Universal Power Control Module for Distributed Computing Nodes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Distributed computing systems face challenges in programmatic power control due to vendor-specific power control hardware units, which require custom software modules that are time-consuming and expensive to develop and maintain, especially with firmware upgrades.
Innovation Solution
A distributed computing system with a universal power control module that allows for autonomic control of application nodes, enabling programmatic power control without vendor specificity by using an idle software image to emulate a powered-down state, independent of the vendor's communication protocols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If custom software modules are created for each vendor-specific power control hardware unit, then vendor-specific power control is achieved, but development time and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal power control software module that can manage multiple vendor-specific power control hardware units through a single interface. This module abstracts the vendor-specific protocols (SSH, telnet, etc.) and provides a unified API for power control operations, eliminating the need to write separate custom software modules for each vendor while maintaining full compatibility with their hardware units.
2Reliability
If custom software modules are maintained for each vendor, then vendor-specific compatibility is preserved, but maintenance cost increases with firmware upgrades
Solution Approach 1:
The universal power control software module acts as an intermediary layer between the control node and vendor-specific power control hardware units. It translates generic power control commands into vendor-specific protocols (SSH, telnet, etc.) and handles protocol variations, ensuring compatibility without requiring maintenance of multiple custom modules. The module absorbs the complexity of firmware upgrades internally.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple custom software modules are written for different power control hardware units, then each vendor's hardware is supported, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates multiple vendor-specific power control capabilities into a single universal software module. This module maintains the ability to support various vendor hardware units while reducing the software architecture from multiple specialized modules to one unified module that handles all power control operations through abstraction and protocol translation.
Data Source
AI summary
A distributed computing system contains one or more application nodes. One or more control nodes provide for the efficient and automated allocation and management of computing functions and resources within the distributed computing system. The control node includes an automation subsystem that provides autonomic power control for the application nodes, regardless of which vendor manufactured the application nodes. For power controllers not specifically supported by the distributed computing system, a universal power controller responds to power down instructions by causing a targeted application node to execute an idle software image and reports that the application node has been successfully powered down.