Fail safe redundant power supply in a multi-node computer system

• US 7,643,307 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2005
• Issued: 01/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Baska, Douglas A., Zapotoski, Mitchell L., Fahr, Gerald J., Bosco, Frank E., Corrado, Joseph P., Kostenko, William P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reichard; Dean A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chen; Xiaoliang
• Application Number:
  US11/239,602
• Publication Number:
  US 20070069585A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,559 Days
• Field of Search: 361/757, 361/115, 361/600, 361/687, 361/694, 361/729, 361/730, 361/796, 361/797
• US Class Current: 361/757
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/189 Power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2015 Redundant power supplies power supply failure G06F1/30

Abstract

A data processing system and method providing a jumper which provides standby power from a redundant power supply to one of at least two critical functions in a frame having bays for holding at least two nodes. The redundant power supply supplying power to one of the nodes in the frame and one of the critical functions. A jumper is slidably engageable in the frame in place of one of the nodes. The jumper, when engaged in the frame, transfers power from the redundant power supply to the other of the critical functions. The jumper is included in a jumper book of an airblock which includes passive airblock books. Mechanical keys on the passive airblock books prevent the removal of the jumper book until after the passive airblock books are removed.

Claims

1. A method for supplying power to critical functions in a data processing system comprising:

providing a frame having bays for holding system components including at least two nodes;

providing in said frame further system components including at least two sets of critical functions, said sets of critical functions being supplied to each node in said frame;

supplying from a redundant power supply, power to one of said nodes in said frame and one set of said critical functions, said redundant power supply comprises three logic power supplies, each logic power supply slidably engageable in a node in said frame;

slidably engaging in said frame in place of one of the nodes, a jumper book including a jumper engageable with said frame which, when engaged in said frame, transfers power from said redundant power supply to the other set of said critical functions; and

engaging a power connector in said frame with a jumper connector in said jumper book when said jumper book is slidably engaged in said frame, said power connector being connected to at least one of said logic power supplies of said redundant power supply, said jumper being connected to said jumper connector and at least one of said critical functions such that standby power is transferred to the connected critical function when said jumper book is slidably engaged in said frame.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising connecting in at least one node installed in said frame, an oscillator and a system control processor in each set of critical functions.

3. The data processing system according to claim 1 wherein said jumper book is an airblock providing for the distribution of cooling air in said frame when said airblock is engaged in said frame.

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein said method further comprises recording system components in a vital data memory such that the data processing system records which system components are installed.

5. The method according to claim 4 wherein said airblock comprises three books, two of said books being passive airblock books and one of said books being said jumper book which includes said jumper.

6. The method according to claim 5 further comprising removing said passive airblock books and said jumper book is a set order by preventing the removal of said jumper book from said frame until after said passive airblock books are first removed.

7. A data processing system comprising:

a frame having bays for holding system components including at least two nodes;

at least two sets of critical functions, said sets of critical functions being supplied to ach node in said frame;

a redundant power supply supplying power to one of said nodes in said frame and one set of said critical functions, said sets of critical functions being supplied to each node in said frame, said redundant power supply supplying power to one of said nodes in said frame and one set of said critical functions, said redundant power supply comprises three logic power supplies, each logic power supply slidably engageable in a node in said frame;

a jumper book including a jumper slidably engageable in said frame in place of one of the nodes, said jumper which, when engaged in said frame, transfers power from said redundant power supply to the other of said critical functions; and

a power connector in said frame engageable with a jumper connector in said jumper book when said jumper book is slidably engaged in said frame, said power connector being connected to at least one of said logic power supplies of said redundant power supply, said jumper being connected to said jumper connector and at least one of said critical functions such that standby power is transferred to the connected critical function when said jumper book is slidably engaged in said frame.

8. The data processing system according to claim 7 wherein each of said critical functions includes an oscillator and a system control processor for connection to at least one node installed in said frame.

9. The data processing system according to claim 7 wherein said jumper book is an airblock providing for the distribution of cooling air in said frame when said airblock is engaged in said frame.

10. The data processing system according to claim 9 further comprising a vital data memory for recording systems components such that the data processing system records which system components are installed.

11. The data processing system according to claim 10 wherein said airblock comprises three books, two of said books being passive airblock books and one of said books being said jumper book which includes said jumper.

12. The data processing system according to claim 11 wherein said passive airblock books and said jumper book include mechanical keys preventing the removal of said jumper book from said frame until after said passive airblock books are first removed.

13. A jumper book slidably engageable in a frame of a data processing system, said jumper book comprising:

a jumper connector for engaging with a power connector connected to one of at least three logic power supplies in a redundant power supply when said jumper book is slidably engaged in said frame;

a second connector for engaging with a critical function connector for providing standby power to one of at least two critical function sets in said data processing system when said jumper book is slidably engaged in said frame;

a jumper connected between said jumper connector and said second connector, said jumper connector including a pin connector for engagement with a pin arrangement, said pin arrangement having a spare pin connector which connects to standby power in said frame for powering said critical function; and

said second connector including a pin connector for engagement with a second pin arrangement, said second pin arrangement having a power pin connector for powering said critical function.

14. The jumper book according to claim 13 wherein said jumper book is an airblock for assisting in the distribution of cooling air to said frame when said jumper book is slidably engaged in said frame.

15. The jumper book according to claim 13 further comprising a tab engagement surface engageable with a mechanical key on a passive book, said tab engagement surface for preventing the removal of said jumper book from said frame until after the removal of said passive book from said frame.

16. The jumper book according to claim 13 wherein said jumper is connected between said spare pin connector and said power pin connector.