Systems and methods for computer equipment management

• US 20090210755A1
• 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 8,201,028 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 714/57
• 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

Various embodiments are directed to systems and method of monitoring computer equipment. For example, a plurality of computer equipment parameters may be monitored. Also, an anomaly in at least one of the plurality of computer equipment parameters may be detected and an alert interface may be generated. The alert interface may comprise an indication of a first piece of computer equipment exhibiting the anomaly; an animation of the computer equipment parameter exhibiting the anomaly over a period of time including the anomaly; and a power impact analysis indicating other pieces of computer equipment that would be affected by a failure of the first piece of computer equipment.

Claims

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

monitoring with a server a plurality of computer equipment parameters, 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;

detecting with the server an anomaly in at least one of the plurality of computer equipment parameters; and

generating with the server an alert interface, wherein the alert interface comprises;

an indication of a first piece of computer equipment exhibiting the anomaly;

an animation of the computer equipment parameter exhibiting the anomaly over a period of time including the anomaly; and

a power impact analysis indicating other pieces of computer equipment that would be affected by a failure of the first piece of computer equipment.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the anomaly comprises at least one event selected from the group consisting of a failure of a power component, a failure of a cooling unit, at least one piece of computer equipment drawing current in excess of a predetermined threshold, and at least one piece of computer equipment having a temperature in excess of a predetermined threshold.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising routing the alert interface with the server to a technician having responsibility for the first piece of computer equipment exhibiting the anomaly.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein a recipient of the alert interface is a technician, and wherein the animation of the computer equipment parameter exhibiting the anomaly over a period of time including the anomaly comprises an animation of a zone including the first piece of computer equipment exhibiting the anomaly and a power impact analysis of a cabinet including the first piece of computer equipment exhibiting the anomaly.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a recipient of the alert interface is a manager, and wherein the animation of the computer equipment parameter exhibiting the anomaly over a period of time including the anomaly comprises an animation of a server room including the first piece of computer equipment exhibiting the anomaly and a power impact analysis of a zone including the first piece of computer equipment exhibiting the anomaly.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the alert interface further comprises an environmental field displaying a reading from at least one sensor associated with the computer equipment exhibiting the anomaly.

7. A system for monitoring computer equipment, the system comprising a server comprising at least one processor and operatively associated memory, wherein the memory comprises instructions that when executed by the at least one processor cause the server to:

monitor a plurality of computer equipment parameters;

detect an anomaly in at least one of the plurality of computer equipment parameters; and

generate an alert interface, wherein the alert interface comprises;

an indication of a first piece of computer equipment exhibiting the anomaly;

an animation of the computer equipment parameter exhibiting the anomaly over a period of time including the anomaly; and

a power impact analysis indicating other pieces of computer equipment that would be affected by a failure of the first piece of computer equipment.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the anomaly comprises at least one event selected from the group consisting of a failure of a power component, a failure of a cooling unit, at least one piece of computer equipment drawing current in excess of a predetermined threshold, and at least one piece of computer equipment having a temperature in excess of a predetermined threshold.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the memory further comprises instructions that when executed by the at least one processor cause the server to rout the alert interface to a technician having responsibility for the first piece of computer equipment exhibiting the anomaly.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein a recipient of the alert interface is a technician, and wherein the animation of the computer equipment parameter exhibiting the anomaly over a period of time including the anomaly comprises an animation of a zone including the first piece of computer equipment exhibiting the anomaly and a power impact analysis of a cabinet including the first piece of computer equipment exhibiting the anomaly.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein a recipient of the alert interface is a manager, and wherein the animation of the computer equipment parameter exhibiting the anomaly over a period of time including the anomaly comprises an animation of a server room including the first piece of computer equipment exhibiting the anomaly and a power impact analysis of a zone including the first piece of computer equipment exhibiting the anomaly.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the alert interface further comprises an environmental field displaying a reading from at least one sensor associated with the computer equipment exhibiting the anomaly.

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

monitor a plurality of computer equipment parameters;

detect an anomaly in at least one of the plurality of computer equipment parameters; and

generate an alert interface, wherein the alert interface comprises;

an indication of a first piece of computer equipment exhibiting the anomaly;

an animation of the computer equipment parameter exhibiting the anomaly over a period of time including the anomaly; and

a power impact analysis indicating other pieces of computer equipment that would be affected by a failure of the first piece of computer equipment.

14. A system for monitoring computer equipment, the system comprising

means for monitoring a plurality of computer equipment parameters;

means for detecting an anomaly in at least one of the plurality of computer equipment parameters; and

means for generating an alert interface, wherein the alert interface comprises;

an indication of a first piece of computer equipment exhibiting the anomaly;

an animation of the computer equipment parameter exhibiting the anomaly over a period of time including the anomaly; and

a power impact analysis indicating other pieces of computer equipment that would be affected by a failure of the first piece of computer equipment.