System, method, and architecture for dynamic server power management and dynamic workload management for multi-server environment
First Claim
1. A computer system comprising:
- a plurality of computers each having at least one processor and an activity monitor identifying a level of activity indicator for said at least one processor;
each of said computers being configured to operate in a plurality of modes wherein each mode has a respective maximum performance level and a respective maximum power consumption rate; and
a power manager;
(i) coupled to each of said computers and receiving said level of activity information from each of said plurality of computers;
(ii) analyzing said plurality of received level of activity information;
(iii) determining an operating mode for each of said computers selected from said plurality of modes based on said analyzed plurality of activity information and predetermined policies; and
(iv) generating commands to each of said plurality of computers directing each of said plurality of computers to operate in said determined operating mode;
and wherein power (or energy) is conserved by controlling the plurality of computers in aggregate based on a control procedure algorithm and said policy to enter selected levels of power (energy) saving by adjusting the performance of the processors within the computers among said plurality of modes to substantially match the aggregate computer processor loading demands.
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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 environment 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.
271 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A computer system comprising:
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a plurality of computers each having at least one processor and an activity monitor identifying a level of activity indicator for said at least one processor; each of said computers being configured to operate in a plurality of modes wherein each mode has a respective maximum performance level and a respective maximum power consumption rate; and a power manager;
(i) coupled to each of said computers and receiving said level of activity information from each of said plurality of computers;
(ii) analyzing said plurality of received level of activity information;
(iii) determining an operating mode for each of said computers selected from said plurality of modes based on said analyzed plurality of activity information and predetermined policies; and
(iv) generating commands to each of said plurality of computers directing each of said plurality of computers to operate in said determined operating mode;and wherein power (or energy) is conserved by controlling the plurality of computers in aggregate based on a control procedure algorithm and said policy to enter selected levels of power (energy) saving by adjusting the performance of the processors within the computers among said plurality of modes to substantially match the aggregate computer processor loading demands. - View Dependent Claims (2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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3. The computer system in clam 2, wherein:
- said third processor clock frequency is less than said second processor clock frequency which is less than said first processor clock frequency; and
said second processor core voltage is less than said first processor core voltage. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5)
- said third processor clock frequency is less than said second processor clock frequency which is less than said first processor clock frequency; and
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15. A method of operating a computer system having a plurality of computers, each computer including at least one processor, and each computer being configured to operate in a plurality of modes wherein each mode has a respective maximum performance level and a respective maximum power consumption rate;
- said method comprising;
monitoring, by said power manager coupled to each of said computers, activity within said computers and identifying a level of activity for said at least one processor within said computers; analyzing, by said power manager, said plurality of level of activity information; determining, by said power manager, an operating mode for each of said computers selected from said plurality of operating modes based on said analyzed plurality of activity information; generating, by said power manager, commands to each of said plurality of computers directing each of said plurality of computers to operate in said determined operating mode; and wherein power is conserved by controlling said computers in aggregate based on a control procedure algorithm to enter selected levels of power saving by adjusting the performance of said processors within said computers among said plurality of modes to substantially match the aggregate computer processor loading demands. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
- said method comprising;
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21. A computer system comprising:
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a plurality of computers each having at least one processor and an activity monitor identifying a level of activity indicator for said at least one processor; each of said computers being configured to operate in a plurality of modes wherein each mode has a respective maximum performance level and a respective maximum power consumption rate; and a power manager;
(i) coupled to each of said computers and receiving said level of activity information from each of said plurality of computers;
(ii) analyzing said plurality of received level of activity information;
(iii) determining an operating mode for each of said computers selected from said plurality of modes based on said analyzed plurality of activity information and predetermined policies; and
(iv) generating commands to each of said plurality of computers directing each of said plurality of computers to operate in said determined operating mode;and wherein over a period of time said system will have sufficient over capacity that some of said computers will be directed to operate in one of said plurality of modes having a lower performance level and maximum power consumption rate than the other of said plurality of modes, said policy taking into account the amount each of said computers have historically spent operating in at least one of said plurality of modes and selecting a computer to operate in said one mode having a lower performance level and maximum power consumption rate than the other of said plurality of modes based on historical data. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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Specification