Power-on management for remote power-on signals to high density server module
AssigneeDell Products L.P.
InventorsWei Liu, Hamid Javanpour, Ryan Putman
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for managing power in a server system having clustered server modules. A remote power-on signal delivered to a particular server module is routed to a baseboard management controller (BMC) of the server module. The BMC communicates with a central power management controller (MC) of the server system to ensure that the system currently has sufficient power to power-on the server module.
Claims22
A method of managing a power-on signal received by a server module from a remote source, where the server module is part of a clustered server system having a central power management controller, comprising:
- routing the power-on signal to a baseboard management controller (BMC) of the server module;
- programming the BMC such that it requests permission from the central power management controller (MC) to accomplish the power-on;
- if the MC delivers a signal to the BMC representing permission to power-on, routing the power-on signal from the BMC to an I/O control hub (ICH);
- and
- using the ICH to power-on the server module.
A server module circuit for managing a power-on signal received by a server module from a remote source, where the server module is part of a clustered server system having a central power management controller (MC), comprising:
- a network interface card (NIC) for receiving the power-on signal;
- a baseboard management controller (BMC), for receiving the power-on signal from the NIC;
- an internal bus for carrying the power-on signal, at least in part, to the BMC;
- and
- an I/O control hub for receiving a secondary power-on signal from the BMC and for activating power in response to the secondary power-on signal;
- wherein the BMC is programmed to request permission from the MC to accomplish the power-on, and further programmed such that if the MC delivers a signal to the BMC representing permission to power-on, it routes the secondary power-on signal to the ICH.
A high density server module having circuitry for managing a power-on signal received by a server module from a remote source, where the server module is part of a clustered server system having a central power management controller (MC), comprising:
- at least one processor;
- an internal bus;
- memory for program and data storage;
- a network interface card (NIC) for receiving the power-on signal;
- a baseboard management controller (BMC), for receiving the power-on signal from the NIC via the internal bus;
- and
- an I/O control hub for receiving a secondary power-on signal from the BMC and for activating power in response to the secondary power-on signal;
- wherein the BMC is programmed to request permission from the MC to accomplish the power-on, and further programmed such that if the MC delivers a signal to the BMC representing permission to power-on, it routes the secondary power-on signal to the ICH.
An improved high density server module having circuitry for managing a power-on signal received by a server module from a remote source, where the server module is part of a clustered server system having a central power management controller (MC), the improvement comprising;
- a network interface card (NIC) for receiving the power-on signal;
- a baseboard management controller (BMC), for receiving the power-on signal from the NIC;
- an internal bus for carrying the power-on signal, at least in part, to the BMC;
- and
- an I/O control hub for receiving a secondary power-on signal from the BMC and for activating power in response to the secondary power-on signal;
- wherein the BMC is programmed to request permission from the MC to accomplish the power-on, and further programmed such that if the MC delivers a signal to the BMC representing permission to power-on, it routes the secondary power-on signal to the ICH.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.