System and method for providing a server rack management controller

• US 9,958,178 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2014
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Palmer, John R., Ahmed, Syed S, Masuyama, Jinsaku
• Primary Examiner(s): Vostal, O. C.
• Application Number:
  US14/199,660
• Publication Number:
  US 20150256386A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,517 Days
• Field of Search: 709220
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/62 characterised by the type of control or by internal processing, e.g. using fuzzy logic, adaptive control or estimation of values
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0813 characterised by the conditions triggering a change of settings
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/18 Construction of rack or frame
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20745 within rooms for removing heat from cabinets, e.g. by air conditioning device
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/20836 Thermal management, e.g. server temperature control

Abstract

A server rack includes a rack space for receiving equipment, a memory device, and a management controller coupled to the memory. The management controller is operable to receive configuration information for the server rack, store the configuration information in the memory device, and configure the equipment based upon the configuration information.

Claims

1. A server rack comprising:

a rack space for receiving equipment;

a memory device; and

a management controller coupled to the memory and to the weight sensor, the management controller operable to;

receive configuration information for the server rack, the configuration information including a range of Internet Protocol address ranges for the equipment, a client name for the equipment, and a grid location for the server rack on a floor of a data center;

store the configuration information in the memory device; and

configure the equipment based upon the configuration information.

2. The server rack of claim 1, further comprising:

a communication module operable to couple the management controller to a first management network of a data center.

3. The server rack of claim 2, wherein the management controller is further operable to receive the configuration information from the first management network.

4. The server rack of claim 2, wherein the communication module is further operable to couple the management controller to a second management network, the second management network including the equipment.

5. The server rack of claim 4, wherein the management controller configures the equipment via the second management network.

6. The server rack of claim 2, wherein the communication module is further operable to couple the management controller to a tile management controller associated with a floor tile, wherein the server rack is located on the floor tile.

7. The server rack of claim 1, wherein the configuration information includes one of a grid location of a data center floor upon which the server rack is located, a weight limit for the server rack, and an Internet Protocol address range for the equipment in the server rack.

8. The server rack of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor coupled to the management controller.

9. The server rack of claim 8, wherein the sensor comprises one of a temperature sensor and a weight sensor.

10. A method comprising:

receiving, at a management controller of a server rack, configuration information for equipment installed in the server rack, wherein the configuration information includes a range of Internet Protocol address ranges for the equipment, a client name for the equipment, and a grid location for the server rack on a floor of a data center;

storing the configuration information in a memory device coupled to the management controller; and

configuring, by the management controller, the equipment based upon the configuration information.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

prior to receiving the configuration information, coupling the management controller to a first a first management network of a data center via a communication module of the server rack.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

coupling, via the communication module, the management controller to a second management network, the second management network including the equipment;

wherein the management controller configures the equipment via the second management network.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

coupling, via the communication module, the management controller to a tile management controller associated with a floor tile, wherein the server rack is located on the floor tile.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the configuration information includes one of a grid location of a data center floor upon which the server rack is located, a weight limit for the server rack, and an Internet Protocol address range for the equipment in the server rack.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

coupling the management controller to one of a temperature sensor and a weight sensor.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including code for performing a method, the method comprising:

receiving, at a management controller of a server rack, configuration information for equipment installed in the server rack;

storing the configuration information in a memory device coupled to the management controller;

configuring, by the management controller, the equipment based upon the configuration information;

prior to receiving the configuration information, coupling the management controller to a first management network of a data center via a wireless communication module of the server rack; and

coupling, via the wireless communication module, the management controller to a tile management controller embedded in a floor tile of the data center, wherein the server rack is located on the floor tile in the data center.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, the method further comprising:

coupling, via the communication module, the management controller to a second management network, the second management network including the equipment;

wherein the management controller configures the equipment via the second management network.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the configuration information includes one of a grid location of a data center floor upon which the server rack is located, a weight limit for the server rack, and an Internet Protocol address range for the equipment in the server rack.