Data Center Mesh Clusters for Real-Time Thermal Response

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Solution Overview

Problem

Managing and tracking environmental factors in large data center environments with thousands of information handling systems is challenging, requiring efficient mechanisms for real-time monitoring and response to ensure optimal performance and energy usage.

Innovation Solution

A system utilizing localized clusters within a mesh network, where sensors measure environmental characteristics like temperature and humidity, and transmit data to a cluster lead node, which communicates with neighboring nodes and a data center management server to adjust operational parameters and generate environmental mappings for data center-wide adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If centralized monitoring of environmental factors is implemented across thousands of information handling systems, then comprehensive environmental tracking is achieved, but system complexity and management difficulty increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental factor trackingVSAvoidsystem management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the large data center environment into multiple localized clusters, each monitored independently by a cluster lead node. This segmentation reduces the management complexity by breaking down the monolithic monitoring system into smaller, more manageable units while maintaining comprehensive environmental tracking across the entire facility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces cluster lead nodes as intermediary components between individual information handling systems and the central management system. These lead nodes aggregate environmental data from multiple systems within their cluster, reducing the direct communication overhead and simplifying the overall system architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Speed

If real-time environmental monitoring is implemented across all systems, then rapid response to environmental changes is enabled, but data transmission overhead and network traffic increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse speedVSAvoidnetwork energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

By organizing systems into localized clusters with dedicated lead nodes, the patent reduces network traffic by having each lead node aggregate data from its cluster members before transmitting to the central system. This segmentation enables rapid local response while minimizing overall network overhead.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements selective monitoring where cluster lead nodes aggregate and filter environmental data, transmitting only relevant information to the central system. This partial action approach maintains rapid response capability for critical events while reducing routine data transmission overhead.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Device complexity

If localized clusters with lead nodes are implemented, then management complexity is reduced, but communication overhead between nodes increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem management complexityVSAvoidcommunication energy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple monitoring functions at the cluster lead node level, where each lead node aggregates environmental data from multiple information handling systems within its cluster. This merging reduces the total number of communication channels required while maintaining comprehensive monitoring coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the communication architecture into hierarchical levels: local cluster communications and central system communications. This segmentation optimizes communication efficiency by keeping local cluster traffic minimal and centralized traffic aggregated and efficient.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11644801B2Data center collective environment monitoring and response

Publication Date: 2023.05.09 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

A mechanism is provided for utilizing localized clusters within a mesh network to aid in tracking environmental factors associated with information handling systems in an environment having a large number of information handling systems installed. Sensors within each information handling system measure a variety of environmental factors, such as, for example, temperature (CPU, ambient, air inlet, air exhaust, system board, and the like), air flow through the information handling system, fan speed, and hardware utilization. The sensor-derived environmental information is provided to a lead local cluster node, which can provide local responses to environmental values exceeding thresholds. Lead nodes generate a mapping of the environmental factors and provide that mapping to a data center management server. The data center management server collates environmental mapping information to derive a data center-wide environmental mapping used by management personnel to make adjustments to balance load, reduce temperatures, and reduce energy usage.