IT Equipment Placement via Rack Capability Inference

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Solution Overview

Problem

Data center administrators face challenges in identifying optimal locations for IT hardware placement due to various physical and workload-related constraints, such as network connectivity, power, temperature, and space requirements, which can lead to inefficiencies and downtime.

Innovation Solution

A system utilizing a rack capability inference engine to determine workload and physical constraints, infer hardware placement capabilities, and generate a ranked list of locations for IT equipment placement, ensuring optimal placement based on connectivity, power, and temperature requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual methods are used to identify optimal IT hardware placement locations, then administrators can place hardware in data centers, but the process requires significant time and effort to evaluate multiple constraints including network connectivity, power requirements, temperature, and space

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehardware placement efficiencyVSAvoidturnaround time for hardware placement

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service by automatically inferring rack capabilities and generating placement recommendations without requiring manual administrator intervention. The rack capability inference engine autonomously evaluates network connectivity, power availability, temperature conditions, and space constraints to determine optimal placement locations, thereby resolving the contradiction between productivity improvement and time consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of evaluating placement constraints with an automated computational system. The rack capability inference engine uses software-based algorithms to assess multiple constraints simultaneously and generate ranked placement recommendations, eliminating the time-consuming manual evaluation process while maintaining comprehensive constraint analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If comprehensive constraint evaluation is performed for each hardware placement decision, then optimal placement can be achieved, but the complexity of the placement process increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplacement optimization accuracyVSAvoidplacement process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the complex placement evaluation process into distinct modular components: network connectivity assessment, power requirement evaluation, temperature condition analysis, and space availability checks. Each constraint type is evaluated independently by specialized modules within the rack capability inference engine, making the overall complex process more manageable and maintainable while ensuring comprehensive evaluation of all constraints.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary rack capability inference engine that mediates between the hardware placement request and the multiple constraints. This intermediary component abstracts the complexity of evaluating numerous constraints by providing a unified interface that automatically gathers constraint data, processes it through evaluation algorithms, and returns simplified ranked recommendations, thereby reducing perceived complexity for administrators.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If hardware is placed without considering optimal constraints, then placement can be done quickly, but hardware degradation increases and resource usage is not maximized

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehardware resource usage efficiencyVSAvoidhardware degradation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by evaluating all placement constraints and generating ranked recommendations before hardware is physically installed. The rack capability inference engine assesses network connectivity, power availability, temperature conditions, and space constraints in advance, allowing administrators to select optimal locations that prevent future hardware degradation and maximize resource usage efficiency, rather than making hasty placement decisions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the system continuously monitors actual hardware performance and placement conditions after installation. This feedback loop allows the rack capability inference engine to refine its capability assessments and improve future placement recommendations, ensuring that hardware is consistently placed in optimal locations that minimize degradation and maximize resource utilization over time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11696418B2Recommending IT equipment placement based on inferred hardware capabilities

Publication Date: 2023.07.04 HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE DEV LP

AI summary

In some examples, a method includes: determining workload constraints for placement of information technology (IT) equipment within a data center; determining physical constraints for placement of the IT equipment; inferring hardware placement capabilities of IT equipment racks within the data center; and generating a ranked list of locations for IT equipment placement within the data center based on the determined workload constraints, determined physical constraints, and inferred hardware placement capabilities.