Systems and methods for computer equipment management

• US 8,437,881 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2009
• Issued: 05/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.
• Inventors: Sawczak, Stephen D., Komlenic, Todd, Adams, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): SHECHTMAN, SEAN P
• Application Number:
  US12/378,429
• Publication Number:
  US 20090210099A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,544 Days
• Field of Search: 700/276, 700/277, 700/291, 700299-300, 700292-293, 709/226, 702/182
• US Class Current: 700/291
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/206 comprising thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3006 where the computing system is distributed, e.g. networked systems, clusters, multiprocessor systems multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46; allocation of resources G06F9/50
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3058 Monitoring arrangements for monitoring environmental properties or parameters of the computing system or of the computing system component, e.g. monitoring of power, currents, temperature, humidity, position, vibrations thermal management in cooling arrangements of a computing system G06F1/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/328 Computer systems status display G06F11/327 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/265 Personal security, identity or safety
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20836 Thermal management, e.g. server temperature control

Abstract

Methods of placing computer equipment within a server room. The methods may comprise receiving a reservation request for a first piece of computer equipment and selecting a first zone of the server room. The reservation request may specify a type of the first piece of computer equipment. Also, the power dissipated by computer equipment currently present in the first zone plus a power dissipated by the first piece of computer equipment may be less than a maximum power capacity of the first zone. The methods may also comprise selecting a first cabinet within the first zone. The first cabinet may comprise free physical space sufficient for the first piece of computer equipment. In addition, the methods may comprise reserving a portion of the first cabinet for the first piece of computer equipment.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method of placing computer equipment within a server room, the method comprising:

receiving with a server a reservation request for a first piece of computer equipment, wherein the reservation request specifies a type of the first piece of computer equipment, wherein the first piece of computer equipment executes at least one virtual machine instance, wherein the first piece of computer equipment having a variable power requirement, and wherein the server comprises at least one processor and an operatively associated memory comprising computer-readable instructions to be executed by the at least one processor;

the at least one processor determining a maximum power capacity of each of a plurality of zones of the server room, wherein the plurality of zones are distinguished at least based on an assignment of floor area for each zone in the server room and at least one zone of the plurality of zones having a different maximum power capacity than another zone of the plurality of zones, the maximum power capacity of each of the plurality of zones of the server room being based on at least one of a number of cooling units servicing the server room and the capacity of cooling units servicing the server room;

the at least one processor determining variable power requirements of equipment currently present in each of the plurality of zones and the variable power requirement of the first piece of computer equipment;

the at least one processor determining an expected maximum power dissipated by the equipment currently present in each zone, wherein the determined expected maximum power dissipated by the equipment currently present in each zone comprises a maximum power determination based on historical power dissipation information of the equipment currently present in that zone;

the at least one processor determining a maximum power capacity of each of a plurality of cabinets of the server room, the maximum power capacity of each of the plurality of cabinets in the server room being based on at least the maximum power capacity of the zone in which that cabinet is located and a number of cabinets within that zone;

the at least one processor receiving variable power requirements of equipment currently present in each of the plurality of cabinets and the variable power requirement of the first piece of computer equipment;

the at least one processor determining an expected maximum power dissipated by the equipment currently present in each cabinet, wherein the determined expected maximum power dissipated by the equipment currently present in each cabinet comprises a maximum power determination based on historical power dissipation information of the equipment currently present in that cabinet;

the at least one processor determining an amount of free physical space of each of the plurality of cabinets, the amount of free physical space being sufficient to allow installation of the first piece of computer equipment in that cabinet;

selecting with the server a first zone from the plurality of zones of the server room, wherein the expected maximum power dissipated by computer equipment currently present in the first zone plus an expected maximum power dissipated by the first piece of computer equipment is less than a maximum power capacity of the first zone;

selecting with the server a first cabinet from the plurality of cabinets of the server room in which to place the first piece of computer equipment, the first cabinet being located within the first zone, wherein the first cabinet having the free physical space sufficient for installation of the first piece of computer equipment;

performing a power failure analysis of at least one power component servicing the first zone and the first cabinet; and

reserving with the server a portion of the first cabinet for the first piece of computer equipment.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the at least one processor determining the maximum power capacity of the first zone of the server room, and wherein determining the maximum power capacity of the first zone comprises considering the power failure analysis of the at least one power component servicing the first zone and the first cabinet, wherein the maximum power capacity of the first zone is based on a capacity of a backup power supply.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising deriving the maximum power capacity of the first zone considering the number of cooling units servicing the first zone, the type of cooling units servicing the first zone and the heat capacity of computer equipment present in the first zone.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising estimating the expected maximum power dissipated by the first piece of computer equipment as a maximum dissipation supported by the first piece of computer equipment.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising estimating the expected maximum power dissipated by the first piece of computer equipment by considering historical power dissipation of the first piece of equipment executing multiple virtual machine instances to generate an expected maximum power dissipation value, and setting the power dissipated by the first piece of computer equipment to the expected maximum power dissipation value.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the expected maximum power dissipated by computer equipment currently present in the first cabinet plus the expected maximum power dissipated by the first piece of computer equipment is less than the maximum power capacity of the cabinet.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising deriving the maximum power capacity of the first cabinet considering the maximum power capacity of the first zone.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising deriving the maximum power capacity of the first cabinet considering at least one factor selected from the group consisting of a cooling characteristic of the first cabinet and a capacity of a cabinet distribution unit (CDU) in the first cabinet.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a difference between the expected maximum power dissipated by computer equipment currently present in the first zone plus the expected maximum power dissipated by the first piece of computer equipment and the maximum power capacity of the first zone is greater than a safety margin.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the safety margin is at least twenty percent of the maximum power capacity of the first zone.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether placing the first piece of computer equipment at the first cabinet would exceed a weight capacity of all or a portion of a floor of the server room.

12. A system for placing computer equipment within a server room, the system comprising:

a server comprising at least one processor and an operatively associated memory, the memory comprising instructions that when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to;

receive a reservation request for a first piece of computer equipment, wherein the reservation request specifies a type of the first piece of computer equipment, and wherein the first piece of computer equipment executes at least one virtual machine instance, and wherein a the first piece of computer equipment having a variable power requirement,

determine a maximum power capacity of each of a plurality of zones of the server room, wherein the plurality of zones are distinguished at least based on an assignment of floor area for each zone in the server room and at least one zone of the plurality of zones having a different maximum power capacity than another zone of the plurality of zones, the maximum power capacity of each of the plurality of zones of the server room being based on at least one of a number of cooling units servicing the server room and the capacity of cooling units servicing the server room;

determine variable power requirements of equipment currently present in each of the plurality of zones and the variable power requirement of the first piece of computer equipment;

determine an expected maximum power dissipated by the equipment currently present in each zone, wherein the determined expected maximum power dissipated by the equipment currently present in each zone comprises a maximum power determination based on historical power dissipation information of the equipment currently present in that zone;

determine a maximum power capacity of each of a plurality of cabinets of the server room, the maximum power capacity of each of the plurality of cabinets in the server room being based on at least the maximum power capacity of the zone in which that cabinet is located and a number of cabinets within that zone;

receive variable power requirements of equipment currently present in each of the plurality of cabinets and the variable power requirement of the first piece of computer equipment;

determine an expected maximum power dissipated by the equipment currently present in each cabinet, wherein the determined expected maximum power dissipated by the equipment currently present in each cabinet comprises a maximum power determination based on historical power dissipation information of the equipment currently present in that cabinet;

determine an amount of free physical space of each of the plurality of cabinets, the amount of free physical space being sufficient to allow installation of the first piece of computer equipment in that cabinet;

select a first zone from the plurality of zones of the server room, wherein the expected maximum power dissipated by computer equipment currently present in the first zone plus an expected maximum power dissipated by the first piece of computer equipment is less than a maximum power capacity of the first zone;

select a first cabinet from the plurality of cabinets of the server room in which to place the first piece of computer equipment, the first cabinet being located within the first zone, wherein the first cabinet comprises free physical space sufficient for the first piece of computer equipment;

perform a power failure analysis of at least one power component servicing the first zone and the first cabinet; and

reserve a portion of the first cabinet for the first piece of computer equipment.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the memory further comprises instructions that cause the server to determine the maximum power capacity of the first zone of the server room, and wherein determining the maximum power capacity of the first zone comprises considering the power failure analysis of the at least one power component servicing the first zone and the first cabinet, wherein the maximum power capacity of the first zone is based on a capacity of a backup power supply.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the memory further comprises instructions that cause the server to derive the maximum power capacity of the first zone considering the number of cooling units servicing the first zone, the type of cooling units servicing the first zone and the heat capacity of computer equipment present in the first zone.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the memory further comprises instructions that cause the server to estimate the expected maximum power dissipated by the first piece of computer equipment as a maximum dissipation supported by the first piece of computer equipment.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the memory further comprises instructions that cause the server to estimate the expected maximum power dissipated by the first piece of computer equipment by considering historical power dissipation of the first piece of equipment executing multiple virtual machine instances to generate an expected maximum power dissipation value, and set the power dissipated by the first piece of computer equipment to the expected maximum power dissipation value.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the expected maximum power dissipated by computer equipment currently present in the first cabinet plus the expected maximum power dissipated by the first piece of computer equipment is less than the maximum power capacity of the cabinet.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the memory further comprises instructions that cause the server to derive the maximum power capacity of the first cabinet considering the maximum power capacity of the first zone.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the memory further comprises instructions that cause the server to derive the maximum power capacity of the first cabinet considering at least one factor selected from the group consisting of a cooling characteristic of the first cabinet and a capacity of a cabinet distribution unit (CDU) in the first cabinet.

20. The system of claim 12, wherein a difference between the expected maximum power dissipated by computer equipment currently present in the first zone plus the expected maximum power dissipated by the first piece of computer equipment and the maximum power capacity of the first zone is greater than a safety margin.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the safety margin is at least twenty percent of the maximum power capacity of the first zone.

22. The system of claim 12, wherein the memory further comprises instructions that cause the server to determine whether placing the first piece of computer equipment at the first cabinet would exceed a weight capacity of all or a portion of a floor of the server room.

23. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions thereon that when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:

receive a reservation request for a first piece of computer equipment, wherein the reservation request specifies a type of the first piece of computer equipment, and wherein the first piece of computer equipment executes at least one virtual machine instance, and wherein the first piece of computer equipment having a variable power requirement;

determine a maximum power capacity of each of a plurality of zones of the server room, wherein the plurality of zones are distinguished at least based on an assignment of floor area for each zone in the server room and at least one zone of the plurality of zones having a different maximum power capacity than another zone of the plurality of zones, the maximum power capacity of each of the plurality of zones of the server room being based on at least one of a number of cooling units servicing the server room and the capacity of cooling units servicing the server room;

determine variable power requirements of equipment currently present in each of the plurality of zones and the variable power requirement of the first piece of computer equipment;

determine an expected maximum power dissipated by the equipment currently present in each zone, wherein the determined expected maximum power dissipated by the equipment currently present in each zone comprises a maximum power determination based on historical power dissipation information of the equipment currently present in that zone;

determine a maximum power capacity of each of a plurality of cabinets of the server room, the maximum power capacity of each of the plurality of cabinets in the server room being based on at least the maximum power capacity of the zone in which that cabinet is located and a number of cabinets within that zone;

receive variable power requirements of equipment currently present in each of the plurality of cabinets and the variable power requirement of the first piece of computer equipment;

determine an expected maximum power dissipated by the equipment currently present in each cabinet, wherein the determined expected maximum power dissipated by the equipment currently present in each cabinet comprises a maximum power determination based on historical power dissipation information of the equipment currently present in that cabinet;

determine an amount of free physical space of each of the plurality of cabinets, the amount of free physical space being sufficient to allow installation of the first piece of computer equipment in that cabinet;

select a first zone from the plurality of zones of the server room, wherein the expected maximum power dissipated by computer equipment currently present in the first zone plus an expected maximum power dissipated by the first piece of computer equipment is less than a maximum power capacity of the first zone;

select a first cabinet from a plurality of cabinets of the server room in which to place the first piece of computer equipment, the first cabinet being located within the first zone, wherein the first cabinet having the free physical space sufficient for installation of the first piece of computer equipment;

perform a power failure analysis of at least one power component servicing the first zone and the first cabinet; and

reserve a portion of the first cabinet for the first piece of computer equipment.

24. A system for placing computer equipment within a server room, the system comprising:

means for receiving a reservation request for a first piece of computer equipment, wherein the reservation request specifies a type of the first piece of computer equipment, and wherein the first piece of computer equipment executes at least one virtual machine instance, and wherein the first piece of computer equipment having a variable power requirement;

means for determining a maximum power capacity of each of a plurality of zones of the server room, wherein the plurality of zones are distinguished at least based on an assignment of floor area for each zone in the server room and at least one zone of the plurality of zones having a different maximum power capacity than another zone of the plurality of zones, the maximum power capacity of each of the plurality of zones of the server room being based on at least one of a number of cooling units servicing the server room and the capacity of cooling units servicing the server room;

means for determining variable power requirements of equipment currently present in each of the plurality of zones and the variable power requirement of the first piece of computer equipment;

means for determining an expected maximum power dissipated by the equipment currently present in each zone, wherein the determined expected maximum power dissipated by the equipment currently present in each zone comprises a maximum power determination based on historical power dissipation information of the equipment currently present in that zone;

means for determining a maximum power capacity of each of a plurality of cabinets of the server room, the maximum power capacity of each of the plurality of cabinets in the server room being based on at least the maximum power capacity of the zone in which that cabinet is located and a number of cabinets within that zone;

means for receiving variable power requirements of equipment currently present in each of the plurality of cabinets and the variable power requirement of the first piece of computer equipment;

means for determining an expected maximum power dissipated by the equipment currently present in each cabinet, wherein the determined expected maximum power dissipated by the equipment currently present in each cabinet comprises a maximum power determination based on historical power dissipation information of the equipment currently present in that cabinet;

means for determining an amount of free physical space of each of the plurality of cabinets, the amount of free physical space being sufficient to allow installation of the first piece of computer equipment in that cabinet;

means for selecting a first zone from the plurality of zones of the server room, wherein the expected maximum power dissipated by computer equipment currently present in the first zone plus an expected maximum power dissipated by the first piece of computer equipment is less than a maximum power capacity of the first zone;

means for selecting a first cabinet from a plurality of cabinets of the server room in which to place the first piece of computer equipment, the first cabinet being located within the first zone, wherein the first cabinet having the free physical space sufficient for installation of the first piece of computer equipment;

means for performing a power failure analysis of at least one power component servicing the first zone and the first cabinet; and

means for reserving a portion of the first cabinet for the first piece of computer equipment.