System and method for power usage level management of blades installed within blade servers
First Claim
1. A method for managing power usage levels for new blades installed in a blade server, comprising:
- initializing one or more blades within a chassis for a blade server;
adding a new blade to a chassis, the new blade configured to have two or more power usage levels;
powering up a baseboard management controller (BMC) for the new blade without powering up a central processing unit (CPU) for the new blade;
reporting a power usage level for the new blade from the BMC to a chassis controller, the power usage level being a level other than the maximum power usage level for the blade;
assessing with the chassis controller a new total power usage level for the chassis based upon the reported power usage level for the new blade;
providing instructions from the chassis controller to the BMC to allow the blade to power-up using the power usage level for the new blade if the new total power usage level for the chassis will be below a maximum total power usage level for the chassis; and
operating the new blade using the power usage level.
14 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems are disclosed for power usage level management of blades installed in blade servers. When a new blade added is to a blade server, possible power usage levels for the new blade are assessed to determine possible effects on the total power usage level of the chassis. By assessing the different power usage levels, the chassis controller can then make intelligent decisions as to the power usage levels at which new blades will be allowed to operate while still keeping within chassis power supply capabilities. Blade power usage levels can be based upon a variety of considerations, including processor performance modes and blade configuration options.
41 Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A method for managing power usage levels for new blades installed in a blade server, comprising:
-
initializing one or more blades within a chassis for a blade server; adding a new blade to a chassis, the new blade configured to have two or more power usage levels; powering up a baseboard management controller (BMC) for the new blade without powering up a central processing unit (CPU) for the new blade; reporting a power usage level for the new blade from the BMC to a chassis controller, the power usage level being a level other than the maximum power usage level for the blade; assessing with the chassis controller a new total power usage level for the chassis based upon the reported power usage level for the new blade; providing instructions from the chassis controller to the BMC to allow the blade to power-up using the power usage level for the new blade if the new total power usage level for the chassis will be below a maximum total power usage level for the chassis; and operating the new blade using the power usage level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A method for managing power usage levels for new blades installed in a blade server, comprising:
-
initializing one or more blades within a chassis for a blade server; adding a new blade to a chassis, the new blade configured to have two or more power usage levels; assessing a new total power usage level for the chassis based upon the possible power usage levels for the new blade; allowing a power usage level for the new blade that will keep the new total power usage level for the chassis below a maximum total power usage level for the chassis; and operating the new blade at the allowed power usage level; wherein the new blade has different power usage levels than at least one of the blades already installed in the chassis.
-
-
10. A method for managing power usage levels for new blades installed in a blade server, comprising:
-
initializing one or more blades within a chassis for a blade server; adding a new blade to a chassis, the new blade configured to have two or more power usage levels; assessing a new total power usage level for the chassis based upon the possible power usage levels for the new blade; allowing a power usage level for the new blade that will keep the new total power usage level for the chassis below a maximum total power usage level for the chassis; and operating the new blade at the allowed power usage level; wherein the assessing step comprises starting with a lowest power usage level for the new blade. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
-
-
13. A blade server having power usage level management for installed blades, comprising:
-
a chassis having a power supply, the chassis configured to house a plurality of blades; a chassis power supply coupled to the chassis, the chassis power supply configured to supply power to blades installed within the chassis; and a chassis controller coupled to the chassis, the chassis controller configured to control power levels for blades installed within the chassis; wherein the chassis controller is further configured to assess new power usage levels for the chassis based upon at least one possible power usage levels for a new blade that is capable of operating at two or more power usage levels and to allow a power usage level for the new blade that will keep the new power usage level for the chassis below a maximum total power usage level for the chassis; wherein the chassis power supply comprises a main power rail coupled to a power supply for each blade and an auxiliary power rail coupled to a baseboard management controller (BMC) for each blade; and wherein the chassis controller is configured to communicate with the BMC for the new blade in order to instruct the new blade to stay powered-off or to power-up using the allowed power usage level if the new total power usage level for the chassis will be below a maximum total power usage level for the chassis. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A blade for a blade server having power usage level reporting, comprising:
-
a baseboard management controller (BMC) configured to be coupled to a chassis controller for a blade server, the BMC further configured to report to the chassis controller possible power usage levels for the blade; a central processing unit (CPU) configured to operate in multiple performance modes, each performance mode having an associated power usage level; and a BIOS (basic input/output system) device coupled to the BMC and to the CPU, the BIOS being configured to control the performance modes of the CPU and being configured to request approval from the chassis controller through the BMC for the CPU to operate in successively higher performance modes until a request is denied; wherein the BMC is configured to initially report to the chassis controller a lowest power usage level for the new blade and then request approval for one or more higher power usage levels. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
-
Specification