Minimization of power consumption in server environment

• US 8,341,444 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2008
• Issued: 12/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Gee, Lourdes M., Brown, Deanna, Nguyen, Nhu T., Webster, Evan T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Kim
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chang, Eric
• Application Number:
  US12/028,901
• Publication Number:
  US 20090204833A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,779 Days
• Field of Search: 713/323
• US Class Current: 713/323
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode

Abstract

A method for minimizing power consumption in a computer server is provided. Collected data for an event is compared with an entry in a power consumption table. A power reduction mechanism is triggered if the collected data and the entry are within a specified range. The power consumption table is updated with the collected data if the collected data and the entry are not within the specified range.

Claims

1. A method for minimizing power consumption in a computer server, comprising:

specifying an event to be monitored;

collecting data for the event to determine if the event occurs;

comparing collected data for the event with at least one of a plurality of entries that are associated with the event in the power consumption table;

wherein if each of the at least one of the plurality of entries that are associated with the event are not found in the power consumption table;

automatically adding each of the at least one of the plurality of entries that are associated with the event in the power consumption table;

otherwise;

triggering a power reduction mechanism if the collected data and the at least one of the plurality of entries are within a specified range; and

updating the power consumption table with the collected data if the collected data and the at least one of the plurality of entries are not within the specified range.

2. The method of claim 1, further including continuing to execute the power reduction mechanism for a specified duration time stored in the power consumption table.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein adding the event as a new one of the at least one of the plurality of entries in the power consumption table includes adding a start time, an end time, a usage percentage, or a duration.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein triggering the power reduction mechanism includes adjusting the collective power consumption of a plurality of computer servers.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein adjusting the collective power consumption of the plurality of computer servers includes powering down or reducing a processing speed of at least one of the plurality of computer servers.

6. The method of claim 1, further including specifying a plurality of types of the event to be monitored for performing the comparing.

7. The method of claim 1, further including implementing a plurality of operational changes for the minimizing power consumption by the power reduction mechanism.

8. A system for minimizing power consumption in a computer server, comprising:

a controller operable on the computer server, the controller configured to;

specifying an event to be monitored;

collecting data for the event to determine if the event occurs,

comparing collected data for the event with at least one of a plurality of entries that are associated with the event in the power consumption table;

wherein if each of the at least one of the plurality of entries that are associated with the event are not found in the power consumption table;

automatically adding each of the at least one of the plurality of entries that are associated with the event in the power consumption table;

otherwise;

triggering a power reduction mechanism if the collected data and the at least one of the plurality of entries are within a specified range, and

updating the power consumption table with the collected data if the collected data and the at least one of the plurality of entries are not within the specified range.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to execute the power reduction mechanism for a specified duration time stored in the power consumption table.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the event is a start time, an end time, a usage percentage, or a duration time.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to adjust the collective power consumption of a plurality of computer servers pursuant to the power reduction mechanism.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the power reduction mechanism powers down or reduces a processing speed of at least one of the plurality of computer servers to adjust the collective power consumption.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to specify a plurality of types of the event to be monitored for performing the comparing.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to implement a plurality of operational changes for the minimizing power consumption by the power reduction mechanism.

15. A computer program product for minimizing power consumption in a computer server, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

a first executable portion for specifying an event to be monitored;

a second executable portion for collecting data for the event to determine if the event occurs;

a third executable portion for comparing collected data for the event with at least one of a plurality of entries that are associated with the event in the power consumption table;

wherein if each of the at least one of the plurality of entries that are associated with the event are not found in the power consumption table;

a fourth executable portion for automatically adding each of the at least one of the plurality of entries that are associated with the event in the power consumption table;

otherwise;

a fifth executable portion for triggering a power reduction mechanism if the collected data and the at least one of the plurality of entries are within a specified range; and

a sixth executable portion for updating the power consumption table with the collected data if the collected data and the at least one of the plurality of entries are not within the specified range.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, further including a sixth executable portion for continuing to execute the power reduction mechanism for a specified duration time stored in the power consumption table.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the event is a start time, an end time, a usage percentage, or a duration.

18. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the power reduction mechanism adjusts the collective power consumption of a plurality of computer servers.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein the power reduction mechanism adjusts the collective power consumption of the plurality of computer servers by powering down or reducing a processing speed of at least one of the plurality of computer servers.

20. The computer program product of claim 15, further including a sixth executable portion for specifying a plurality of types of the event to be monitored for performing the comparing.

21. The computer program product of claim 15, further including a sixth executable portion for implementing a plurality of operational changes for the minimizing power consumption by the power reduction mechanism.