Standby Service Processor Synchronization for Power Savings
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Solution Overview
Problem
In existing server control systems, efficiently suspending and resuming standby service processors (SPs) while maintaining high availability and reducing power consumption is challenging, as the standby SPs face difficulties in executing processes efficiently during suspension and resumption.
Innovation Solution
A control system with redundant first and second control devices, utilizing a transfer storage unit accessible by both, where the first control device transmits start notifications to the second control device to resume operations, and the second control device reflects state information from the transfer storage unit to synchronize processes, enabling efficient suspension and resumption of standby SPs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If the standby SP is suspended to reduce power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but the standby SP cannot execute processes efficiently during suspension and resumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the standby SP reflect state information from the transfer storage unit before resumption. This allows the standby SP to prepare its internal state in advance, ensuring that process execution can resume efficiently without loss of productivity despite the suspension period.
2Use of energy by stationary object
If the standby SP is suspended to reduce power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but system availability may be compromised during failure scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by having the standby SP continuously reflect state information from the transfer storage unit. This feedback mechanism ensures that the standby SP remains synchronized with the active SP's state, allowing seamless failover and maintaining system availability even when the standby is suspended to reduce power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
By preliminarily updating the standby SP's state information before potential failure scenarios, the system ensures that the standby can immediately take over if needed, thus maintaining reliability while allowing suspension for energy savings.
3Reliability
If the standby SP continuously monitors and synchronizes with the active SP, then system reliability is maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by having the standby SP reflect state information at specific intervals or trigger events rather than continuously. This periodic synchronization maintains system reliability while significantly reducing power consumption compared to continuous monitoring operations.
4Reliability
If the standby SP is kept active to maintain high availability, then system reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by allowing the standby SP to transition between suspended and active states based on system conditions. The standby SP remains suspended to conserve energy but can be rapidly activated when needed, maintaining high availability while optimizing power consumption through dynamic state changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The standby SP performs preliminary state reflection from the transfer storage unit during suspension, preparing itself for rapid activation. This preliminary action ensures that when the standby needs to become active, it can do so quickly with minimal data synchronization overhead, maintaining reliability while allowing energy-saving suspension.
Data Source
AI summary
A control system includes a first control device, a second control device, and a transfer storage unit. The first and second control devices execute processes. The first control device includes a first storage unit and a first processor. The first processor reflects state information in the first storage unit and the transfer storage unit. The first processor transmits, to the second control device, a start notification that causes the second control device to start an operation of the second control device. The second control device includes a second storage unit and a second processor. The second processor starts the operation of the second control device in response to reception of the start notification when the second control device is in a suspended state. The second processor reads the state information from the transfer storage unit. The second processor reflects the read state information in the second storage unit.