Abstract
A method of determining a configuration of multiple power supply units of a computer system. According to the method, in a first step a time shift between different synchronization signals is evaluated, wherein the different synchronization signals are associated with different power supply units among the multiple power supply units of the computer system. In a subsequent step, a connection configuration of the different power supply units is determined from the evaluated time shift. In this regard, a predetermined first time shift characteristic is associated with a connection configuration of the different power supply units to different power phases of a multiple phase power system, whereas a predetermined second time shift characteristic is associated with a connection configuration of the different power supply units to one shared power phase of the multiple phase power system. With such a method a power management of the computer system may be enhanced.
Claims
1. Method of determining a configuration of multiple power supply units of a computer system with the following steps: evaluating a time shift between different synchronization signals, wherein the different synchronization signals are associated with different power supply units among the multiple power supply units of the computer system, and determining a connection configuration of the different power supply units from the evaluated time shift, wherein a predetermined first time shift characteristic is associated with a connection configuration of the different power supply units to different power phases of a multiple phase power system, and wherein a predetermined second time shift characteristic is associated with a connection configuration of the different power supply units to one shared power phase of the multiple phase power system.
2. Method according to claim 1, wherein each synchronization signal is generated from a zero-crossing detection of a periodic AC supply voltage of the respective power phase of the respective power supply unit.
3. Method according to claim 1, wherein each synchronization signal is generated within the respective power supply unit and is transmitted to a separate evaluation component of the computer system, wherein the evaluation component performs the steps of evaluating the time shift between the different synchronization signals and determining a connection configuration of the different power supply units from the evaluated time shift.
4. Method according to claim 1 with the further steps: evaluating predetermined power characteristics of each power supply unit of the computer system and/or of the respective power phase connected to the respective power supply unit, and adapting a power delivery percentage for each power supply unit of the computer system depending on the evaluated predetermined power characteristics and depending on the determined connection configuration of the different power supply units.
5. Computer system with multiple power supply units and an evaluation component, wherein the evaluation component is configured: to evaluate a time shift between different synchronization signals associated with different power supply units among the multiple power supply units of the computer system and to determine a connection configuration of the different power supply units from the evaluated time shift, wherein a predetermined first time shift characteristic is associated with a connection configuration of the different power supply units to different power phases of a multiple phase power system, and wherein a predetermined second time shift characteristic is associated with a connection configuration of the different power supply units to one shared power phase of the multiple phase power system.
6. Computer system according to claim 5, wherein each of the different power supply units is configured to generate the respective synchronization signal and to transmit the respective synchronization signal to the evaluation component.
7. Computer system according to claim 5, wherein the evaluation component is provided on a system board of the computer system.
8. Computer system according to claim 5, wherein the evaluation component is further configured: to evaluate predetermined power characteristics of each of the different power supply units and/or of the respective power phase connected to the respective power supply unit, and to adapt a power delivery percentage for each of the different power supply units depending on the evaluated predetermined power characteristics and depending on the determined connection configuration of the different power supply units.
9. Computer system according to claim 5, wherein the evaluation component and the multiple power supply units are connected via a communications bus or hardware wiring.
10. Computer system according to claim 5, wherein the computer system is configured as a rack server.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0045] Further advantageous aspects are disclosed in the subsequent description of several drawings.
[0046] The invention is further described in detail with regard to certain embodiments as illustrated in several drawings.
[0047] FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an embodiment of a system board as used in a computer system according to the invention;
[0048] FIG. 2 shows characteristic signal curves of phase signals and exemplary synchronization signals derived therefrom according to the invention;
[0049] FIG. 3 shows a diagram of measured signal curves of one phase signal and its derived exemplary synchronization signal according to the invention; and
[0050] FIG. 4 shows a schematic configuration of an exemplary arrangement of two system boards according to FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0051] FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an embodiment of a system board 1 used in a computer system, like a server. For example, numerous servers can be accommodated in a server rack, wherein each server comprises one or more system boards 1 according to FIG. 1.
[0052] Determination of a configuration of multiple power supply units within a respective server and balancing of an overall load of the respective servers within the server rack (for example within a data center) distributed over multiple phases of a multiple phase power system is an important task. The system board 1 according to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 may ease such a power management within a server rack containing numerous servers.
[0053] The system board 1 according to the embodiment of FIG. 1 comprises two power supply units PSU1 and PSU2, each connected to respective power (utility) phases (lines) of a multiple phase power system exterior to the system board 1 and supplying power to the system board 1 provided by a power utility company via a network. For example, according to FIG. 1 the power supply unit PSU1 is connected to the power phase L1 and a neutral line N, whereas the power supply unit PSU2 is connected to the power phase L2 and the neutral line N. Each power supply unit PSU1 and PSU2 may provide a certain amount of power to supply electric components on the system board 1 or other components of the computer system (not illustrated in FIG. 1) for operation of the computer system. For example, the power supply units PSU1 and PSU2 share an overall power demand of the system board 1 or the respective computer system in which the system board 1 is used, wherein both power supply units PSU1 and PSU2 each contribute a predetermined power delivery percentage of an overall power demand. For example, each power supply unit PSU1 and PSU2 provide 50% of the power demand of the system board 1. Other power delivery percentages can be determined depending on the situation as explained below with regard to FIG. 4.
[0054] Besides the power supply units PSU1 and PSU2, the system board 1 also provides an evaluation component (Management Board Controller) MBC. According to the embodiment of FIG. 1, the evaluation component MBC is configured as a separate microcontroller managing the power distribution and power supply via the power supply units PSU1 and PSU2. In alternative embodiments, the evaluation component MBC can also be part of or integrated in microprocessor components or microcontroller components conventionally configured on the system board 1. In further alternative embodiments, the evaluation component MBC can be provided on a power distribution board configured separate to the system board 1, for example as a daughter card mechanically and electrically connected to system board 1. Various modifications are possible in this regard.
[0055] The evaluation component MBC provides a functionality for evaluating synchronization signals provided by the respective power supply units PSU1 and PSU2 in order to determine a connection configuration of the power supply units PSU1 and PSU2 with regard to the respective power phases L1 and L2 as exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 1. Such a functionality is further explained with regard to FIG. 2 below. Moreover, the evaluation component MBC provides a functionality for evaluating predetermined power characteristics of the power supply units PSU1 and PSU2 and/or of the respective power phases L1 and L2 connected to the power supply units PSU1 and PSU2 as exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 1 in order to adapt a power delivery percentage for each power supply unit PSU1 and PSU2 separately. The latter functionality is further explained below in view of FIG. 4.
[0056] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates characteristic curves of AC (supply) voltages (voltage signals) of different phases of a multiple phase power system as applied to the system board 1 according to FIG. 1. Moreover, FIG. 2 illustrates synchronization signals as derived from single AC voltages in order to evaluate and determine a connection configuration of single power supply units PSU1 and PSU2 as configured according to FIG. 1.
[0057] For example, the diagram of FIG. 2 illustrates in the upper section the time courses of AC (supply) voltages of three different phases L1, L2 and L3 of the multiple phase power system as applied to the system board 1 according to FIG. 1. In FIG. 1, the two phases L1 and L2 are connected respectively to the two power supply units PSU1 and PSU2 (L1 connected to PSU1 and L2 connected to PSU2).
[0058] Turning back to FIG. 2, the three periodic AC (supply) voltages of the phases L1, L2 and L3 provide the AC voltages of a conventional three-phase power system with the three phases L1, L2 and L3. For example, the respective AC (supply) voltages of the phases L1 to L3 each oscillate with a frequency of 50 Hz, which means that the signals each oscillate with a time period of 20 milliseconds, wherein the voltages of the three phases L1 to L3 each are phase-shifted by 120. Each phase L1 to L3 normally provides, for example, an input voltage with an amplitude of 325 V with an effective value of 230 V. These parameters are illustrated in FIG. 2.
[0059] FIG. 2 further illustrates in a lower section synchronization signals 2 and 3 each derived from single ones of the respective AC periodic voltages of the phases L1 to L3. For example, FIG. 2 illustrates synchronization signals 2 derived from the voltage of phase L1 and synchronization signals 3 derived from the voltage of phase L2. Any processing of the voltage of phase L3 is not illustrated in FIG. 2 for the sake of a simple illustration.
[0060] The respective synchronization signals 2 and 3 are generated by detecting zero-crossings of the respective periodic AC (supply) voltages. This means that the synchronization signals 2 each provide signal edges associated with the respective zero-crossings of the voltage of phase L1, whereas the synchronization signals 3 each provide signal edges associated with respective zero-crossings of the voltage of phase L2. This is symbolized by respective dashed lines correlating the respective zero-crossings of the voltages of the phases L1 and L2 with the respective signal edges of the synchronization signals 2 and 3.
[0061] The synchronization signals 2 and 3 are generated, as exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 2, in such a way that rising edges of the rectangular synchronization signals 2 and 3 correlate/coincide with respective zero-crossings of the respective voltages of the phases L1 or L2 from a negative value to a positive value, whereas falling edges of the rectangular synchronization signals 2 and 3 correlate/coincide with respective zero-crossings of the respective voltages of the phases L1 or L2 from a positive value to a negative value.
[0062] The synchronization signals 2 and 3 respectively can be generated with the aid of a zero-crossing detection component within a respective power supply unit PSU1 and PSU2 according to FIG. 1, wherein the zero-crossing detection component is configured to detect the respective zero-crossings of the periodic voltages of the phases L1 and L2 respectively. The synchronization signals 2 and 3 generated in this way can be transmitted from the respective power supply units PSU1 and PSU2 to the evaluation component MBC according to FIG. 1. For this purpose, the power supply units PSU1 and PSU2 and the evaluation component MBC of FIG. 1 are connected via a hardware wiring or communications bus 4, for example a power management bus (PMBus) or a system management bus (SMBus). For example, the respective synchronization signals 2 and 3 according to FIG. 2 can be provided to the hardware wiring at respective synchronization signal pins of connectors/sockets of the respective power supply units PSU1 and PSU2 and transmitted to the evaluation component MBC.
[0063] The evaluation component MBC according to FIG. 1 can then evaluate a time shift between the respective synchronization signals 2 and 3 in order to determine a respective connection configuration of the power supply units PSU1 and PSU2 from the evaluated time shift. According to the situation as explained with regard to FIGS. 1 and 2, the evaluation component MBC may identify a time shift between the synchronization signals 2 and 3 due to the overlapping time windows of the respective rectangular synchronization signal components (see the hatched areas of the synchronization signals 2 and 3 in FIG. 2). For example, a rising edge of the synchronization signal 3 starts after a rising edge of the synchronization signal 2 has occurred and before a falling edge of the synchronization signal 2 occurs. This overlap between the synchronization signals 2 and 3 indicates a predetermined time shift characteristic of the opposing synchronization signals 2 and 3. The evaluation component MBC associates this predetermined first time shift characteristic with a connection configuration of the power supply units PSU1 and PSU2 to different power phases L1 and L2 as illustrated in FIG. 1. Hence, the identified time shift characteristic of the two evaluated synchronization signals 2 and 3 enables the determination of the connection configuration of the power supply units PSU1 and PSU2 according to FIG. 1, thereby indicating to the evaluation component MBC that the two power supply units PSU1 and PSU2 are connected to different power phases, namely L1 and L2.
[0064] Assuming, according to a scenario alternative to FIGS. 1 and 2, that the two power supply units PSU1 and PSU2 of the arrangement of FIG. 1 would be connected to one shared (common) power supply phase, for example phase L1, alternative to the constellation as depicted in FIG. 1, then an evaluation of a time shift between the synchronization signals 2 and 3 as generated and provided by the power supply units PSU1 and PSU2 would reveal a predetermined second time shift characteristic providing no significant or only a negligible time shift compared to the constellation as illustrated in FIG. 2 between the rectangular signal components of the synchronization signals 2 and 3. Such a scenario, consequently, would indicate to the evaluation component MBC that the two power supply units PSU1 and PSU2 would be connected to one shared (common) phase, namely L1 as exemplarily assumed above.
[0065] Hence, due to the measures as explained above, the evaluation component MBC can easily determine and identify a connection configuration of the power supply units PSU1 and PSU2 basing on an evaluation of the time shift between provided synchronization signals 2 and 3 according to the explanations with regard to FIG. 2. Hence, a computer system with a system board 1 as illustrated in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1 and providing the measures as explained with regard to the exemplary constellation illustrated in FIG. 2, can automatically identify the connection configuration of its power supply units as exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 1. Hence, a computer system can provide for a power management without the need of any external monitoring components, e.g. power distribution units or the like. This may save costs in the installation of whole data centers with numerous computer systems of the kind explained above.
[0066] FIG. 3 illustrates measured signal curves of a voltage of a phase (signal) analogous to FIG. 2 and its respective synchronization signal. FIG. 3, thereby, exemplarily illustrates the characteristic curves of a voltage of phase L1 and its respective synchronization signal 2. In contrast to FIG. 2, according to FIG. 3 a rising edge of the synchronization signal 2 occurs during a zero-crossing of the voltage of phase L1 from positive values to negative values, wherein a falling edge of the signal 2 occurs during a zero-crossing of the voltage of phase L1 from negative values to positive values (inverted situation with respect to FIG. 2). Notwithstanding this difference, FIG. 3 illustrates that the synchronization signal 2 has some time shift or drift with respect to its AC voltage of phase L1. This means that the respective signal edge occurs somewhat after the effective zero-crossing of the voltage of phase L1. This drift may originate from factors like measuring tolerances or signal jitter or the like. However, this drift effect is negligible regarding the time shift between two different synchronization signals as explained with regard to the signals 2 and 3 of FIG. 2, such that the occurrence of the drift has no negative impact on the procedure as explained above. Therefore, the respective synchronization signals enable a positive identification and evaluation of respective time shifts for a determination of a connection configuration of the respective power supply units as explained above, irrespective of any negligible drift effect.
[0067] FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of an arrangement of two system boards 1a and 1b which can, for example, be used within two different computer systems accommodated in a rack. This means that the system board 1a, for example, is arranged in a first computer system, wherein the system board 1b is arranged in a second computer system. Alternatively, the two system boards 1a and 1b can be arranged within one single computer system. The two system boards 1a and 1b are each supplied by two power supply units PSU1 and PSU2 as illustrated in FIG. 4. Both system boards 1a and 1b each provide an evaluation unit MBC. Hence, the respective functionality of each system board 1a and 1b corresponds to the functionality of the system board 1 according to FIG. 1. Reference is made to the explanations above.
[0068] Power supply unit PSU1 of system board 1a is connected to phase L1 and the neutral line N, whereas power supply unit PSU2 of system board 1a is connected to phase L2 and the neutral line N. Power supply unit PSU1 of system board 1b is connected to phase L2 and the neutral line N, whereas power supply unit PSU2 of system board 1b is connected to phase L3 and the neutral line N.
[0069] Both evaluation components MBC of system boards 1a and 1b may determine a respective connection configuration of the power supply units PSU1 and PSU2 respectively. This may be accomplished according to the measures as explained above. Hence, the evaluation component MBC of system board 1a may identify the connection configuration of PSU1 on phase L1 and PSU2 on phase L2 respectively. The evaluation component MBC of system board 1b, analogously, may identify the connection configuration of PSU1 on phase L2 and PSU2 on phase L3.
[0070] In addition to synchronization signals transmitted from the respective power supply units PSU1 and PSU2 to the evaluation component MBC, predetermined power characteristics of the power supply units PSU1 and PSU2 respectively and/or of the respective power phases L1, L2 and L3 can be generated through respective measuring components within the power supply units and can be transmitted to the evaluation components MBC. These power characteristics may comprise measurement values of a power factor, total harmonic distortion, voltage difference, for example voltage drop, of the periodic AC voltages or the like. The respective evaluation component MBC then may evaluate the transmitted power characteristics and may adapt a power delivery percentage for each power supply unit PSU1 and PSU2 depending on the evaluated predetermined power characteristics and under consideration of the determined connection configuration of the respective power supply units PSU1 and PSU2.
[0071] According to FIG. 4, for example, a power characteristic can be transmitted to the respective evaluation component MBC, indicating a voltage drop on phase L2, since phase L2 is loaded by two power supply units, namely PSU2 of system board 1a and PSU1 of system board 1b, whereas the other phases L1 and L3 are only loaded by one single power supply unit as illustrated in FIG. 4. Such a voltage drop on phase L2 is recognized/evaluated by the evaluation component MBC of each system board 1a and 1b. For example, evaluation component MBC of system board 1a, subsequently, can decide to adapt the power delivery percentage from 50% for each power supply unit PSU1 and PSU2 to an amended power delivery percentage of 70% for PSU1 and 30% for PSU2 in order to lower the stress on phase L2 through PSU2 and to balance the overall power demand in accordance with detected power characteristics as explained above. The same may be performed by evaluation component MBC of system board 1b and its respective power supply units PSU1 and PSU2.
[0072] Hence, under consideration of respective connection configurations of the power supply units and under consideration of additionally identified and evaluated power characteristics, the respective evaluation component MBC can balance the overall load of the system board 1a or 1b or other components of a respective computer system over the multiple power supply units. Hence, power management can be automatically fulfilled within respective computer systems without the need for external components, such as intelligent power distribution units or the like, to provide such a functionality. Therefore, this may save costs in the overall implementation of data centers with large numbers of computational units.
[0073] The illustrated embodiments are only exemplary. For example, a system board 1, 1a, 1b may provide more than two power supply units. Moreover, the respective power supply units can be installed in the respective computer system separate to the system board and only be electrically connected to the system board. Moreover, more than one evaluation component MBC can be provided on respective system boards or on respective extension boards or daughter cards electrically connected to the respective system boards.
