Power management of data processing resources, such as power adaptive management of data storage operations

• US 9,021,282 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2013
• Issued: 04/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CommVault Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CommVault Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Muller, Marcus S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bae, Ji H
• Application Number:
  US14/138,473
• Publication Number:
  US 20140108837A1
• Time in Patent Office: 491 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 713/320
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3221 of disk drive devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3234 Power saving characterised by the action undertaken
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3268 Power saving in hard disk drive
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3275 Power saving in memory, e.g. RAM, cache
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/329 by task scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0625 Power saving in storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0634 by changing the state or mode of one or more devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0635 by changing the path, e.g. traffic rerouting, path reconfiguration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0685 Hybrid storage combining heterogeneous device types, e.g. hierarchical storage, hybrid arrays
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/82 Energy audits or management systems therefor

Abstract

A system and method for performing power conservation actions is described. In some examples, the system determines a power conservation policy based on information from the system, and implements that policy in an enterprise or in one or more buildings, such as within a data storage environment. In some examples, the system adds or modifies global filters or system performance based on information from the system.

Claims

1. A tangible non-transitory computer-readable medium carrying instructions to perform a method for conserving power within a data processing enterprise, wherein the data processing enterprise communicates with multiple client computers executing read and write commands directed to the data processing enterprise, the method comprising:

receiving component data from data processing components within the data processing enterprise,

wherein the component data includes data related to the performance of data storage devices, or data related to data storage jobs to be performed;

receiving external data related to power consumption, wherein the external data is received external to the data processing enterprise, and

wherein the external data includes meteorological data or data associated with operation of heating-ventilation-air conditioning (HVAC) components;

receiving power requirements data, wherein the power requirements data includes a power threshold, or a redistribution of data processing operations to components to reduce power consumption; and

generating a power conservation action based at least in part on the received component data, the received external data, and the received power requirements data.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein generating the power conservation action includes adjusting the usage of electrical components within a building to minimize power spikes or ensure that the power remains below a threshold, wherein adjusting the usage of electrical components includes, during a certain period, turning off, or reducing the use of, HVAC components in the building, industrial electrical components in the building, or auxiliary electrical components associated with the building.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein generating the power conservation action includes temporarily storing data in a first, lower power tier of the data storage devices, before migrating the data to the data storage devices in a higher power tier.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the data processing enterprise comprises two or more data processing cells,

wherein individual hardware devices in the cells have different power consumption curves,

wherein similar classes of devices have similar power curves, but wherein the similar power consumption curves differ based on an age of a device or environmental conditions in which the device operates,

wherein the data processing enterprise stores the power consumption curves in at least one data structure, and

wherein the generating includes comparing the received external data and the received power requirements data to at least one stored power consumption curve.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 4 wherein the power conservation action comprises a schedule policy that specifies when to perform data storage operations or how often to perform data storage operations,

wherein the schedule policy comprises:

determining a substantially optimal time within a time window to perform the data storage operations that satisfy a specified power requirement,

aggregating small data storage operations to reduce a number of times a disk drive or tape drive is powered up, or

moving an operation to a time period when power consumption in a building is forecasted to be lower.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein the power conservation action comprises:

rescheduling data storage operations, redistributing data storage operations, transferring data storage operations from one data processing device to another data processing device, defining at least one future data storage policy, or setting at least one global power conservation filter.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 1, further comprising:

periodically, or in response to a query message, receiving information regarding an operation of a disk drive or tape drive,

wherein the disk drive or tape drive includes firmware storing instructions to periodically, or in response to the query message, provide the information, and

wherein the information comprises a time and day at which spindle rotors or fans in the disk drive or tape drive are powered on and off.

8. A method of conserving power within a data processing enterprise, wherein the data processing enterprise communicates with multiple client computers executing read and write commands directed to the data processing enterprise, the method comprising:

receiving component data from data processing components within the data processing enterprise,

wherein the component data includes data related to the performance of data storage devices, or data related to data storage jobs to be performed;

receiving external data related to power consumption, wherein the external data is received external to the data processing enterprise, and

wherein the external data includes meteorological data or data associated with operation of heating-ventilation-air conditioning (HVAC) components;

receiving power requirements data, wherein the power requirements data includes a power threshold, or a redistribution of data processing operations to components to reduce power consumption; and

generating a power conservation action based at least in part on the received component data, the received external data, and the received power requirements data.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the generating the power conservation action includes adjusting the usage of electrical components within a building to minimize power spikes or ensure that the power remains below a threshold,

wherein adjusting the usage of electrical components includes, during a certain period, turning off, or reducing the use of, HVAC components in the building, industrial electrical components in the building, or auxiliary electrical components associated with the building.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein generating the power conservation action includes temporarily storing data in a first, lower power tier of the data storage devices, then migrating the data to a higher power tier of the data storage devices.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises:

periodically, or in response to a query message, receiving information regarding an operation of a disk drive or tape drive,

wherein the disk drive or tape drive includes firmware storing instructions to periodically, or in response to the query message, provide the information, and

wherein the information comprises a time and day at which spindle rotors or fans in the disk drive or tape drive are powered on and off.

12. A system for conserving power within a data processing enterprise, the system comprising:

at least one processor;

memory coupled to the at least one processor;

a component for receiving component data from data processing components within the data processing enterprise,

wherein the component data includes data related to the performance of data storage devices, or data related to data storage jobs to be performed;

a component for receiving external data related to power consumption, wherein the external data is received external to the data processing enterprise, and

wherein the external data includes meteorological data or data associated with operation of heating-ventilation-air conditioning (HVAC) components;

a component for receiving power requirements data, wherein the power requirements data includes a power threshold, or a redistribution of data processing operations to components to reduce power consumption; and

,

a component for generating a power conservation action based at least in part on the received component data, the received external data, and the received power requirements data.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the component for generating the power conservation action includes adjusting the usage of electrical components within a building to minimize power spikes or ensure that the power remains below a threshold, wherein adjusting the usage of electrical components includes, during a certain period, turning off, or reducing the use of, HVAC components in the building, industrial electrical components in the building, or auxiliary electrical components associated with the building.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the component for generating the power conservation action includes temporarily storing data in a first, lower power tier of the data storage devices, before migrating the data to the data storage devices in a higher power tier.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the data processing enterprise comprises two or more data processing cells,

wherein individual hardware devices in the cells have different power consumption curves,

wherein similar classes of devices have similar power curves, but wherein the similar power consumption curves differ based on an age of a device or environmental conditions in which the device operates,

wherein the data processing enterprise stores the power consumption curves in at least one data structure, and

wherein the generating includes comparing the received external data and the received power requirements data to at least one stored power consumption curve.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the power conservation action comprises a component to schedule when to perform data storage operations or how often to perform data storage operations,

wherein the schedule policy comprises:

determining a substantially optimal time within a time window to perform the data storage operations that satisfy a specified power requirement,

aggregating small data storage operations to reduce a number of times a disk drive or tape drive is powered up, or

moving an operation to a time period when power consumption in a building is forecasted to be lower.

17. A system for conserving power within a data processing enterprise, the system comprising:

at least one processor;

memory coupled to the at least one processor;

means for receiving component data from data processing components within the data processing enterprise,

wherein the component data includes data related to the performance of data storage devices, or data related to data storage jobs to be performed;

means for receiving external data related to power consumption, wherein the external data is received external to the data processing enterprise, and

wherein the external data includes meteorological data or data associated with operation of heating-ventilation-air conditioning (HVAC) components;

means for receiving power requirements data, wherein the power requirements data includes a power threshold, or a redistribution of data processing operations to components to reduce power consumption; and

,

means for generating a power conservation action based at least in part on the received component data, the received external data, and the received power requirements data.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the system further comprises:

means for receiving periodically, or in response to a query message, information regarding an operation of a disk drive or tape drive,

wherein the disk drive or tape drive includes firmware storing instructions to periodically, or in response to the query message, provide the information, and

wherein the information comprises a time and day at which spindle rotors or fans in the disk drive or tape drive are powered on and off.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the means for generating the power conservation action includes adjusting the usage of electrical components within a building to minimize power spikes or ensure that the power remains below a threshold, wherein adjusting the usage of electrical components includes, during a certain period, turning off, or reducing the use of, HVAC components in the building, industrial electrical components in the building, or auxiliary electrical components associated with the building.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the means for generating the power conservation action includes temporarily storing data in a first, lower power tier of the data storage devices, before migrating the data to the data storage devices in a higher power tier.