Automated Component Discovery in Data Center Enclosures
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manual setup and configuration of data centers require significant planning and coordination among multiple administrators, making the installation and setup process inefficient and prone to errors.
Innovation Solution
A system manager is implemented to automatically discover and authenticate components within a data center, including non-volatile memory express (NVMe) over Fabric devices, using enclosure and component managers to facilitate automated provisioning and ensure correct cabling and connectivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual setup and configuration is used for data centers, then installation can be performed with existing tools and processes, but the process requires significant planning and coordination among multiple administrators, making it inefficient and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service through automated component discovery and configuration. The enclosure manager automatically discovers components within enclosures, and the system manager automatically discovers enclosures and provisions them, eliminating the need for manual coordination among administrators. The system performs self-configuration by automatically detecting and setting up storage systems, servers, and network switches without human intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical coordination processes with automated electronic discovery and configuration systems. Instead of administrators manually coordinating setup of storage systems, servers, and network switches, the system uses electronic discovery protocols and automated provisioning to replace the mechanical coordination process, thereby improving efficiency and reducing errors.
2Extent of automation
If automated component discovery is implemented, then installation efficiency is improved and manual intervention is reduced, but the system requires sophisticated discovery and authentication mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into distinct functional components: enclosure managers that operate within individual enclosures to discover components, and a system manager that operates at the system level to discover enclosures and coordinate provisioning. This segmentation allows automated discovery functionality to be distributed across multiple independent modules, reducing the complexity burden on any single component while enabling comprehensive automation.
Solution Approach 2:
Enclosure managers serve as intermediaries between individual components within enclosures and the system manager. They facilitate automated discovery by translating component-level information into enclosure-level summaries, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture while enabling extensive automation. The intermediary layer abstracts complexity rather than adding to it.
Data Source
AI summary
A system to facilitate automatic data center assembly is described. The system includes a first enclosure, including a first set of components, each component including a component manager to perform a component function and a first enclosure manager, communicatively coupled to each component manager, to perform a discovery of each of the first set of components and discover one or more adjacent enclosures coupled to the enclosure via link cables. The system also includes a system manager to automatically discover the first enclosure via the first enclosure manager and discover each of the first set of plurality of components via an associated component manager.