Remediating power loss at a server

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017242467-A1
Application number	US-201615048362-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 19, 2016
Priority date	Feb 19, 2016
Publication date	Aug 24, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Aspects extend to methods, systems, and computer program products for remediating power loss at a server. Aspects of the invention increase the likelihood of gracefully shutting down a server and associated components in a data center when mains power is lost for a specified amount of time (e.g., an amount of time beyond transition to generator power). A server can include a management module (e.g., a BMC) and a watchdog module. When the management controller detects loss of power at a power supply unit, the management controller orchestrates a graceful shutdown of the server in response to power loss. When the management module is unresponsive, the watchdog module provides backup functionality for orchestrating a graceful shutdown in response to power loss. As such, data can be saved from RAM to more durable storage even when the management module is unresponsive.

First claim

1 . A computer system, the computer system comprising:
one or more processors; system memory coupled to the one or more processors, the system memory storing instructions that are executable by the one or more processors; and the one or more processors executing the instructions stored in the system memory to remediate a power supply unit (PSU) alert condition, including the following:
detect a power supply unit (PSU) alert condition from a power supply unit (PSU) supplying power to the computer system;
start a timer based on the power supply unit (PSU) alert condition, the length of the timer configured to allow time for graceful shutdown down the computer system prior to depletion of a battery supplying backup power for components of the computer system;
send a notification to a management controller, the management controller having primary responsibility for responding to the power supply unit (PSU) alert condition;
receive an acknowledgment of the notification from the management controller, the acknowledgement indicative of the management controller handling the power supply unit (PSU) alert condition; and
abort the timer in response to the acknowledgment.

2 . The computer system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors executing the instructions stored in the system memory to start a timer in response to the power supply unit (PSU) alert condition comprises the one or more processors executing the instructions stored in the system memory to start a timer in response to a power supply unit (PSU) failure alert signal from the power supply unit (PSU).

3 . The computer system of claim 2 , wherein the one or more processors executing the instructions stored in the system memory to detect a power supply unit (PSU) alert condition comprises the one or more processors executing the instructions stored in the system memory to receive the power supply unit (PSU) alert condition over a data connection connecting the power supply unit (PSU) and the computer system.

4 . (canceled)

5 . (canceled)

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors executing the instructions stored in the system memory to start a timer in response to the power supply unit (PSU) alert condition comprises the one or more processors executing the instructions stored in the system memory to start a timer in response to a power supply unit (PSU) alert condition detected via one of: an RS-232 bus, an Inter-Integrated Circuit (I 2 C) bus, or a System Management Bus (SMB).

7 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising the one or more processors executing the instructions stored in the system memory to copy data stored in the system memory to persistent storage.

8 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising the one or more processors executing the instructions stored in the system memory to gracefully shut down the computer system including:
initiate a PCIe reset for the computer system; and initiate an Asynchronous Dynamic Refresh for the computer system.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more processors executing the instructions stored in the system memory to send a notification to a management controller comprises the one or more processors executing the instructions stored in the system memory to send a notification to a Baseboard Management Controller (BMC), the Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) included in an Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) at the computer system.

10 . (canceled)

11 . A method for use at a computer system, the method for remediating a power supply unit (PSU) alert condition at the computer system, the method comprising:
detecting a power supply unit (PSU) alert condition from a power supply unit (PSU) supplying power to the computer system; starting a timer based on the power supply unit (PSU) alert condition, the length of the timer configured to allow time for gracefully shutting down the computer system prior to depletion of a battery supplying backup power for components of the computer system; sending a notification to a management controller, the management controller having primary responsibility for responding to the power supply unit (PSU) alert condition; failing to receive an acknowledgment of the notification from the management controller prior to expiration of the timer; and gracefully shutting down the computer system in response to expiration of the timer.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein detecting a power supply unit (PSU) alert condition from a power supply unit (PSU) comprises detecting an alert indicating that power was lost at a mains power connection.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein starting a timer in response to the power supply unit (PSU) alert condition comprises starting a timer in response to detecting activation of a power supply unit (PSU) alert signal received from the power supply unit (PSU).

14 . (canceled)

15 . (canceled)

16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein starting a timer in response to the power supply unit (PSU) alert condition comprises starting a timer in response to detecting activation of a power supply unit (PSU) alert signal received via one of: an RS-232 bus, an Inter-Integrated Circuit (PC) bus, or a System Management Bus (SMB).

17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein gracefully shutting down the computer system in response to expiration of the timer comprises copying data stored in Random Access Memory (RAM) to persistent storage in response to expiration of the timer.

18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein gracefully shutting down the computer system in response to expiration of the timer comprises:
initiating a PCIe reset for the computer system; and initiating an Asynchronous Dynamic Refresh for the computer system.

19 . (canceled)

20 . A method for use at a computer system, the method for remediating a power supply unit (PSU) alert condition at the computer system, the method comprising:
detecting a power supply unit (PSU) alert condition from a power supply unit (PSU) supplying power to the computer system; starting a timer based on the power supply unit (PSU) alert condition, the timer configured to allow time for gracefully shutting down the computer system prior to depletion of a battery supplying backup power for components of the computer system; sending a notification to a management controller, the management controller having primary responsibility for responding to the power supply unit (PSU) alert condition; receiving an acknowledgment of the notification from the management controller, the acknowledgement indicative of the management controller handling the power supply unit (PSU) alert condition; and aborting the timer in response to the acknowledgement.

21 . The method of claim 20 , wherein starting a timer in response the power supply unit (PSU) alert condition comprises starting a timer in response to a power supply unit (PSU) failure alert signal from the power supply unit (PSU).

22 . The method of claim 20 , wherein detecting a power supply unit (PSU) alert condition comprises receiving the power supply unit (PSU) alert condition over a data connection connecting the power supply unit (PSU) and the computer system.

23 . The method of claim 20 , further comprising copying data stored in system memory to persistent storage.

Assignees

• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Kelly Bryan
• Harris Shaun L
• Shaw Mark A
• Khessib Badriddine

Classifications

• G06F11/0709

  in a distributed system consisting of a plurality of standalone computer nodes, e.g. clusters, client-server systems · CPC title

• G06F1/28 Primary

  Supervision thereof, e.g. detecting power-supply failure by out of limits supervision · CPC title

• G06F11/0757

  by exceeding a time limit, i.e. time-out, e.g. watchdogs · CPC title

• G06F1/3203

  Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode · CPC title

• G06F1/30 Primary

  Means for acting in the event of power-supply failure or interruption, e.g. power-supply fluctuations (for resetting only G06F1/24) · CPC title