Per-VM Power Usage Telemetry for Carbon Footprint Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cloud computing and networking devices contribute to environmental carbon footprints due to their reliance on carbon-based power, necessitating effective monitoring and reduction strategies for carbon footprint reporting.
Innovation Solution
A telemetry reporting service determines per-virtual machine or per-container power usage by tracking processor power utilization, which is then reported to a power monitoring and analytics service for calculation and visualization, enabling carbon footprint tracking and reduction initiatives.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If cloud computing and networking devices are deployed to provide computing services, then productivity and service capability are improved, but carbon footprint and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the total power consumption of cloud infrastructure into individual components by implementing telemetry agents at the virtual machine and container levels. This segmentation allows each virtualized execution environment to be monitored and accounted for separately, enabling precise carbon footprint attribution to specific workloads while maintaining overall productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where power consumption data is collected from virtualized execution environments, processed through analytics services, and used to generate actionable insights. This feedback loop enables cloud service providers to optimize resource allocation and reduce carbon footprint while maintaining service levels.
2Measurement precision
If per-virtual machine power usage monitoring is implemented, then measurement precision of carbon footprint is improved, but device complexity and infrastructure requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces telemetry agents as intermediary components that bridge the gap between virtualized execution environments and power monitoring systems. These lightweight agents collect power consumption data from virtual machines and containers without requiring complex modifications to the underlying infrastructure, thereby achieving high measurement precision with minimal added complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal monitoring framework that can track power consumption across multiple virtualization layers (virtual machines, containers, and bare metal platforms) using a common architecture. This multi-functional approach consolidates what could be multiple separate monitoring systems into one unified solution, reducing overall device complexity.
3Loss of information
If detailed power usage data is collected and reported for each virtualized execution environment, then information completeness for carbon reporting is improved, but loss of time and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having telemetry agents continuously collect and buffer power consumption data in near-real-time before formal reporting is required. This pre-collection approach ensures that complete and accurate carbon footprint information is ready when needed, eliminating last-minute data gathering delays and ensuring information completeness for regulatory and shareholder reporting.
Data Source
AI summary
Examples described herein relate to determination of per-virtualized execution environment power usage based on an identifier of a processor that executes at least two virtualized execution environments, power usage of the processor, and number of virtualized execution environments executed by the processor.