CONTROLLING POWER SEQUENCE IN A BLADE CENTER ENVIRONMENT

• US 20120198261A1
• Filed: 03/08/2012
• Published: 08/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Brown, Deanna Lynn Quigg, Graves, Jason James, Holdaway, Kevan D., Nguyen, Nhu Thanh, Olguin, Ronald Ivan II
• Granted Patent: US 8,812,890 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/330
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/30 Means for acting in the event of power-supply failure or interruption, e.g. power-supply fluctuations for resetting only G06F1/24
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/30 Monitoring

Abstract

For controlling power sequence in a blade center environment, a relationship component module creates a topology of interdependent relationships of devices in the blade center environment. The devices include server blades, storage blades, and switch modules. A sequence module defines a sequence of the devices in the blade center environment to power off and on based on the topology of interdependent relationships. The sequence includes an order of a first independent blade server, each dependent storage blade of the first independent blade server, and a second independent blade server. A monitor component module monitors a command from an Advanced Management Module (AMM) to regulate power for the devices in the blade center environment. The AMM regulates power within the blade center. A validation module validates that the command does not violate the interdependent relationships and the sequence of devices or else blocks the command if the command is not validated.

Claims

1. A method to control power sequencing in a blade center environment, the comprising:

creating a topology of interdependent relationships of devices in the blade center environment, the devices comprising server blades, storage blades, and switch modules;

defining a sequence of the devices in the blade center environment to power off and on based on the topology of interdependent relationships, the sequence comprising an order of a first independent blade server, each dependent storage blade of the first independent blade server, and a second independent blade server;

monitoring a command from an Advanced Management Module (AMM) to regulate power for devices in the blade center environment, wherein the AMM regulates power within the blade center; and

validating that the command does not violate the interdependent relationships and the sequence of devices else block the command if the command is not validated.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the interdependent relationships of the blade center environment are defined by vital product data.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing hierarchies of vital product data for each device to assure the sequence of devices is acceptable.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying interdependent relationships of devices to assure that the dependent devices and independent devices in the blade center environment are powered off and on in the sequence of devices.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the interdependent relationships for controlling power to the devices are modified by the sequence module.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising validating that the interdependent relationships for powering devices off and on meet predefined criteria.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the AMM establishes predefined limits for power consumption.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the AMM monitors the combined power consumption of each device to determine if total consumption exceeds the predefined limits.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising validating that the interdependent relationships for powering devices off and on meet predefined criteria.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising validating that the interdependent relationships for powering devices off and on meet predefined criteria prior to allowing the AMM to control power of the devices.

11. The method of claim 10, the method further comprising:

preventing the AMM from powering off AMM sequenced devices if the interdependent relationship is not validated;

selecting the next device in the sequence of devices; and

notifying the provider'"'"'s service department of the unvalidated relationship.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending notification when power consumption levels require powering off a device.