Method and system for monitoring configuration changes in a data processing system

• US 6,493,827 B1
• Filed: 03/17/1999
• Issued: 12/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Walter, Lucinda Mae, Mueller, Mark Wayne, Thomsen, Peter Matthew, Tuten, Wallace
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHUNG TRANS, XUONG MY
• Application Number:
  US09/271,231
• Time in Patent Office: 1,364 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300, 713/320, 713/324, 713/340, 713/1, 713/2, 713/100, 710/8, 710/10, 710/15-19
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/327 Alarm or error message display

Abstract

A method and system for monitoring and adapting to configuration changes in a data processing system having a known configuration, while power is applied thereto. In response to a configuration change in the data processing system, values are calculated for multiple system operating factors. An alert is provided to a user if at least one of said calculated values, among the multiple system operating factors, is not within a predetermined range of values for the multiple system operating factors. In addition, the operation of the data processing system is restricted to accommodate for any system operating factors which are not within the predetermined range of values, such that the data processing system is guarded from damage due to an unstable configuration.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring configuration changes in a data processing system, having a known configuration, while power is applied thereto, said method comprising the steps of:

in response to a configuration change in a data processing system, calculating values for a plurality of system operating factors including;

updating a demand binary counter value containing the number of components which demand power for operation;

updating a supply binary counter value containing the number of components which supply power;

calculating a total demand value by multiplying said demand binary counter value with a value representing the current expected to be utilized by each said component which demands power for operation, where said total demand value is said power necessary for said plurality of components; and

calculating a total supply value by multiplying said supply binary counter value with a value representing the current supply by each said component which supply power for operation, where said total supply value is the available power;

providing an alert to a user if at least one of said calculated values among said plurality of system operating factors is not within a predetermined range of values for said plurality of system operating factors; and

restricting operation of said data processing system to accommodate for any said system operating factors which are not within said predetermined range of values, such that said data processing system is guarded from damage due to an unstable configuration.

2. The method of monitoring configuration changes in a data processing system according to claim 1, said step of calculating a total demand value further comprises the step of:

calculating the power necessary for each processor within said data processing system.

3. The method of monitoring configuration changes in a data processing system according to claim 1, said step of calculating a total demand value fiber comprising the step of:

calculating the power necessary for each memory element within said data processing system.

4. The method of monitoring configuration changes in a data processing system according to claim 1, said step of providing an alert to a user if at least one of said calculated values among said plurality of system operating factors is not within a predetermined range of values for said plurality of system operating factors further comprising the step of:

alerting said user if the power necessary for each of said plurality of components exceeds the available power of said data processing system.

5. The method of monitoring configuration changes in a data processing system according to claim 4, said step of alerting said user if the power necessary for each of said plurality of components exceeds the available power of said data processing system further comprising the steps of:

detecting each of a plurality of components within said data processing system which supplies power;

calculating said available power supplied by each of said plurality of components within said data processing system which supplies power; and

comparing said available power with said power necessary for each of said plurality of components.

notifying a system manager if said power necessary for each of said plurality of components exceeds said available power where said system manager notifies said user.

6. The method of monitoring configuration changes in a data processing system according to claim 5, said step of calculating said available power supplied by each of said plurality of components within said data processing system which supplies power, further comprising the step of:

calculating said available power supplied by each of a plurality of voltage regulator modules within said data processing system.

7. The method of monitoring configuration changes in a data processing system according to claim 1, said step of restricting operation of said data processing system to accommodate for any said system operating factors which are not within said predetermined range of values further comprising the step of:

powering down said data processing system if the power necessary for each of said plurality of components exceeds the available power of said data processing system by a predetermined amount.

8. A system for monitoring configuration changes in a data processing system, having a known configuration, while power is applied thereto, said system comprising:

means for calculating values for a plurality of system operating factors in response to a configuration change in a data processing system including;

means for updating a demand binary counter value containing the number of components which demand power for operation;

means for updating a supply binary counter value containing the number of components which supply power;

means for calculating a total demand value by multiplying said demand binary counter value with a value representing the current expected to be utilized by each said component which demands power for operation, where said total demand value is said power necessary for e aid plurality of components; and

means for calculating a total supply value by multiplying said supply binary counter value with a value representing the current supply by each said component which supply power for operation, where said total supply value is the available power;

means for providing an alert to a user if at least one of said calculated values among said plurality of system operating factors is not within a predetermined range of values for said plurality of system operating factors; and

means for restricting operation of said data processing system to accommodate for any said system operating factors which are not within said predetermined range of values, such that said data processing system is guarded from damage due to an unstable configuration.

9. The system for monitoring configuration changes in a data processing system according to claim 8, said means for calculating values for a plurality of system operating factors and said means for providing an alert to a user if at least one of said calculated values among said plurality of system operating factors is not within a predetermined range of values for said plurality of system operating factors comprising an adaptive configuration controller.

10. The system for monitoring configuration changes in a data processing system according to claim 8, said means for calculating a total demand value further comprising:

means for calculating the power necessary for each processor within said data processing system.

11. The system for monitoring configuration changes in a data processing system according to claim 8, said means for calculating a total demand value further comprising:

means for calculating the power necessary for each memory element within said data processing system.

12. The system for monitoring configuration changes in a data processing system according to claim 8, said means for providing an alert to a user if at least one of said calculated values among said plurality of system operating factors is not within a predetermined range of values for said plurality of system operating factors further comprising:

means for alerting said user if the power necessary for each of said plurality of components exceeds The available power of said data processing system.

13. The system for monitoring configuration changes in a data processing system according to claim 12, said means for alerting said user if the power necessary for each of said plurality of components exceeds the available power of said data processing system further comprising:

means for detecting each of a plurality of components within said data processing system which supplies power.

means for calculating said available power supplied by each of said plurality of components within said data processing system which supplies power;

means for comparing said available power with said power necessary for each of said plurality of components; and

means for noting a system manager if said power necessary for each of said plurality of components exceeds said available power where said system manager notifies said user.

14. The system for monitoring configuration changes in a data processing system according to claim 13, said means for calculating said available power supplied by each of said plurality of components within said data processing system which supplies power, further comprising:

means for calculating said available power supplied by each of a plurality of voltage regulator modules within said data processing system.

15. The system for monitoring configuration changes in a data processing system according to claim 8, said means for restricting operation of said data processing system to accommodate for any said system operating factors which are not within said predetermined range of values further comprising;

means for powering down said data processing system if the power necessary for each of said plurality of components exceeds the available power of said data processing system by a predetermined amount.

16. The system for monitoring configuration changes in a data processing system according to claim 8, said means for calculating values for a plurality of system operating factors in response to a configuration change in a data processing system wherein said configuration change comprises the insertion of a hot plug component.

17. The system for monitoring configuration changes in a data processing system according to claim 8, said means for calculating values for a plurality of system operating factors in response to a configuration change in a data processing system wherein said configuration change comprises de removal of a hot plug component.

18. A program product for monitoring configuration changes in a data processing system, having a known configuration, while power is applied thereto, said program product comprising:

a data processing system usable medium; and

an adaptive configuration controller encoded within said data processing system usable medium that, in response to a configuration change in a data processing system;

calculates values for a plurality of system operating factors including;

updating a demand binary counter value containing the number of components which demand power for operation;

updating a supply binary counter value containing the number of components which supply power;

calculating a total demand value by multiplying said demand binary counter value with a value representing the current expected to be utilized by each said component which demands power for operation, where said total demand value is said power necessary for said plurality of components; and

calculating a total supply value by multiplying said supply binary counter value with a value representing the current supply by each said component which supply power for operation, where said total supply value is the available power;

provides an alert to a user if at least one of said calculated values among said plurality of system operating factors is not within a predetermined range of values for said plurality of system operating factors; and

restricts operation of said data processing system to accommodate for any said system operating factors which are not within said predetermined range of values.

19. The program product according to claim 18, wherein said adaptive configuration controller:

calculates the power necessary for each processor within said data processing system.

20. The program product according to claim 18, wherein said adaptive configuration controller:

calculates the power necessary for each memory element within said data processing system.

21. The program product according to claim 18, wherein said adaptive configuration controller:

alerts said use if the power necessary for each of said plurality of components exceeds the available power of said data processing system.

22. The program product according to claim 21, wherein said adaptive configuration controller:

detects each of a plurality of components within said data processing system which supplies power;

calculates said available power supplied by each of said plurality of components within said data processing system which supplies power, and

compares said available power with said power necessary for each of said plurality of components.

notifies a system manager if said power necessary for each of said plurality of components exceeds said available power where said system manager notifies said user.

23. The program product according to claim 21, wherein said adaptive configuration controller:

calculates said available power supplied by each of a plurality of voltage regulator modules within said data processing system.

24. The program product according to claim 18, wherein said adaptive configuration controller:

powers down said data processing system if the power necessary for each of said plurality of components exceeds the available power of said data processing stem by a predetermined amount.