Rack server system and operation method applicable thereto

• US 9,389,660 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2014
• Issued: 07/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quanta Computer
• Original Assignee: Quanta Computer
• Inventors: Jau, Maw-Zan, Wang, Tzu-Hung, Chan, Chin-Hsiang
• Primary Examiner(s): Stoynov, Stefan
• Application Number:
  US14/455,418
• Publication Number:
  US 20150039918A1
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300, 307/43, 320/112, 320/126, 320/127, 320/137, 702/63, 709/219, 714/14
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/305 in the event of power-supply fluctuations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3234 Power saving characterised by the action undertaken
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/00 Circuit arrangements for emergency or stand-by power supply, e.g. for emergency lighting
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/005 using a power saving mode for copiers G03G15/5004
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1492 having electrical distribution arrangements, e.g. power supply or data communications
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

A rack server system and an operating method applicable thereto are provided. The rack server system includes a battery backup unit (BBU) and at least one server. The operating method includes: communicating the server and the BBU with each other; the BBU providing a status information and a previous self-discharging test information to the server for the server to judge a status of the BBU; and providing power from the BBU to the server and adjusting a loading of the server according to the status information of the BBU when an input power is interrupted.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a battery backup unit (BBU) configured to hold at least one BBU sub-system, each BBU sub-system including at least one battery module, the method comprising:

receiving a new BBU sub-system in the BBU, the new BBU sub-system including at least one undercharged battery module;

charging, after the receiving, the at least the one undercharged battery module;

determining that the charging is complete, the determining being performed by any one of the BBU, the new BBU sub-system, at least one of the battery modules in the new BBU sub-system; and

updating, in response to the determining, the status information in a memory,

wherein while the at least one BBU sub-system in the BBU is unfunctional and the input power is outside of normal operating tolerances, another one of a plurality of BBU sub-systems in the BBU provides power to a server coupled to the BBU, and the server records relevant information such that the server adjusts its own loading according to the relevant information; and

while a self-discharging test is performed on the at least one battery module of each BBU sub-system and the input power is outside of normal operating tolerances, other battery modules of the plurality of BBU sub-systems provide power to the server.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the charging comprises charging only the battery modules within the new BBU sub-system that require charging.

3. The method of claim 1, receiving a new BBU sub-system in the BBU comprises receiving a repaired older BBU sub-system.

4. A rack server system, comprising:

a battery backup unit (BBU); and

at least one server coupled to the BBU;

wherein,

the BBU provides status information and previous self-discharging test information to the server for the server to judge a status of the BBU; and

when an input power is outside of normal operating tolerances, the BBU provides power to the server, and the server adjusts its own loading according to the status information of the BBU;

wherein after a new BBU sub-system is loaded into the BBU, at least any one of the BBU, the new BBU sub-system, or battery modules within the BBU sub-system determines whether charging is completed, and wherein after charging is judged to be completed, the BBU stores the status information;

wherein the server receives and records the status information of the new BBU sub-system;

if one of a plurality of BBU sub-systems in the BBU is unloaded or broken, another one of the plurality of BBU sub-systems in the BBU provides power to the server when the input power is outside of normal operating tolerances;

while a self-discharging test is performed on one of the BBU modules of the one of the plurality of BBU sub-systems, other BBU modules of the one of the plurality of BBU sub-systems provide power to the server if the input power is outside of normal operating tolerances; and

while the one of the plurality of BBU sub-systems is unloaded or broken, the server records relevant information, such that the server adjusts its own loading according to the relevant information if the input power is outside of normal operating tolerances.

5. The rack server system according to claim 4, wherein each one of the plurality of BBU sub-systems comprises a plurality of battery modules and a plurality of converters, and one of the battery modules operates with one of the converters.

6. The rack server system according to claim 5, further comprising:

determining the number of battery modules of said plurality of battery modules according to an output power of the rack server system;

wherein the battery module comprises a lithium rechargeable battery.

7. The rack server system according to claim 5, wherein the server is configured for at least one of judging whether any one of the plurality of BBU sub-systems or any BBU module is unloaded or broken or judging a status of the battery modules.

8. The rack server system, according to claim 5, further comprising, after charging is judged to be complete, the new BBU sub-system transmits its status information to the server.