Systems and methods for computer equipment management

• US 20090210097A1
• Filed: 02/13/2009
• Published: 08/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.
• Inventors: Adams, Michael, Komlenic, Todd, Sawczak, Stephen D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,175,753 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/278
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/206 comprising thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3006 where the computing system is distributed, e.g. networked systems, clusters, multiprocessor systems multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46; allocation of resources G06F9/50
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3058 Monitoring arrangements for monitoring environmental properties or parameters of the computing system or of the computing system component, e.g. monitoring of power, currents, temperature, humidity, position, vibrations thermal management in cooling arrangements of a computing system G06F1/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/328 Computer systems status display G06F11/327 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/265 Personal security, identity or safety
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20836 Thermal management, e.g. server temperature control

Abstract

Methods of managing computer equipment: the methods may comprise receiving data indicating a power dissipated by computer equipment in a portion of the server room and receiving data indicating an actual airflow through the portion of the server room. The methods may also comprise calculating a target airflow in the portion of the server room considering the power dissipated by computer equipment in the portion of the server room and an expected difference in temperature between at least one hot aisle and at least one cold aisle in the portion of the server room, and calculating a recommended action for reaching the target airflow. The recommended action may be selected from the group consisting of: changing a static pressure generated by at least one cooling unit servicing the portion of the server room; changing a number of perforated tiles present in the portion of the server room; and changing the type of one or more perforated tiles present in the portion of the server room. The methods may also comprise displaying the recommended action and/or implementing the recommended action.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of managing computer equipment, the method comprising:

receiving with a server data indicating power dissipated by computer equipment in a portion of the server room, wherein the server comprises at least one processor and an operatively associated memory comprising computer-readable instructions to be executed by the at least one processor;

receiving with the server data indicating an actual airflow through the portion of the server room;

calculating with the server a target airflow in the portion of the server room considering the power dissipated by computer equipment in the portion of the server room and an expected difference in temperature between at least one hot aisle and at least one cold aisle in the portion of the server room;

calculating with the server a recommended action for reaching the target airflow, wherein the recommended action comprises at least one action selected from the group consisting of;

changing a static pressure generated by at least one cooling unit servicing the portion of the server room;

changing a number of perforated tiles present in the portion of the server room; and

changing the type of one or more perforated tiles present in the portion of the server room; and

using the server to display the recommended action.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving with the server data indicating a static pressure generated by at least one cooling unit in a portion of a server room and calculating the data indicating the actual airflow is calculated considering the static pressure and a number and type of perforated tiles present in the portion of the server room.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the data indicating the actual airflow is received from at least one airflow sensor in communication with the server.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving with the server data indicating the expected difference in temperature from a user.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying with the server a curve illustrating a relationship between the difference in temperature and airflow for the given power dissipated.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an adjusted power from a user, and using the server to recalculate the recommended action considering the adjusted power.

7. A system for managing computer equipment, the system comprising a server comprising at least one processor and operatively associated memory having instructions thereon that when implemented by the at least one processor cause the server to:

receive data indicating a power dissipated by computer equipment in a portion of the server room;

receive data indicating an actual airflow through the portion of the server room;

calculate a target airflow in the portion of the server room considering the power dissipated by computer equipment in the portion of the server room and an expected difference in temperature between at least one hot aisle and at least one cold aisle in the portion of the server room;

calculate a recommended action for reaching the target airflow, wherein the recommended action comprises at least one action selected from the group consisting of;

changing a static pressure generated by at least one cooling unit servicing the portion of the server room;

changing a number of perforated tiles present in the portion of the server room; and

changing the type of one or more perforated tiles present in the portion of the server room; and

display the recommended action.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to receive the expected difference in temperature from a user.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to display a curve illustrating a relationship between the difference in temperature and airflow for the given power dissipated.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to receive an adjusted power from a user, and recalculating the recommended action considering the adjusted power.

11. A computer-readable medium having instructions thereon that when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

receive data indicating a power dissipated by computer equipment in a portion of the server room;

receive data indicating an actual airflow through the portion of the server room;

calculate a target airflow in the portion of the server room considering the power dissipated by computer equipment in the portion of the server room and an expected difference in temperature between at least one hot aisle and at least one cold aisle in the portion of the server room;

calculate a recommended action for reaching the target airflow, wherein the recommended action comprises at least one action selected from the group consisting of;

changing a static pressure generated by at least one cooling unit servicing the portion of the server room;

changing a number of perforated tiles present in the portion of the server room; and

changing the type of one or more perforated tiles present in the portion of the server room; and

display the recommended action.

12. A computer-implemented method of managing computer equipment, the method comprising:

receiving with a server data indicating a power dissipated by computer equipment in the portion of the server room, wherein the server comprises at least one processor and an operatively associated memory comprising computer-readable instructions to be executed by the at least one processor;

receiving with the server data indicating an actual airflow through the portion of the server room;

calculating with the server a target airflow considering the power dissipated by computer equipment in the portion of the server room, and a difference in temperature between hot and cold aisles in the portion of the server room;

calculating a recommended action for reaching the target airflow; and

implementing the recommended action, wherein the recommended action comprises at least one action selected from the group consisting of;

modifying a parameter of at least one cooling unit servicing the portion of the server room and modifying a state of at least one perforated tile present in the portion of the server room.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein a perforated tile selected from the at least one perforated tile has a mechanically adjustable airflow rate and comprises an electric motor configured to mechanically adjust the airflow rate.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein modifying a parameter of at least one cooling unit comprises modifying a static pressure generated by the cooling unit.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising receiving data indicating a static pressure generated by at least one cooling unit in a portion of a server room, wherein the indication of actual airflow is calculated considering the static pressure and a number and type of perforated tiles present in the portion of the server room.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising receiving data indicating a static pressure generated by at least one cooling unit in a portion of a server room, wherein the indication of actual airflow is calculated considering the static pressure and a number and type of perforated tiles present in the portion of the server room.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the data indicating the actual airflow is received from at least one airflow sensor.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising receiving data indicating the expected difference in temperature from a user.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising displaying using the server a curve illustrating a relationship between the difference in temperature and airflow for the given power dissipated.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising receiving data indicating an adjusted power from a user, and recalculating the recommended action considering the adjusted power.

21. A system of managing computer equipment, the system comprising a server comprising at least one processor and operatively associated memory having instructions thereon that when implemented by the at least one processor cause the server to:

receive data indicating a power dissipated by computer equipment in the portion of the server room;

receive data indicating an actual airflow through the portion of the server room;

calculate a target airflow considering the power dissipated by computer equipment in the portion of the server room, and a difference in temperature between hot and cold aisles in the portion of the server room;

calculate a recommended action for reaching the target airflow; and

implement the recommended action, wherein the recommended action comprises at least one action selected from the group consisting of;

modifying a parameter of at least one cooling unit servicing the portion of the server room and modifying a state of at least one perforated tile present in the portion of the server room.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein a perforated tile selected from the at least one perforated tile has a mechanically adjustable airflow rate and comprises an electric motor configured to mechanically adjust the airflow rate.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein modifying a parameter of at least one cooling unit comprises modifying a static pressure generated by the cooling unit.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the associated memory further comprises instructions that cause the server to receive data indicating a static pressure generated by at least one cooling unit in a portion of a server room, wherein the data indicating actual airflow is calculated considering the static pressure and a number and type of perforated tiles present in the portion of the server room.

25. A computer-readable medium having instructions thereon that when executed by at least one processor cause the at least one processor to:

receive data indicating a power dissipated by computer equipment in the portion of the server room;

receive data indicating an actual airflow through the portion of the server room;

calculate a target airflow considering the power dissipated by computer equipment in the portion of the server room, and a difference in temperature between hot and cold aisles in the portion of the server room;

calculate a recommended action for reaching the target airflow; and

implement the recommended action, wherein the recommended action comprises at least one action selected from the group consisting of;

modifying a parameter of at least one cooling unit servicing the portion of the server room and modifying a state of at least one perforated tile present in the portion of the server room.

26. A system managing computer equipment, the system comprising:

means for receiving data indicating a power dissipated by computer equipment in a portion of the server room;

means for receiving data indicating an actual airflow through the portion of the server room;

means for calculating a target airflow in the portion of the server room considering the power dissipated by computer equipment in the portion of the server room and an expected difference in temperature between at least one hot aisle and at least one cold aisle in the portion of the server room;

means for calculating a recommended action for reaching the target airflow, wherein the recommended action comprises at least one action selected from the group consisting of;

changing a static pressure generated by at least one cooling unit servicing the portion of the server room;

changing a number of perforated tiles present in the portion of the server room; and

changing the type of one or more perforated tiles present in the portion of the server room; and

means for displaying the recommended action.

27. A system managing computer equipment, the system comprising:

means for receiving data indicating a power dissipated by computer equipment in the portion of the server room;

means for receiving data indicating an actual airflow through the portion of the server room;

means for calculating a target airflow considering the power dissipated by computer equipment in the portion of the server room, and a difference in temperature between hot and cold aisles in the portion of the server room;

means for calculating a recommended action for reaching the target airflow; and

means for implementing the recommended action, wherein the recommended action comprises at least one action selected from the group consisting of;

modifying a parameter of at least one cooling unit servicing the portion of the server room and modifying a state of at least one perforated tile present in the portion of the server room.