System and method for autonomous power sequencing
First Claim
1. A computer system comprising:
- a power supply;
a plurality of server modules;
a midplane comprising;
a plurality of connectors receiving the plurality of server modules, each connector having a unique predetermined address independent of the plurality of server modules; and
an address module obtaining the unique predetermined addresses of the plurality of connectors from the midplane and to calculate a start-up time associated with each connector based on (a) the unique predetermined address for each connector and (b) a multiplication factor associated with a duration of an inrush load of at least one of the plurality of server modules, the start-up times calculated for the plurality of connectors defining a start-up sequence for the plurality of connectors;
wherein the computer system couples the power supply to the plurality of server modules based on the start-up times and the defined start-up sequence associated with the plurality of connectors; and
a management controller associated with the midplane, the management controller storing the defined start-up sequence for the plurality of server modules and the management controller providing sequence redundancy by sequencing power to the plurality of server modules during start-up if the midplane experiences a failure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method are provided for autonomous power sequencing in a computer system. The system and method includes at least one server module such as a server blade or a server brick. A midplane receives the server modules and provides a unique address for each server module based on the location of the server modules on the midplane. The server modules each include an address module having a timer, the address module operable to obtain the unique address from the midplane and calculate a start-up time for the associated server module based on the unique address for each server module. A power supply sequences power to the server modules based on the start-up times for the server modules. Therefore, the server modules power up in a sequence instead of simultaneously and without the aid of a central controller controlling the sequencing of the powering of the server modules.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A computer system comprising:
- a power supply;
a plurality of server modules;
a midplane comprising;
a plurality of connectors receiving the plurality of server modules, each connector having a unique predetermined address independent of the plurality of server modules; and
an address module obtaining the unique predetermined addresses of the plurality of connectors from the midplane and to calculate a start-up time associated with each connector based on (a) the unique predetermined address for each connector and (b) a multiplication factor associated with a duration of an inrush load of at least one of the plurality of server modules, the start-up times calculated for the plurality of connectors defining a start-up sequence for the plurality of connectors;
wherein the computer system couples the power supply to the plurality of server modules based on the start-up times and the defined start-up sequence associated with the plurality of connectors; and
a management controller associated with the midplane, the management controller storing the defined start-up sequence for the plurality of server modules and the management controller providing sequence redundancy by sequencing power to the plurality of server modules during start-up if the midplane experiences a failure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
- a power supply;
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13. A method for autonomous power sequencing in a computer system, the method comprising:
- receiving a plurality of server modules into a plurality of connectors on a midplane, each connector having a predetermined address independent of the plurality of server modules;
assigning a unique address to each server module based on the predetermined address of each connector receiving each server module;
obtaining the unique address for each server module from the midplane;
calculating a start-up time associated with each connector based on (a) the unique address for each connector and (b) an inrush load requirement of each server module;
automatically sequencing power to start up the plurality of server modules based on the start-up times for the plurality of connectors; and
storing a start-up sequence for the plurality of server modules and providing redundancy by sequencing power to the plurality of server modules during start-up if the midplane experiences a failure. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
- receiving a plurality of server modules into a plurality of connectors on a midplane, each connector having a predetermined address independent of the plurality of server modules;
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22. A computer system comprising:
- a plurality of server modules processing data;
one or more midplanes associated with the plurality of server modules, the one or more midplanes including a plurality of connectors, each connector having a unique predetermined address independent of the plurality of server modules, each connector interfacing with one of the plurality of server modules;
an address module associated with the one or more midplanes, the address module obtaining the unique predetermined addresses from the plurality of connectors and to calculate a start-up time associated with each connector based on (a) the unique address for each connector and (b) at least one start-up characteristic of each server module, the start-up times calculated for the plurality of connectors defining a start-up sequence for the plurality of connectors;
a power supply associated with the one or more midplanes, the power supply providing power to start up the plurality of server modules in a sequence determined by the start-up times and the defined start-up sequence associated with the plurality of connectors;
a management controller associated with a respective midplane, the management controller storing the defined start-up sequence for the plurality of server modules and the management controller providing sequence redundancy by sequencing power to the plurality of server modules during start-up if the respective midplane experiences a failure; and
one or more chassis housing the plurality of server modules, the one or more midplanes, and the power supply. - View Dependent Claims (23)
- a plurality of server modules processing data;
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24. An information handling system comprising:
- a power supply;
a plurality of server modules;
a midplane comprising;
a plurality of connectors receiving the plurality of server modules, each connector having a unique predetermined address independent of the plurality of server modules; and
an address module obtaining the unique predetermined addresses of the plurality of connectors from the midplane and to associate each unique predetermined address of the plurality of connectors with a predetermined start-up time stored by the address module, the predetermined start-up times for the plurality of connectors defining a start-up sequence for the plurality of connectors; and
wherein the information handling system couples the power supply to the plurality of server modules based on the predetermined start-up times and the defined start-up sequence associated with the plurality of connectors; and
a management controller associated with the midplane, the management controller storing the defined start-up sequence for the plurality of server modules and the management controller providing sequence redundancy by sequencing power to the plurality of server modules during start-up if the midplane experiences a failure.
- a power supply;
Specification