherein allocating tasks comprises migrating all tasks from a server having a low level of utilization and shutting the server down.

13. The computer-controlled method of claim 8, wherein allocating tasks comprises clustering at least one virtual server on a physical server.

14. The computer-controlled method of claim 13, wherein clustering is based upon at least one of geographic, electrical characteristics, network diversity, and heating/ventilation/air conditioning system connections.

15. The computer-controlled method of claim 8, wherein allocating tasks comprises adjusting performance levels of at least one server.

16. The computer-controlled method of claim 8, wherein allocating tasks comprises adjusting the quality of service requirement based upon power consumption.

17. The computer-controlled method of claim 8, wherein allocating tasks comprises adjusting power consumption based upon the quality of service requirement.

18. A computer-controlled method of determining predictability of power consumption in a data center, comprising:

monitoring power consumption of a customer;

determining a predicted power consumption for the customer at a predetermined time;

determining actual power consumption for the customer at the predetermined time; and

comparing the predicted power consumption to the actual power consumption to produce predictability data for the customer.

19. The computer-controlled method of claim 18, further comprising adjusting distribution of loads for that customer depending upon the predictability data.

20. The computer-controlled method of claim 18, further comprising adjusting prices for the customer depending upon the predictability data.

21. The computer-controlled method of claim 18, further comprising making a recommendation to a data center manager based upon a comparison of a contractual requirement for a customer to the predictability of the customer.

22. The computer controlled method of claim 18, further comprising performing the determining and comparing over a predetermined period of time.

23. The computer controlled method of claim 18, wherein determining the predicted power consumption comprises using power consumption at a current time.

24. The computer controlled method of claim 18, wherein determining the predicted power consumption comprises using power consumption historical data.

25. The computer controlled method of claim 18, wherein determining the predicted power consumption comprises using environmental data.

26. A computer-controlled method of determining costs of power consumption in a data center, comprising:

monitoring power consumption for a customer;

determine a cost of the power consumption for the customer;

adjusting a cost of operation for the customer to include the cost of power consumption to produce an adjusted cost of operation for the customer; and

comparing the adjusted cost of operation for the customer to a price for the customer.

27. The computer-controlled method of claim 26, further comprising making a price adjustment for the customer based upon the adjusted cost of operation.

28. The computer-controlled method of claim 26, further comprising performing the method for multiple customers.

29. The computer-controlled method of claim 28, further comprising identifying at least one of profitable customers, unprofitable customers, properly provisioned customers and customers having efficient quality of service requirements.

30. The computer-controlled method of claim 29, further comprising providing a result of the comparing to a data center manager.

31. A computer-controlled method of managing power consumption in a data center, comprising:

monitoring power consumption;

monitoring external factors;

determining an impact of the external factors on power consumption; and

allocating resources based upon the impact.

32. The computer-controlled method of claim 31, wherein monitoring external factors comprises monitoring environmental factors including outside temperature.

33. The computer-controlled method of claim 31, wherein monitoring external factors comprises monitoring existence of a demand response condition on a power 25 grid.

34. The computer-controlled method of claim 33, further comprising reducing tasks having a lower quality of service requirement than other tasks, if a demand response condition exists.

35. The computer-controlled method of claim 33, further comprising reallocating resources, if a demand response condition exists.

36. The computer-controlled method of claim 31, wherein monitoring external factors comprises monitoring a condition of a power grid.