Integrated energy savings and business operations in data centers

• US 8,447,993 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2008
• Issued: 05/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center, Inc. (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Greene, Daniel H., Preas, Bryan T., Chu, Maurice K., Hindi, Haitham, Parekh, Nitin S., Reich, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zaman, Faisal M
• Application Number:
  US12/018,737
• Publication Number:
  US 20090187782A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,945 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300, 713/340, 718/104, 700/291
• US Class Current: 713/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination

Abstract

A power control system in a data center has a plurality of physical servers, each server having a local controller, at least one virtual server coupled to at least some of the physical servers, and a central controller to control task loading on the physical servers through the virtual servers. A method of controlling power consumption in a data center includes receiving inputs from local controllers residing on loads, the inputs including data about power consumption on the loads, receiving as an input at least one quality of service requirement, and allocating tasks to at least one server based upon the quality of service and the power consumption on the loads.

Claims

1. A power control system in a data center, comprising:

at least one physical server;

at least one virtual server coupled to the at least one physical server;

at least two loads, each load having a local power controller in communication with a power model; and

a server/power controller to control task loading on the at least one physical server through adjustment of tasks on the at least one virtual server, the server power controller receiving inputs from the power model about status of the loads and power consumption including a predictability rating of power consumption of a particular customer where the predictability rating affects cost of power to the particular customer, and quality of service requirements for that customer selected based upon a business input, and generating signals to arrange processing tasks to meet power saving targets.

2. The power control system of claim 1, further comprising an environmental control system in communication with the server/power controller.

3. The power control system of claim 1, further comprising data lines coupled to the data center.

4. The power control system of claim 3, the server/power controller coupled to the data lines.

5. The power control system of claim 1, further comprising at least one external power line coupled to the data center.

6. The power control system of claim 5, the server/power controller coupled to the power line.

7. The power control system of claim 1, the server/power controller to transmit signals to control assignments of the virtual servers to the physical servers.

8. The power control system of claim 1, the system further comprising a user interface configured to present an operator one or more quality of service options at different costs, wherein the operator selection of one of the quality of service options becomes the business input.

18. The computer-controlled method of claim 8, wherein allocating tasks comprises adjusting power consumption based upon the quality of service requirement.

9. A computer-controlled method of controlling power consumption in a data center, comprising:

receiving inputs from controllers monitoring loads, the inputs including data about power consumption on the loads received at a power model, the power model describing a relationship between the loads and power consumption, wherein power consumption includes a predictability rating of power consumption of a particular user where the predictability rating affects cost of power to the particular customer, and a current status of the load and aggregating the inputs from local power controllers;

receiving as an input at least one quality of service requirement selected based upon a business input; and

generating signals to arrange processing tasks to meet power saving targets.

10. The computer-controlled method of claim 9, further comprising developing a power usage model from the data about power consumption and the quality of service requirement.

11. The computer-controlled method of claim 10, further comprising updating the power usage model over time.

12. The computer-controlled method of claim 9, further comprising providing a recommendation as to assignment of virtual servers to the at least one physical server.

13. The computer-controlled method of claim 9, wherein allocating tasks comprises migrating all tasks from a server having a low level of utilization and shutting the server down.

14. The computer-controlled method of claim 9, wherein allocating tasks comprises clustering at least one virtual server on a physical server.

15. The computer-controlled method of claim 14, wherein clustering is based upon at least one of geographic, electrical characteristics, network diversity, and heating/ventilation/air conditioning system connections.

16. The computer-controlled method of claim 9, wherein allocating tasks comprises adjusting performance levels of at least one server.

17. The computer-controlled method of claim 9, wherein allocating tasks comprises adjusting the quality of service requirement based upon power consumption.

19. The computer-controlled method of claim 9, wherein the business input is received from an operator making a selection from one or more quality of service options at different costs.