System and method for managing configurations of NCPI devices

• US 8,572,220 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2009
• Issued: 10/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Schneider Electric IT Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Schneider Electric IT Corporation (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: O'Leary, John, Meiser, Carl Joseph III, Behbehani, Brian Christopher, Runk, Jon Robert, Aharonian, David Michael, Rymeski, Scott M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zong, Ruolei
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thieu, Benjamin M.
• Application Number:
  US12/432,219
• Publication Number:
  US 20100281147A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,644 Days
• Field of Search: 709/222, 709/224, 709/203, 709/220, 709/223
• US Class Current: 709/222
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0816 the condition being an adaptation, e.g. in response to network events
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0843 based on generic templates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0846 based on copy from other elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0853 by actively collecting configuration information or by backing up configuration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0894 Policy-based network configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/00 Systems for electrical power generation, transmission, distribution or end-user application management characterised by the use of communication or information technologies, or communication or information technology specific aspects supporting them
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/18 Network protocols supporting networked applications, e.g. including control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

A system and method for configuring network critical physical infrastructure (NCPI) devices is provided. In one example, a method is provided including acts of gathering, by a data center management appliance, at least one device configuration from an NCPI device via a network, modifying the at least one device configuration and providing the modified at least one device configuration to the NCPI device via the network. In another example, a data center management appliance is provided that includes a storage medium, a network interface and a controller coupled to the storage medium and the network interface and configured to gather at least one device configuration from a first NCPI device via the network interface, modify the at least one device configuration and provide the modified at least one device configuration to the first NCPI device via the network interface.

Claims

1. A method for configuring a network critical physical infrastructure (NCPI) device using a data center management appliance, the method comprising:

gathering, by the data center management appliance, at least one device configuration from a first NCPI device via a network, the first NCPI device being of a first functional type that supplies either power or cooling to equipment in a data center;

modifying the at least one device configuration;

providing the modified at least one device configuration to the first NCPI device via the network; and

providing the modified at least one device configuration to a second NCPI device via the network, the second NCPI device being of a second functional type that supplies either power or cooling to the equipment in the data center, the second functional type being different from the first functional type,

wherein providing the modified at least one device configuration to the second NCPI device includes providing the modified at least one device configuration to a computer room air conditioner and providing the modified at least one device configuration to the first NCPI device includes providing the modified at least one device configuration to a uninterruptible power supply (UPS).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein gathering, by the data center management appliance, the at least one device configuration includes copying at least one configuration file from the first NCPI device.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein gathering, by the data center management appliance, the at least one device configuration from the first NCPI device includes gathering the at least one device configuration from a UPS.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising storing the modified at least one device configuration in data storage.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing the modified at least one device configuration to a power distribution unit (PDU).

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein providing the modified at least one device configuration to the UPS includes providing a configuration file including operational parameters common to the UPS and the PDU.

7. A system comprising:

a first network critical physical infrastructure (NCPI) device in data communication with a network, the first NCPI device being a first functional type that supplies either power or cooling to equipment in a data center;

a second NCPI device in data communication with the network, the second NCPI device being of a second functional type that supplies either power or cooling to the equipment in the data center, the second functional type being different from the first functional type; and

a data center management appliance for configuring NCPI devices, the appliance comprising;

a storage medium;

a network interface in data communication with the network; and

a controller coupled to the storage medium and the network interface and configured to;

gather at least one device configuration from the first NCPI device via the network interface;

modify the at least one device configuration;

provide the modified at least one device configuration to the first NCPI device via the network interface; and

provide the modified at least one device configuration to the second NCPI device via the network interface,

wherein the second NCPI device includes a computer room air conditioner and the first NCPI device includes an uninterruptible power supply (UPS).

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the controller is further configured to copy at least one configuration file from the first NCPI device.

9. The system according to claim 7, wherein the controller is further configured to gather the at least one device configuration from a UPS.

10. The system according to claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to store the modified at least one device configuration on the storage medium.

11. The system according to claim 7, wherein the controller is further configured to provide a configuration file including operational parameters common to a UPS and a PDU.

12. A method for automatically configuring a network critical physical infrastructure (NCPI) device using a data center management appliance, the method comprising:

defining a configuration policy, the configuration policy having an associated NCPI device configuration;

determining, by the data center management appliance, at least one NCPI device subject to the NCPI device configuration policy, the at least one NCPI device being of a first functional type that supplies either power or cooling to equipment in a data center;

providing the associated NCPI device configuration to the at least one NCPI device subject to the NCPI device configuration policy; and

providing the associated NCPI device configuration to another NCPI device subject to the NCPI device configuration policy and being of a second functional type that supplies either power or cooling to the equipment in the data center, the second functional type being different from the first functional type,

wherein providing the associated NCPI device configuration to the at least one NCPI device includes providing the associated NCPI device configuration to a uninterruptible power supply (UPS) and providing the associated NCPI device configuration to the another NCPI device includes providing the associated NCPI device configuration to a computer room air conditioner.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein defining the configuration policy includes defining a configuration policy applicable to the at least one NCPI based on the physical location of the at least one NCPI device.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein providing the associated NCPI device configuration includes copying at least one configuration file to the at least one NCPI device.

15. The method according to claim 12, further comprising providing the associated NCPI device configuration to a power distribution unit.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein defining the configuration policy includes specifying an event an occurrence of which triggers application of the configuration policy and the method further comprises determining that the event has occurred prior to performing the act of determining, by the data center management appliance, the at least one NCPI device subject to the NCPI device configuration policy.

17. The method according to claim 12, wherein defining the configuration policy includes defining a configuration policy applicable to at least two NCPI devices being of different functional types.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein defining the configuration policy applicable to the at least two NCPI devices includes defining a configuration policy that is applicable to a UPS and a computer room air conditioner.