Server Power Scheduling via IPMI for Energy and Availability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Compute servers in the telecommunications industry consume significant power when idle, leading to energy waste, and there is a need to power down servers in development and test environments to save costs, while ensuring quick availability in production environments.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method using a cron script to periodically scan a database for timing information, derive device identifiers and actions, and send IPMI commands to power servers on or off based on scheduled cron jobs, leveraging the Baseband Management Controller (BMC) for remote control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If servers are left powered-on at all times to ensure availability, then service availability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts server power states based on scheduled requirements. Servers transition between powered-on and powered-off states according to time-based schedules, allowing the system to adapt power consumption to actual service needs rather than maintaining a static powered-on state
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic power cycling of servers based on scheduled intervals. Servers are powered on before needed services and powered off after services complete, creating a rhythmic pattern of power states that aligns with service requirements and reduces overall energy consumption
2Use of energy by moving object
If servers are powered down to save energy, then energy consumption is reduced, but service availability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by powering on servers before scheduled service requirements. The scheduling mechanism anticipates future service needs and ensures servers are in the required power state beforehand, eliminating availability issues while maintaining energy savings during non-service periods
Solution Approach 2:
The system monitors service requirements and server power states, using this feedback to make intelligent decisions about when to power servers on or off. The scheduling system adjusts power states based on actual service demand patterns, ensuring availability when needed and energy savings when not needed
3Speed
If servers are powered on quickly for production environments, then service availability is improved, but energy waste increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary power-on actions before scheduled service requirements, allowing servers to complete their multi-minute startup process in advance. This ensures servers are fully operational when services begin without requiring expedited startup, and avoids the energy waste of keeping servers powered on continuously
Data Source
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AI summary
There is herein described, a computer-implemented method for causing an action to be performed in relation to a device external to the computer, the method comprising periodically scanning a database to obtain timing information, from which a date and/or time at which the action is to be performed is derivable, at the date and/or time at which the action is to be performed, obtaining (i) an identifier, from which an identity of the device is derivable; and (ii) action information, from which an action that is to be performed in relation to the device is derivable; and using the obtained identifier and action information to cause the action to be performed in relation to the device.