Controlling impedance of blank cartridges

A blank cartridge includes an impedance portion to control a flow of cooling media through the blank cartridge to a plurality of computing components, and an actuator to change an impedance level of the impedance portion. The actuator receives a control signal to change the impedance level of the impedance portion based on a location of the plurality of computing components relative to the blank cartridge.

BACKGROUND

Networked computing systems generally include host computing devices to provide resources such as storage, applications, databases, and the like. The host computing device may be a server such as a database server, file server, mail server, print server, web server, or some other type of server to provide services to client devices within a network. A blade server is a server computer having a modular design optimized to minimize the use of physical space. Whereas a standard rack mount server can function with a power cord and network cable, a blade server has many components removed for the purposes of saving space, minimizing power consumption and other considerations, while still having all the functional components to be considered a computer. A multi-slot blade enclosure can hold multiple blade server cartridges and provide shared resources such as power, cooling, networking, various interconnects, and management. Each cartridge can function as a computer server to run one or more computing services.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Cooling media such as air, liquid, gas, and chemical compounds are commonly used to cool computer servers and other electronic equipment within an electronics enclosure. For example, fans powered by electric motors are commonly used to provide air cooling to cartridges (i.e., computing components/IT equipment) in a blade enclosure. A blade enclosure is an enclosure for a computing system that can hold a plurality of cartridges. Each cartridge can function as a server, a storage unit, or any other specialized computer module.

Blank cartridges are often provided in enclosures as place holders for functional cartridges to be later installed, to achieve certain system configuration, etc. Thus blank cartridges, although they may look like and have the same size as a functional cartridge, do not function as a server, storage unit, or any other specialized computer module. Henceforth, functional cartridges will be referred to as computing components or IT equipment to differentiate from the blank cartridges.

Blank cartridges are designed with fixed impedance to only allow a predetermined amount of cooling media (e.g., air) to flow through them. Thus, if there are computing components in series with the blank cartridge, the speed of the fans will need to be increased in order to overcome the fixed impedance of the blank cartridge to provide more airflow to these computing components. Similarly, if there are computing components in parallel with the blank cartridge, the speed of the fans will need to be increased and accept the loss of airflow created from the fixed impedance of the blank cartridge in order to provide more airflow to these computing components. This fixed impedance solution increases the cooling power needed to cool computing components and leads to energy inefficiency.

The described examples address the above concerns by providing a solution to actively manage the impedance of blank cartridges in order to direct the cooling medium (e.g., air, water, etc.) more efficiently to where it is needed, resulting in lower cooling power and high energy efficiency, for example, due to reduced fan speed, reduced pump speed, and so on.

In one example, a blank cartridge includes an impedance portion to control a flow of cooling media through the blank cartridge to a plurality of computing components. The blank cartridge also includes an actuator to change an impedance level of the impedance portion. The actuator is to receive a control signal to change the impedance level of the impedance portion based on a location of the plurality of computing components relative to the blank cartridge.

In another example, a computing system for controlling impedance of blank cartridges includes an enclosure, a management controller, a plurality of computing components, and a plurality of blank cartridges disposed in the enclosure. The plurality of blank cartridges each include at least one impedance portion to control a flow of cooling media through the blank cartridge to the plurality of computing components, an actuator to change a position of the at least one impedance portion, and an electrical interface to connect the blank cartridge to the management controller. The management controller is to instruct the actuator to change the position of the at least one impedance portion based on a location of the plurality of computing components.

In another example, a method for controlling an impedance of a blank cartridge of a computing system includes providing a blank cartridge including an impedance portion and an actuator for changing a position of the impedance portion. The method includes determining a location of a computing component relative to the blank cartridge and changing the position of the impedance portion based on the location of the computing component.

Referring now to the figures,FIG. 1illustrates an example of a blank cartridge including an impedance portion and an actuator to change an impedance level of the impedance portion. Blank cartridge100can be any blank device of a computing system such as a server cartridge blank, a processor blank, a dual in-line memory module (DIMM) or memory blank, a hard disk drive (HDD) blank, a power supply blank, a peripheral component interconnect (PCI) blank, a fan blank, an optical disc drive (ODD) blank, or any other type of computer module blank.

Blank cartridge100includes an impedance portion102to control the flow of cooling media through the blank cartridge100. The impedance portion102can be, for example, a movable wall, door, valve, or any other impedance creating member to control the flow of cooling media across the blank cartridge100. Although the impedance portion102is shown inFIG. 1to be located at a middle portion of the blank cartridge100, it should be noted that the impedance portion102can be located on any portion of the blank cartridge100(e.g., front or back). Further, in certain example, blank cartridge100can include more than one impedance portion102.

Blank cartridge100also includes an actuator104to change an impedance level of the impedance portion102. Actuator104can be, for example, a motor/rotor, a magnetic device, or any mechanical/electrical device to change the impedance level of the impedance portion102. For example, the actuator104can change the impedance level of the impedance portion102by increasing/decreasing the angle and/or position of the impedance portion102, thereby controlling the flow of cooling media through the blank cartridge100. As shown inFIG. 1, the actuator104can lower or reduce the impedance level (or angle) of the impedance portion102to maximize the flow of the cooling medium through the blank cartridge100. Accordingly, the impedance of the blank cartridge100is minimized to maximize flow as indicated by the flow direction arrows.

Blank cartridge100includes an electrical interface106to connect the blank cartridge100to a management controller (not shown) external to the blank cartridge. The electrical interface106can be, for example, one or more electrical pins, a PCI-express card connector, or any other connector to connect the blank cartridge100to the management controller. Further, electrical interface106can be a bi-directional interface through which the blank cartridge100can exchange communications with the management controller. Thus, the electrical interface106can receive power and control signal from the management controller. In some examples, the power and control signal can be sent/transmitted wirelessly from the management controller.

The management controller is a component in a computing system (e.g., blade enclosure) that monitors, directs and controls various components of the computing system. For example, the management controller can be responsible for monitoring the temperature in the blade enclosure, controlling a cooling system in the blade enclosure, managing remote logging, and sending alerts within the computing system. Further, the management controller can detect the presence of a computing component or the blank cartridge100and determine the locations of the computing components and blank cartridge.

Accordingly, the management controller can instruct the actuator104of the blank cartridge to change the impedance level of the impedance portion102based on the location of the plurality of computing components relative to the blank cartridge100. For example, when the computing components are located in series with the blank cartridge, the actuator104is instructed to minimize the impedance level of the impedance portion102to maximize the flow of cooling media through the blank cartridge100to the plurality of computing components. In another example, when the computing components are located in parallel with the blank cartridge100, the actuator104is instructed to maximize the impedance level of the impedance portion102to maximize the flow of cooling media to the plurality of computing devices in parallel with the blank cartridge100. In certain examples, the impedance level of the impedance portion102can be changed based on at least one of the location of the plurality of computing components, the ambient temperature of the computing system (or the enclosure), the configuration of the enclosure, and individual temperatures of the plurality of computing components.

FIG. 2illustrates another example of a blank cartridge including an impedance portion and an actuator to change an impedance level of the impedance portion. The blank cartridge100includes the impedance portion102, the actuator104, and the electrical interface106.

In the example ofFIG. 2, the impedance level of the impedance portion102is maximized to provide a greater resistance to the flow of the cooling medium through the blank cartridge100, as illustrated in the flow direction arrows. In this example, it may be desirable to maximize the impedance of the blank cartridge100in order to maximize the flow of cooling medium to components that are in parallel with the blank cartridge100.

Thus, the impedance level of the blank cartridge100can be actively or dynamically changed based on one or more conditions including the location of the plurality of computing components, ambient temperature of the system/enclosure, individual temperature of the computing components, and system configuration. By actively managing the impedance of the blank cartridge100, the described solution provides improved energy efficiency by reducing cooling power consumption (and overall system power consumption).

FIG. 3illustrates an example of a computing system comprising an enclosure including at least one blank cartridge and a plurality of computing components. Computing system300includes an enclosure302that includes a plurality of computing components308a-308f, a plurality of blank cartridges306a-306c, switches304a-304b, and a plurality of cooling medium flow control devices310a-310e.

Enclosure302can be, for example, a multi-slot blade enclosure that can hold the multiple computing components308, blank cartridges306, switches304, and cooling devices310. Enclosure302can include a backplane (not shown) that can function as a backbone, providing a means of communication between the plurality of devices in the enclosure302, a management controller (not shown), and an external network (not shown). Each component can include an electrical interface (including an e-fuse component) to communicate with the management controller and that can be used to deliver a specific amount of power from the backplane of the enclosure302to the components.

Switches304aand304bcan couple the computing components308and the blank cartridges306to the external network, which can be a wired or wireless network that includes any number of computers, storage drive bays, or any connected electronic devices. Switches304a-304bcan control the routing in the computing system300(e.g., forward and receive data to and from the computing components308and the blank cartridges306).

In the example ofFIG. 3, blank cartridges306a-306ccan be actuated to provide minimal impedance to the flow of cooling media, because they are in series with computing components308a-308f. Accordingly, the flow of cooling media (e.g., from left to right) to the computing components308a-308fis maximized.

FIG. 4illustrates another example of a computing system comprising an enclosure including at least one blank cartridge and a plurality of computing components. Computing system400includes the enclosure302that houses a plurality of computing components408a-408d, a plurality of blank cartridges406a-406e, switches304a-304b, and cooling devices310a-310e. It should be noted that the configuration (i.e., location of devices) of the enclosure302inFIG. 4is different than the configuration of the enclosure302ofFIG. 3

In the example ofFIG. 4, blank cartridges406a-406ccan be actuated to provide maximum impedance to the flow of cooling media, because these blank cartridges are in parallel with computing components408a-408d. Accordingly, the flow of cooling media (e.g., from left to right) to the computing components408a-408dis maximized.

FIG. 5illustrates another example of a computing system comprising an enclosure including at least one blank cartridge and a plurality of computing components. Computing system500includes enclosure502that houses a plurality of computing components508a-508c, blank cartridges504a-504b, and cooling devices310a-310e.

In the example ofFIG. 5, blank cartridges504can include a display portion510. The display portion510can provide information such as whether the blank cartridge504is connected to the enclosure502, and other conditions or status of the blank cartridge504, such as impedance levels, etc. In some examples, the display portion may include light emitting diodes (LEDs). It should be noted that computing components508a-508ccan similarly include a display portion.

FIG. 6is an example of a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling an impedance of a blank cartridge in a computing system. Method600may be implemented, for example, in the form of executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and/or in the form of electronic circuitry.

Method600includes providing a blank cartridge including an impedance portion and an actuator for changing a position of the impedance portion, at610. For example, blank cartridge100can include an impedance portion102and an actuator104for changing a position (i.e., the impedance level) of the impedance portion102.

Method600includes determining a location of a computing component relative to the blank cartridge, at620. For example, when one or more computing components are added to an enclosure of the computing system, the location of the computing components and the location of the blank cartridge on the enclosure can be determined (e.g., via the electrical interface that connects computing components and blank cartridge to the enclosure).

Method600also includes changing the position of the impedance portion based on the location of the computing component, at630. For example, the actuator104can change the impedance portion position of the blank cartridge based on the location of the computing component. In some examples, method600ofFIG. 6includes additional steps in addition to and/or in lieu of those depicted inFIG. 6.

FIG. 7is another example of a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling an impedance of a blank cartridge in a computing system. Method700may be implemented, for example, in the form of executable instructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and/or in the form of electronic circuitry.

Method700includes providing a blank cartridge including an impedance portion and an actuator for changing a position of the impedance portion, at710, and determining a location of a computing component relative to the blank cartridge, at720.

Method700includes reducing an angle of elevation of the impedance portion when the computing component is located in series with the blank cartridge, and increasing the angle of elevation of the impedance portion when the computing component is located in parallel with the blank cartridge, at730. For example, the actuator104can reduce the reduce/decrease or increase the angle of elevation of the impedance portion102to maximize the flow of cooling media to the computing component, based on the location of the computing component relative to the blank cartridge100.

Method700also includes controlling the angle of elevation of the impedance portion based at least on a local ambient temperature of a computing system, a configuration of the computing system, and a temperature of the computing component, at740. For example, actuator140can receive control signals/instructions from a management controller to change the angle of elevation of the impedance portion102(i.e., increase or decrease) based on ambient temperature of the system, the configuration of the system, temperature of the computing component, or any combination thereof. In some examples, method700ofFIG. 7includes additional steps in addition to and/or in lieu of those depicted inFIG. 7.

The techniques described above may be embodied in a computer-readable medium for configuring a computing system to execute the method. The computer-readable media may include, for example and without limitation, any number of the following non-transitive mediums: magnetic storage media including disk and tape storage media; optical storage media such as compact disk media (e.g., CD-ROM. CD-R, etc.) and digital video disk storage media; holographic memory; nonvolatile memory storage media including semiconductor-based memory units such as FLASH memory, EEPROM. EPROM, ROM; ferromagnetic digital memories; volatile storage media including registers, buffers or caches, main memory, RAM, etc.; and the Internet, just to name a few. Other new and obvious types of computer-readable media may be used to store the software modules discussed herein. Computing systems may be found in many forms including but not limited to mainframes, minicomputers, servers, workstations, personal computers, notepads, personal digital assistants, tablets, smartphones, various wireless devices and embedded systems, just to name a few.

In the foregoing description, numerous details are set forth to provide an understanding of the present disclosure. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present disclosure may be practiced without these details. While the present disclosure has been disclosed with respect to a limited number of examples, those skilled in the art will appreciate numerous modifications and variations therefrom. It is intended that the appended claims cover such modifications and variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present disclosure.