Distributed PCH Power Management for Multi-Node Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
In current blade server systems, the master node's PCH is overwhelmed with managing power-on and power-off operations for multiple nodes, leading to prolonged power-on delays and inconsistent power-on effects due to its heavy workload in loading BIOS for all nodes.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a power management method where each node independently controls its power-on operation using a local PCH, with the slave nodes loading BIOS from their local flash initially and then from the master node's flash after memory initialization, reducing the master node's burden and enhancing power-on speed and consistency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the master node's PCH manages power-on and power-off operations for all nodes, then power management consistency is maintained, but the PCH workload becomes extremely heavy and power-on delay increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the centralized power management function into distributed segments by enabling each node's PCH to independently manage its own power-on operations. Each PCH loads BIOS from local flash and executes power-on tasks autonomously, eliminating the bottleneck of centralized management while maintaining system consistency through coordinated control signals.
2Ease of operation
If the master node's PCH loads BIOS for all nodes, then power-on control is centralized, but the PCH burden increases and power-on effect deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Each node's PCH is empowered to perform self-service by independently loading BIOS from its local flash memory and executing power-on operations without relying on the master node's PCH. This autonomous operation significantly reduces the master PCH's burden and accelerates the overall power-on process while maintaining operational simplicity through standardized control protocols.
Data Source
AI summary
A power management method to improve a power-on effect of a multi-node system is disclosed. In the power management method provided in the present disclosure, after a power management module delivers a power-on instruction to each node in the multi-node system, a PCH of each node loads a BIOS from a local flash to perform a power-on process. Compared with the prior art in which a PCH of a master node is responsible for loading BIOSs of all nodes in a multi-node system, the method provided in the present disclosure can reduce burden on the PCH of the master node, and accelerate a power-on speed of the system, so that a better power-on effect is achieved. The present disclosure further provides a related multi-node system.