Rack Management Controller Power Supply Activation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rack-mount servers face low power efficiency due to the inability to precisely monitor the efficiency of power supplies, whether centrally provided or built-in, leading to suboptimal power management.
Innovation Solution
A method where a Rack Management Controller (RMC) accesses booting parameters of electronic devices, calculates the required power, and controls the number of activated power supplies to ensure efficient power distribution, monitoring both RMC-controlled and non-RMC-controlled power supplies to optimize operational ranges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If power supplies are centrally provided in a power supply center, then device complexity is reduced, but power efficiency deteriorates due to inability to precisely monitor power supply efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the RMC continuously monitors the operational status and power consumption of electronic devices, then adjusts the activation state of power supplies in the power supply center based on this feedback. This enables precise monitoring and dynamic optimization of power supply efficiency while maintaining the centralized power supply architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The RMC acts as an intermediary between the power supply center and electronic devices. It receives power consumption information from devices, processes this information, and controls the power supply activation states accordingly. This intermediary role enables precise power management without requiring each device to have complex built-in power supply control mechanisms.
2Loss of energy
If each server includes a built-in power supply, then power supply efficiency can be individually controlled, but device complexity increases and power efficiency deteriorates due to monitoring difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the power supply control function from individual electronic devices and consolidates it into a separate RMC. This allows power supply efficiency control to be implemented without adding complexity to each device, as the RMC centrally manages all power supply operations for multiple devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The RMC serves multiple functions: it monitors power consumption of various electronic devices, calculates total power requirements, controls power supply activation states, and optimizes power distribution. This universal controller handles power management for the entire rack system, eliminating the need for complex individual power supply control in each device.
3Reliability
If all power supplies remain activated, then power availability is maximized, but power efficiency deteriorates due to unnecessary power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic power supply management where the activation state of power supplies is not fixed but changes based on real-time power consumption needs. The RMC continuously monitors device power requirements and dynamically adjusts which power supplies remain activated, ensuring power availability when needed while minimizing power consumption during low-demand periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs periodic monitoring of electronic device operational status and power consumption requirements. Based on these periodic assessments, the RMC adjusts power supply activation states, creating a rhythm of monitoring and adjustment that balances power availability with energy efficiency throughout system operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A rack-mount system includes a data center manager and a rack which contains a plurality of electronic devices, a rack management controller and a plurality of power supplies. Before a specific electronic device performs a booting procedure, related booting parameters of the specific electronic device are accessed. The data center manager or the rack management controller is configured to calculate the amount of power required for the specific electronic device to perform the booting procedure according to the accessed booting parameters. The rack management controller is configured to control the number of activated power supplies among the plurality of power supplies according to the calculated amount of power.