Data Center Management Over Power Planes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data center management solutions require dedicated cabling and devices for transferring data between management hubs and servers, leading to increased complexity, cost, and reduced airflow, while lacking redundancy and authentication/authorization capabilities.
Innovation Solution
Data center management over a power plane, where a management hub is coupled to servers via multiple power planes for data transfer, utilizing existing power infrastructure for reduced cabling and redundancy, and incorporating authentication through certificates for secure data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dedicated cabling and devices are used for data transfer between management hubs and servers, then data transfer reliability is improved, but device complexity and cabling complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines data transfer and power delivery functions into a single power plane infrastructure. Management data is transmitted over the existing power planes that connect management hubs to servers, eliminating the need for separate dedicated cabling. This merging of functions reduces cabling complexity while maintaining reliable data transfer through the established power distribution network.
Solution Approach 2:
The power planes are designed to serve multiple functions: traditional power delivery and management data transfer. By making the power infrastructure universal and multi-functional, the system eliminates the need for separate dedicated cabling for management data, thereby reducing overall device and cabling complexity while maintaining reliable communication channels.
2Reliability
If dedicated cabling is used for data transfer, then data transfer security is improved, but loss of substance (cabling materials) increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges data transfer and power delivery into a single infrastructure, eliminating the need for separate dedicated cabling for management data. This reduces the consumption of cabling materials while maintaining security through authentication and authorization mechanisms implemented at the protocol level.
Solution Approach 2:
The power planes serve dual purposes as both power delivery and secure data transfer channels. This multi-functionality reduces the total amount of cabling materials required while security is maintained through certificate-based authentication and authorized access control.
3Reliability
If multiple power planes are used for data transfer, then redundancy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple power planes into a unified management data transfer infrastructure. By leveraging the existing redundant power plane connections, the system achieves data transfer redundancy without requiring separate dedicated cabling for each redundant path, thereby reducing overall connection complexity.
4Ease of manufacture
If existing power infrastructure is used for data transfer, then ease of manufacture is improved, but measurement precision (data transfer capability) worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the power planes to enable data transfer functionality. By modulating power delivery parameters and implementing appropriate communication protocols, the existing power infrastructure is adapted to carry management data with sufficient precision and reliability for data center operations.
Data Source
AI summary
Data center management over a power plane, including: coupling, via a plurality of power planes, a management hub to one or more servers; and transferring, via the plurality of power planes, data between the management hub and the one or more servers.