Power Management for Virtualized IT Assets
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Solution Overview
Problem
In virtualized IT environments, traditional power management systems face challenges in protecting servers hosting multiple virtual machines due to incompatibility with bare-metal Hypervisors and the impracticality of installing specialized power-protection software on each server, making it difficult to ensure adequate protection and manage power-related events effectively.
Innovation Solution
A power management system and method that migrates and shuts down virtual machines based on power-related events from UPSs and other power supply units, allowing virtual machines to be moved between Hypervisors with non-faulting power supplies, and prioritizes the shutdown and startup of critical assets, without requiring specialized software on each physical server.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If specialized power management software is installed on each server, then power protection capability is improved, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a power management server as an intermediary component that centralizes power protection functionality. Instead of installing specialized software on each server, the power management server communicates with UPS devices and manages multiple IT assets centrally, reducing per-server complexity while maintaining protection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The power management server provides universal power protection services to multiple different IT assets (servers, storage devices, etc.) through a single system. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for asset-specific power management software, simplifying deployment while ensuring comprehensive protection
2Productivity
If virtual machines are migrated during power events, then service continuity is improved, but system complexity and management difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by proactively monitoring UPS power levels and initiating virtual machine migration before complete power failure occurs. The power management server receives advance notification from UPS devices about remaining power capacity and automatically triggers migration sequences, ensuring service continuity without requiring complex real-time decision-making during critical power events
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the power management server continuously receives power status information from UPS devices and automatically adjusts virtual machine migration decisions based on real-time power availability. This closed-loop control simplifies management by automating the complex coordination between power monitoring and virtualization management
Data Source
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AI summary
According to various aspects and embodiments, a power management system configured to protect a plurality of information technology (IT) assets is provided. The system includes a migration component executable by the at least one processor and configured to identify the plurality of IT assets, the plurality of IT assets including at least one power supply unit and at least one host server, generate an association between at least one IT asset and at least one power supply unit, receive a power-related event from the at least one power supply unit, correlate the power-related event with at least one affected IT asset based on the generated association, determine a sequence of actions, wherein the sequence of actions is configured to migrate at least one virtual machine from the at least one affected IT asset to a non-affected asset, and execute the sequence of actions.