Cisco Systems, Inc.
Dynamic power capping of multi-server nodes in a chassis based on real-time resource utilization

Abstract:

A power management application running in a Chassis Management Controller reads utilization values of each server node dynamically in real time and assigns a respective priority to each server node based on its utilization value. The range of the utilization values is divided into terciles and the corresponding priorities assigned to the terciles are as HIGH, MEDIUM and LOW. The priorities are uses as guidelines for allocating power from a manageable power budget to each server node. A chassis power budget specified by an administrator includes the manageable power and unmanageable power used, for example, to power utilities, such as fans. Care is taken that a HIGH priority server node always receives its maximum power consumption rate, with the LOW priority server node receiving no less than its maximum power consumption rate. The MEDIUM priority server node receives at least the mean between its maximum and minimum power consumption rate.