Power conservation in a server cluster
First Claim
1. A method of operating a server cluster including a set of server devices each connected to a local area network, comprising:
- preventing access to a selected server'"'"'s memory by other servers on the server cluster when the selected server is powered up;
deactivating the selected server responsive to a decrease in server cluster traffic;
responsive to deactivating the selected server, permitting the other servers on the cluster to access at least a portion of the selected sewer'"'"'s memory; and
responsive to a request received by one of the other servers for a file stored in the selected server'"'"'s file cache, retrieving the file from the selected server'"'"'s file cache over the local area network.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for operating a server cluster that includes a set of server devices connected to a local area network (LAN). Each server device maintains a directory of the contents of its file cache. When a decrease in server cluster traffic is detected, a server device on the server cluster is selected for powering down. Prior to powering down a server device, the device'"'"'s file cache directory is broadcast over the LAN to each of the other server devices on the cluster. If a subsequent request for a file stored in the powered-down server'"'"'s file cache is received by the cluster, the request is routed to one of the remaining active server devices. This server device then retrieves the requested file from the powered-down server'"'"'s file cache over the LAN. Prior to broadcasting the file cache directory, pending client requests on the selected server device are completed. The powered-down server may continue to provide power to its NIC and system memory while the processor is deactivated. The server device NIC may include direct memory access capability enabling the NIC to retrieve files from the system memory while the processor is powered-down.
33 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of operating a server cluster including a set of server devices each connected to a local area network, comprising:
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preventing access to a selected server'"'"'s memory by other servers on the server cluster when the selected server is powered up; deactivating the selected server responsive to a decrease in server cluster traffic; responsive to deactivating the selected server, permitting the other servers on the cluster to access at least a portion of the selected sewer'"'"'s memory; and responsive to a request received by one of the other servers for a file stored in the selected server'"'"'s file cache, retrieving the file from the selected server'"'"'s file cache over the local area network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A server device suitable for use in a data processing network comprising:
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at least one processor; a system memory accessible to the processor via a system bus; a network interface card (NIC), including a NIC controller and memory, connected to the system bus and providing a connection to the local area network; server code means for deactivating the processor; NIC code means for preventing access to the server device'"'"'s memory by other servers on the server cluster when the server device is activated; and NIC code means for enabling the other servers to retrieve a file from the system memory of the server device when the server device is deactivated. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. A data processing network including a set of interconnected server devices, each server device comprising:
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at least one processor; a system memory accessible to the processor via a system bus; a network interface card (NIC), including a NIC controller and memory, connected to the system bus and providing a connection to the local area network; server code means for deactivating the processor; NIC code means for preventing access to the server device'"'"'s memory by other servers on the server cluster when the server device is activated; and NIC code means for enabling the other servers to retrieve a file from the system memory of the server device when the server device is deactivated. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification