System Management Device for Node Software Update and Power Saving

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Solution Overview

Problem

In computer systems with multiple computation nodes, existing methods for software update and power saving are independent, leading to a risk of job operation interruption due to a shortage of assignable computation nodes when some nodes are deactivated for power saving and others for software update.

Innovation Solution

A system management device that creates a list of computation nodes for software update and detects idle nodes suitable for power saving, updating software before deactivating them for power saving, ensuring that nodes are deactivated for power saving only after software updates are completed, thus avoiding job operation interruptions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If computation nodes are deactivated for power saving, then power consumption is reduced, but the number of assignable computation nodes decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidnumber of assignable computation nodes

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs software updates on computation nodes before deactivating them for power saving. By completing the software update action in advance (while the node is still active), the system ensures that the node can be safely deactivated without interrupting job operations, thus maintaining the number of assignable nodes while achieving power saving

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of manufacture

If computation nodes are deactivated for software update, then software is updated, but job operation may be stopped due to shortage of assignable nodes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoftware updateVSAvoidjob operation continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If independent software update and power saving mechanisms are used, then each mechanism can operate separately, but the risk of job operation interruption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanism independenceVSAvoidjob operation continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges the software update mechanism and power saving mechanism into a coordinated operation. The management device integrates both functions and determines the execution order by checking whether computation nodes are in an idle state, ensuring that software updates are completed before power saving activation, thus eliminating the risk of job operation interruption while maintaining the flexibility of both mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS10928883B2System management device

Publication Date: 2021.02.23 NEC CORP

AI summary

A system management device connected with a plurality of computation nodes includes a memory including a program instruction and a processor connected with the memory. The processor creates a list of computation nodes in which update of software is to be performed, in accordance with an input software update request, and detects a computation node in an idle state satisfying a condition for power saving, in accordance with an input power-saving operation request. When the computation node detected by the processor is on the list, the processor deactivates the detected computation node for power saving after the software thereof is updated.