System, architecture, and method for logical server and other network devices in a dynamically configurable multi-server network environment
First Claim
1. In a system having a plurality of physical network devices, a method for grouping said plurality of physical network devices into a logical network device for operation and control, said method comprising:
- coupling said physical network devices that are to be grouped together as a logical device for communication;
identifying a manager to supervise operation of said logical device;
identifying a number of said plurality of physical network devices that are configured to perform a task;
receiving at least one request for performance of the task;
determining demand for the task; and
based on the demand, executing a procedure within said manager to coordinate and control operation of said logical device to increase or decrease the number of physical network devices that are configured to perform the task; and
wherein demand for each of a plurality of tasks performed by the logical device are monitored for the logical device, for each physical device within said logical device, or both; and
said demand information is used to power manage said logical device and said physical devices;
said power management includes reconfiguring said logical unit to minimize power consumption while maintaining a required task performance level;
said reconfiguring said logical unit to minimize power consumption while maintaining a required task performance level is performed in accordance with power management policies; and
said power management policies include a policy that attempts to satisfy performance requirements by operating each of first selected physical devices at first performance levels, and each of second selected physical devices at second performance levels.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Network architecture, computer system and/or server, circuit, device, apparatus, method, and computer program and control mechanism for managing power consumption and workload in computer system and data and information servers. Further provides power and energy consumption and workload management and control systems and architectures for high-density and modular multi-server computer systems that maintain performance while conserving energy and method for power management and workload management. Dynamic server power management and optional dynamic workload management for multi server environments is provided by aspects of the invention. Modular network devices and integrated server system, including modular servers, management units, switches and switching fabrics, modular power supplies and modular fans and a special backplane architecture are provided as well as dynamically reconfigurable multi-purpose modules and servers. Backplane architecture, structure, and method that has no active components and separate power supply lines and protection to provide high reliability in server environment.
341 Citations
36 Claims
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1. In a system having a plurality of physical network devices, a method for grouping said plurality of physical network devices into a logical network device for operation and control, said method comprising:
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coupling said physical network devices that are to be grouped together as a logical device for communication; identifying a manager to supervise operation of said logical device; identifying a number of said plurality of physical network devices that are configured to perform a task; receiving at least one request for performance of the task; determining demand for the task; and based on the demand, executing a procedure within said manager to coordinate and control operation of said logical device to increase or decrease the number of physical network devices that are configured to perform the task; and wherein demand for each of a plurality of tasks performed by the logical device are monitored for the logical device, for each physical device within said logical device, or both; and
said demand information is used to power manage said logical device and said physical devices;said power management includes reconfiguring said logical unit to minimize power consumption while maintaining a required task performance level; said reconfiguring said logical unit to minimize power consumption while maintaining a required task performance level is performed in accordance with power management policies; and said power management policies include a policy that attempts to satisfy performance requirements by operating each of first selected physical devices at first performance levels, and each of second selected physical devices at second performance levels. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. In a system having a plurality of physical network devices, a method for grouping said plurality of physical network devices into a logical network device for operation and control, said method comprising:
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coupling said physical network devices that are to be grouped together as a logical device for communication; identifying a manager to supervise operation of said logical device; identifying a number of said plurality of physical network devices that are configured to perform a task; receiving at least one request for performance of the task; determining demand for the task; and based on the demand, executing a procedure within said manager to coordinate and control operation of said logical device to increase or decrease the number of physical network devices that are configured to perform the task; wherein performance of a logical group of physical network devices forming a single logical device are power managed by reducing the performance and power consumption of each constituent physical device in predetermined equal increments, predetermined unequal increments, in a substantially continuous manner, or dynamically in a continuous or incremental manner; and wherein said unequal increments include at least one of; (i) placing one or more of said plurality of physical devices in a sleep mode, and (ii) placing one or more of said plurality of physical devices in a powered-off mode. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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36. In a system having a plurality of physical network devices, a method for grouping said plurality of physical network devices into a logical network device for operation and control, said method comprising:
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coupling said physical network devices that are to be grouped together as a logical device for communication; identifying a manager to supervise operation of said logical device; identifying a number of said plurality of physical network devices that are configured to perform a task; receiving at least one request for performance of the task; determining demand for the task; and based on the demand, executing a procedure within said manager to coordinate and control operation of said logical device to increase or decrease the number of physical network devices that are configured to perform the task; and wherein demand for each of a plurality of tasks performed by the logical device are monitored for the logical device, for each physical device within said logical device, or both; and
said demand information is used to power manage said logical device and said physical devices;said power management includes reconfiguring said logical unit to minimize power consumption while maintaining a required task performance level; said reconfiguring said logical unit to minimize power consumption while maintaining a required task performance level is performed in accordance with power management policies; and wherein a composite performance of a logical network device is achieved by placing some physical network devices in a first power saving mode and by placing others in a different mode.
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Specification