Remote Power Cycling via Network Packet and Physical Line
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for remotely rebooting servers are inadequate, as they often require on-site intervention when the server's management controller is unresponsive, leading to excessive time and cost, especially when servers are located in unattended areas.
Innovation Solution
Integration of network hardware with wake-on-LAN functionality that detects a magic packet and power-cycling command within a network packet, triggering a physical line to interrupt power and perform a cold reboot, allowing remote power cycling of servers even when other reboot methods fail.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If existing remote reboot methods are used, then servers can be rebooted when the management controller is responsive, but on-site intervention is required when the management controller is unresponsive, leading to excessive time and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a magic packet as an intermediary signal that can trigger power cycling through a physical line (such as a PS_ON signal line) bypassing the management controller entirely. This intermediary mechanism allows remote power control even when the controller is unresponsive, eliminating the need for on-site intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the software-based reboot mechanism (which goes through the management controller) with a hardware-based electrical signal mechanism. By sending a magic packet that triggers a physical line connected to the power supply, the system substitutes a direct electrical control path for the failed software control path, enabling reboot without controller involvement.
2Reliability
If on-site personnel are deployed for power cycling, then servers can be rebooted when remote methods fail, but costs and response time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service remote power cycling by automatically processing magic packets and triggering power supply interruption through the physical line. The server infrastructure itself provides the capability to reboot without external human intervention, making the system self-sufficient even when the management controller fails.
3Extent of automation
If wake-on-LAN is used to trigger power cycling, then remote cold reboot is enabled, but the system must handle the server already being powered on
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using wake-on-LAN to power on a dormant server (the conventional approach), the patent inverts the approach by using the magic packet to trigger power cycling of an already-powered-on server. The physical line (such as PS_ON) is used in reverse - not to enable power but to interrupt and reset it - achieving cold reboot from an active state.
Data Source
AI summary
Network hardware of a computing device receives a network packet over a network to which the network hardware is connected. The network hardware determines that the network packet includes a power-cycling command. The network hardware, in response to determining that the network packet includes the power-cycling command, triggers a physical line between the network hardware and a power supply of the computing device. The power supply is connected to a power source and currently provides power from the power source to the computing device. In response to the network hardware triggering the physical line, the power supply interrupts providing the power to the computing device for a length of time to cause the computing device to restart and cold reboot.