System and method for controlling server chassis cooling fans

• US 6,826,456 B1
• Filed: 05/04/2001
• Issued: 11/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (Hewlett-Packard Enterprise Company)
• Original Assignee: RLX Technologies, Inc. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Irving, Guy B., Rousset, Stephen P., Kirkeby, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo
• Assistant Examiner(s): Masinick, Michael D.
• Application Number:
  US09/848,999
• Time in Patent Office: 1,306 Days
• Field of Search: 700/300, 700/301, 700/304, 702/132, 702/130, 702/131, 301/158, 318/471, 318/472, 361/695
• US Class Current: 700/299
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/20 Cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/206 comprising thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20727 within server blades for removing heat from heat source

Abstract

A system and method for controlling server chassis cooling fans includes monitoring operating temperatures associated with each of a plurality of temperature sensors. The temperature sensors may be coupled with a plurality of respective server processing cards. In accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention, the operating speed of each of a plurality of server chassis cooling fans coupled with a server chassis is increased, in response to an operating temperature exceeding a predetermined maximum operating temperature measured at any one of the plurality of temperature sensors. In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the operating speed of each of the plurality of server chassis cooling fans is decreased in response to an operating temperature below a predetermined minimum operating temperature measured at each of the plurality of temperature sensors. In still another embodiment, a fan shutdown timer is activated for a predetermined time period at each of the plurality of server processing cards having an operating temperature below the predetermined maximum operating temperature.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a plurality of server chassis cooling fans, comprising:

transmitting first and second requests to first and second server processing cards, respectively, to read first and second operating temperatures, respectively, measured at first and second temperature sensors, respectively;

the first and second temperature sensors being coupled with the first and second server processing cards, respectively;

receiving the first and second operating temperatures at a central processing unit;

comparing the first and second operating temperatures with first and second predetermined maximum operating temperatures, respectively;

transmitting a third request to a plurality of server chassis cooling fans to increase the speed of the server chassis cooling fans if the first operating temperature is greater than or equal to the first predetermined maximum operating temperature or the second operating temperature is greater than or equal to the second predetermined maximum operating temperature; and

wherein the first and second server processing cards and the plurality of server chassis cooling fans are disposed at least partially within a server chassis.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving at least a third operating temperature at the central processing unit, the third operating temperature being associated with a third temperature sensor that is coupled with a third server processing card;

comparing the third operating temperature with a third predetermined maximum operating temperature; and

transmitting a fourth request to increase the speed of the server chassis cooling fans if the third operating temperature is greater than or equal to the third predetermined maximum operating temperature.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein at least two of the first, second and third predetermined maximum operating temperatures are equal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first request is transmitted over a PCI bus.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the operating temperature from a sensor chip.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the operating temperature is received over an I²c bus.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the third request comprises a GPIO signal.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first predetermined maximum operating temperature is equal to the second predetermined maximum operation temperature.

9. A system, comprising:

a plurality of server processing cards each having a respective central processing unit and temperature sensor;

the central processing units being operable to read operating temperatures measured at the temperature sensors;

a printed circuit board coupling each server processing card with a plurality of server chassis cooling fans;

wherein the plurality of server processing cards comprises a first number of server processing cards and the plurality of cooling fans comprises a second number of cooling fans and wherein the first number is greater than the second number; and

wherein each of the plurality of server chassis cooling fans is operable to increase speeds of rotation in response to a signal from any of the server processing cards indicating an operating temperature greater than or equal to a predetermined maximum operating temperature.

10. A computer readable medium encoded with logic operable to:

transmit first and second requests to first and second server processing cards, respectively, to read an operating temperature measured at first and second temperature sensors, respectively;

the first and second temperature sensors being coupled with the first and second server processing cards, respectively;

receive the first and second operating temperatures at a central processing unit;

compare the first and second operating temperatures with first and second predetermined maximum operating temperatures, respectively;

transmit a third request to a plurality of server chassis cooling fans to increase the speed of the server chassis cooling fans if the first operating temperature is greater than or equal to the first predetermined maximum operating temperature or the second operating temperature is greater than or equal to the second predetermined maximum operating temperature; and

wherein the first and second server processing cards and the plurality of server chassis cooling fans are disposed at least partially within a server chassis.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the logic is further operable to receive the operating temperature from a sensor chip.

12. A system for controlling a plurality of server chassis cooling fans, comprising:

means for transmitting first and second requests to first and second server processing cards, respectively, to read first and second operating temperatures, respectively, measured at first and second temperature sensors, respectively;

the first and second temperature sensors being coupled with the first and second server processing cards, respectively;

means for receiving the first and second operating temperatures at a central processing unit;

means for comparing the first and second operating temperatures with first and second predetermined maximum operating temperatures, respectively;

means for transmitting a third request to a plurality of server chassis cooling fans to increase the speed of the server chassis cooling fans if the first operating temperature is greater than or equal to the first predetermined maximum operating temperature or the second operating temperature is greater than or equal to the second predetermined maximum operating temperature; and

wherein the first and second server processing cards and the plurality of server chassis cooling fans are disposed at least partially within a server chassis.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising means for receiving the operating temperature from a sensor chip.

14. A method for controlling temperature in a server chassis, comprising:

transmitting first, second, and third requests to first, second, and third of at least ten server processing cards, respectively, to read first, second, and third operating temperatures, respectively, measured at first, second, and third temperature sensors, respectively, wherein the first, second, and third temperature sensors are respectively coupled with the first, second, and third server processing cards and at least one of the first, second, and third requests is transmitted over a PCI bus;

receiving, in response to transmitting the requests, the first, second, and third operating temperatures over a midplane circuit board at a central processing unit;

comparing the first, second, and third operating temperatures with first, second, and third predetermined maximum operating temperatures, respectively, at the central processing unit;

transmitting a fourth request to all of at least three server chassis cooling fans to increase the speed of the server chassis cooling fans if the first operating temperature is greater than or equal to the first predetermined maximum operating temperature, the second operating temperature is greater than or equal to the second predetermined maximum operating temperature, or the third operating temperature is greater than or equal to the third predetermined maximum operating temperature; and

wherein the server processing cards and the server chassis cooling fans are disposed at least partially within the server chassis.

15. The method of claim 14, and further comprising adjusting at least two of the first, second, and third predetermined maximum operating temperatures to an equal value.