Power Consumption Attribution in Multi-Tenant Cloud Resources
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In cloud computing environments, it is challenging to accurately monitor and manage power consumption among multiple users or entities sharing resources, as well as to control power states of hardware components, which is crucial for compliance with regulations and reducing energy costs.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system with a control plane that monitors power consumption and allows customers to request specific power profiles, enabling them to manage power states and operational modes of resources, thereby attributing and controlling power usage effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple users share cloud computing resources, then resource utilization efficiency is improved, but accurate power consumption measurement and apportionment becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments power consumption measurement by implementing separate performance counters for different virtual machines (VMs) on the same physical host. Each VM has its own counter that independently tracks power consumption, allowing accurate apportionment of power usage among multiple users while maintaining shared resource infrastructure. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by enabling precise measurement without requiring dedicated physical resources for each user.
2Adaptability or versatility
If users have control over power states of hardware components, then power consumption management flexibility is improved, but system complexity and control overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a performance counter intermediary layer between users and hardware power states. Users interact with software-based performance counters that track power consumption without requiring direct hardware control. This intermediary simplifies the user interface while maintaining the ability to monitor and manage power states, reducing control complexity while preserving management flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service power management through automated performance counter tracking and reporting. The counters automatically monitor power consumption without requiring manual configuration or intervention, and the system autonomously attributes power usage to appropriate users or VMs. This self-service approach reduces operational complexity while providing comprehensive power state management capabilities.
3Measurement precision
If detailed power consumption monitoring is implemented, then accurate billing and compliance reporting is improved, but system overhead and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses software-based performance counters that create virtual copies of power consumption data without requiring physical duplication of monitoring hardware. Each VM has a software counter that mirrors the power state information, providing accurate accounting data at minimal energy cost. This copying approach enables detailed monitoring while avoiding the energy overhead of additional physical monitoring infrastructure.
Data Source
AI summary
Customers in a multi-tenant environment can obtain power consumption information for a set of resources or other computing components used by those customers, including time-accurate accounting for various components of those resources utilized on behalf of the customer. A customer can also have the ability to specify how the resources are to be operated when used for the customer, in order to manage the amount of power consumption. The accounting can be performed even when the resources are shared among multiple users or entities. Various hardware components or agents can be used to provide detailed power consumption information for those components that is associated with a particular customer. The information can be used not only for accounting and monitoring purposes, but also to make dynamic adjustments based on various changes in usage, power consumption, or other such factors.