Method and apparatus for determining computer system power supply redundancy level
First Claim
1. In a computer system having a set of load elements powered by a set of power supplies, each power supply of the set of power supplies selectively coupled to an external power source, each load element of the set of load elements and each power supply releasably connectable to the computer system to permit on-line reconfiguration of the computer system, an improvement of apparatus for determining a power supply redundancy level while the computer system is on-line, said apparatus comprising:
- a power supply characteristic detector coupled to receive indications of characteristics associated with each power supply of the set of power supplies; and
a redundancy determiner coupled to said power supply characteristic detector, said redundancy determiner selectively operable for determining values representative of power capacity levels of the set of power supplies relative to load levels exhibited by the set of load elements, the values determined thereby forming the power supply redundancy level;
wherein said redundancy determiner determines the values representative of the power capacity levels relative to the load levels responsive to one of reception at said power supply characteristic detector of an indication of a change in power capacity of any power supply of the set of power supplies and detection by said power supply characteristic detector of an incremental increase in the load levels.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus, and an associated method, for determining the level of power supply redundancy in a modular computer system. Determination of the level of power supply redundancy is made dynamically, during on-line operation of the computer system. Reconfiguration of the computer system, such as to increase the load which must be powered by modular power supply components, or removal or addition of power supply components to form portions of the computer system cause initiation of a new determination of the level of power supply redundancy. Indications of inadequate levels of power supply redundancy are provided to a user of the computer system so that corrective action can be taken.
27 Citations
18 Claims
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1. In a computer system having a set of load elements powered by a set of power supplies, each power supply of the set of power supplies selectively coupled to an external power source, each load element of the set of load elements and each power supply releasably connectable to the computer system to permit on-line reconfiguration of the computer system, an improvement of apparatus for determining a power supply redundancy level while the computer system is on-line, said apparatus comprising:
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a power supply characteristic detector coupled to receive indications of characteristics associated with each power supply of the set of power supplies; and a redundancy determiner coupled to said power supply characteristic detector, said redundancy determiner selectively operable for determining values representative of power capacity levels of the set of power supplies relative to load levels exhibited by the set of load elements, the values determined thereby forming the power supply redundancy level; wherein said redundancy determiner determines the values representative of the power capacity levels relative to the load levels responsive to one of reception at said power supply characteristic detector of an indication of a change in power capacity of any power supply of the set of power supplies and detection by said power supply characteristic detector of an incremental increase in the load levels. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for determining a power supply redundancy level of a computer system having a set of load elements powered by a set of power supplies, each load element of the set of load elements and each power supply removably connectable to the computer system to permit on-line reconfiguration of the computer system, said method comprising the steps of:
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detecting indications of characteristics associated with each of the power supplies of the set of power supplies; receiving an interrupt indicating a change in power capacity levels of the set of power supplies, a change in the load levels or removal of one of the rest of the power supplies; and responsive to the received interrupt, determining values representative of power capacity levels of the set of power supplies relative to load levels exhibited by the set of load elements during on-line operation of the computer system, the values determined thereby forming the power supply redundancy level. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification