System and method for hardware management and configuration in a datacenter using augmented reality and available sensor data

An information handling system for managing equipment in a datacenter captures image data when a field of view of an imaging system includes a server rack, determines a bounding box of the server rack based upon the image data, determines slot locations in the bounding box, establishes a wireless communication link with an element of datacenter equipment via the wireless communication interface, determines an identity of the element based upon an identification message sent to the element via the wireless communication link, determines one of the slot locations based upon the identity, receives configuration information from the element via the wireless communication link, and displays an augmented reality overlay on the display over the image data. The augmented reality overlay co-locates a first image object associated with the first element with the one slot location and includes the first configuration information.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Related subject matter is contained in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/264,501 entitled “System and Method for Remote Hardware Support Using Augmented Reality and Available Sensor Data,” filed Jan. 31, 2019, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure generally relates to information handling systems, and more particularly relates to hardware management and configuration in a datacenter using augmented reality and available sensor data.

BACKGROUND

SUMMARY

An information handling system for managing equipment in a datacenter may include a display, a wireless communication interface, and an imaging system configured to capture image data. The information handling system may capture image data when its field of view includes a server rack, determine a bounding box of the server rack based upon the image data, determine a plurality of slot locations in the bounding box, and establish a wireless communication link with an element of datacenter equipment via the wireless communication interface. The information handling system may further determine an identity of the element based upon an identification message sent to the element via the wireless communication link, determine one of the slot locations based upon the identity, receive configuration information from the element via the wireless communication link, and display an augmented reality overlay on the display over the image data. The augmented reality overlay may co-locate an image object associated with the element with the slot location and may include the configuration information.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1illustrates an embodiment of an information handling system100including processors102and104, a chipset110, a memory120, a graphics adapter130connected to a video display134, a non-volatile RAM (NV-RAM)140that includes a basic input and output system/extensible firmware interface (BIOS/EFI) module142, a disk controller150, a hard disk drive (HDD)154, an optical disk drive156, a disk emulator160connected to a solid state drive (SSD)164, an input/output (I/O) interface170connected to an add-on resource174and a trusted platform module (TPM176, a network interface180, and a baseboard management controller (BMC)190. Processor102is connected to chipset110via processor interface106, and processor104is connected to the chipset via processor interface108. In a particular embodiment, processors102and104are connected together via a high-capacity coherent fabric, such as a HyperTransport link, a QuickPath Interconnect, or the like. Chipset110represents an integrated circuit or group of integrated circuits that manages the data flows between processors102and104and the other elements of information handling system100. In a particular embodiment, chipset110represents a pair of integrated circuits, such as a northbridge component and a southbridge component. In another embodiment, some or all of the functions and features of chipset110are integrated with one or more of processors102and104. Memory120is connected to chipset110via a memory interface122. An example of memory interface122includes a Double Data Rate (DDR) memory channel and memory120represents one or more DDR Dual In-Line Memory Modules (DIMMs). In a particular embodiment, memory interface122represents two or more DDR channels. In another embodiment, one or more of processors102and104include a memory interface that provides a dedicated memory for the processors. A DDR channel and the connected DDR DIMMs can be in accordance with a particular DDR standard, such as a DDR3 standard, a DDR4 standard, a DDR5 standard, or the like. Memory120may further represent various combinations of memory types, such as Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) DIMMs, Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) DIMMs, non-volatile DIMMs (NV-DIMMs), storage class memory devices, Read-Only Memory (ROM) devices, or the like. Graphics adapter130is connected to chipset110via a graphics interface132, and provides a video display output136to a video display134. An example of a graphics interface132includes a Peripheral Component Interconnect-Express (PCIe) interface and graphics adapter130can include a four lane (×4) PCIe adapter, an eight lane (×8) PCIe adapter, a 16-lane (×16) PCIe adapter, or another configuration, as needed or desired. In a particular embodiment, graphics adapter130is provided down on a system printed circuit board (PCB). Video display output136can include a Digital Video Interface (DVI), a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI), a DisplayPort interface, or the like, and video display134can include a monitor, a smart television, an embedded display such as a laptop computer display, or the like.

NV-RAM140, disk controller150, and I/O interface170are connected to chipset110via an I/O channel112. An example of I/O channel112includes one or more point-to-point PCIe links between chipset110and each of NV-RAM140, disk controller150, and I/O interface170. Chipset110can also include one or more other I/O interfaces, including an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) interface, a Small Computer Serial Interface (SCSI) interface, an Inter-Integrated Circuit (I2C) interface, a System Packet Interface (SPI), a Universal Serial Bus (USB), another interface, or a combination thereof. NV-RAM140includes BIOS/EFI module142that stores machine-executable code (BIOS/EFI code) that operates to detect the resources of information handling system100, to provide drivers for the resources, to initialize the resources, and to provide common access mechanisms for the resources. The functions and features of BIOS/EFI module142will be further described below.

Network interface180represents a network communication device disposed within information handling system100, on a main circuit board of the information handling system, integrated onto another component such as chipset110, in another suitable location, or a combination thereof. Network interface device180includes a network channel182that provides an interface to devices that are external to information handling system100. In a particular embodiment, network channel182is of a different type than peripheral channel172and network interface180translates information from a format suitable to the peripheral channel to a format suitable to external devices. In a particular embodiment, network interface180includes a network interface card (NIC) or host bus adapter (HBA), and an example of network channel182includes an InfiniBand channel, a Fibre Channel, a Gigabit Ethernet channel, a proprietary channel architecture, or a combination thereof. In another embodiment, network interface180includes a wireless communication interface, and network channel182includes a Wi-Fi channel, a near-field communication (NFC) channel, a Bluetooth or Bluetooth-Low-Energy (BLE) channel, a cellular based interface such as a Global System for Mobile (GSM) interface, a Code-Division Multiple Access (CDMA) interface, a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) interface, a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) interface, or another cellular based interface, or a combination thereof. Network channel182can be connected to an external network resource (not illustrated). The network resource can include another information handling system, a data storage system, another network, a grid management system, another suitable resource, or a combination thereof.

BMC190is connected to multiple elements of information handling system100via one or more management interface192to provide out of band monitoring, maintenance, and control of the elements of the information handling system. As such, BMC190represents a processing device different from processor102and processor104, which provides various management functions for information handling system100. For example, BMC190may be responsible for power management, cooling management, and the like. The term baseboard management controller (BMC) is often used in the context of server systems, while in a consumer-level device a BMC may be referred to as an embedded controller (EC). A BMC included at a data storage system can be referred to as a storage enclosure processor. A BMC included at a chassis of a blade server can be referred to as a chassis management controller and embedded controllers included at the blades of the blade server can be referred to as blade management controllers. Capabilities and functions provided by BMC180can vary considerably based on the type of information handling system. BMC190can operate in accordance with an Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI). Examples of BMC190include an Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller (iDRAC). Management interface192represents one or more out-of-band communication interfaces between BMC190and the elements of information handling system100, and can include an Inter-Integrated Circuit (I2C) bus, a System Management Bus (SMBUS), a Power Management Bus (PMBUS), a Low Pin Count (LPC) interface, a serial bus such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) or a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI), a network interface such as an Ethernet interface, a high-speed serial data link such as a Peripheral Component Interconnect-Express (PCIe) interface, a Network Controller Sideband Interface (NC-SI), or the like. As used herein, out-of-band access refers to operations performed apart from a BIOS/operating system execution environment on information handling system100, that is apart from the execution of code by processors102and104and procedures that are implemented on the information handling system in response to the executed code. BMC190operates to monitor and maintain system firmware, such as code stored in BIOS/EFI module142, option ROMs for graphics interface130, disk controller150, add-on resource174, network interface180, or other elements of information handling system100, as needed or desired. In particular, BMC190includes a network interface194that can be connected to a remote management system to receive firmware updates, as needed or desired. Here, BMC190receives the firmware updates, stores the updates to a data storage device associated with the BMC, transfers the firmware updates to NV-RAM of the device or system that is the subject of the firmware update, thereby replacing the currently operating firmware associated with the device or system, and reboots information handling system, whereupon the device or system utilizes the updated firmware image. BMC190utilizes various protocols and application programming interfaces (APIs) to direct and control the processes for monitoring and maintaining the system firmware. An example of a protocol or API for monitoring and maintaining the system firmware includes a graphical user interface (GUI) GUI associated with BMC190, an interface defined by the Distributed Management Taskforce (DMTF) (such as a Web Services Management (WS-MAN) interface, a Management Component Transport Protocol (MCTP) or, a Redfish interface), various vendor defined interfaces (such as a Dell EMC Remote Access Controller Administrator (RACADM) utility, a Dell EMC OpenManage Server Administrator (OMSS) utility, a Dell EMC OpenManage Storage Services (OMSS) utility, or a Dell EMC OpenManage Deployment Toolkit (DTK) suite), a BIOS setup utility such as invoked by a “F2” boot option, or another protocol or API, as needed or desired.

In a particular embodiment, BMC190is included on a main circuit board (such as a baseboard, a motherboard, or any combination thereof) of information handling system100, or is integrated onto another element of the information handling system such as chipset110, or another suitable element, as needed or desired. As such, BMC190can be part of an integrated circuit or a chip set within information handling system100. An example of BMC190includes an integrated Dell remote access controller (iDRAC), or the like. BMC190may operate on a separate power plane from other resources in information handling system100. Thus BMC190can communicate with the management system via network interface194while the resources of information handling system100are powered off. Here, information can be sent from the management system to BMC190and the information can be stored in a RAM or NV-RAM associated with the BMC. Information stored in the RAM may be lost after power-down of the power plane for BMC190, while information stored in the NV-RAM may be saved through a power-down/power-up cycle of the power plane for the BMC.

In a typical usage case, information handling system100represents an enterprise class processing system, such as may be found in a datacenter or other compute-intense processing environment. Here, the information handling system may represent one of many hundreds or thousands of other enterprise class processing systems in the datacenter. In such an environment, the information handling system may represent one of a wide variety of different types of information handling systems that perform the main processing tasks of the datacenter, such as computing equipment (servers, modular blade systems, and the like), switching and routing equipment (network routers, top-of-rack switches, and the like), data storage equipment (storage servers, network attached storage, storage area networks, and the like), or other equipment which the datacenter uses to perform the processing tasks. Further, the information handling system may represent management equipment that is networked to the processing equipment via a separate management network, and that operates to monitor, manage, and maintain the processing equipment. Finally, the information handling system may represent datacenter service equipment that is utilized by service technicians of the datacenter to perform monitoring, management, service, and maintenance of the processing and management equipment of the data center. Such datacenter service equipment would historically include an information handling system on a “crash cart,” but increasingly includes mobile devices such as tablet computing devices, smart phone devices, and the like.

FIG. 2illustrates a portion of a datacenter200including a server rack210, a datacenter management system250, and a mobile service device260. Server rack210includes datacenter equipment220,230, and240. Datacenter equipment220,230, and240each represent various computing equipment, switching and routing equipment, data storage equipment, or other equipment of datacenter200. For example, datacenter equipment220may represent a top-of-rack switch, datacenter equipment230may represent a blade server, and datacenter equipment240may represent a storage server. Datacenter equipment220,230, and240each include a hosted processing environment (not shown) that is configured to provide the processing tasks particular to the datacenter equipment. The particulars of integrating the processing tasks of datacenter equipment220,230, and240with each other to contribute to the overall processing tasks being performed by datacenter200are known in the art and will not be discussed further herein, except as needed to describe the teachings herein. Each of datacenter equipment220,230, and240includes a respective BMC222,232, and242. BMCs222,232, and242each include a network interface device such that the BMCs are all connected together in a management network280with datacenter management system250. Management network280may represent a wired network, a wireless network, or a combination of wired and wireless networks, as needed or desired.

BMC222includes configuration information224and a short-range communication module226. Configuration information224represents management information utilized by datacenter management system250to monitor, manage, and maintain datacenter equipment220. Configuration information224may represent physical information about the make, model, and hardware configuration of datacenter equipment220, and may also represent information about the logical configuration of the datacenter equipment. For example, where datacenter equipment220represents a top-of-rack switch, configuration information224may include the make and model of the switch, a service tag, an associated switch fabric, a number of ports, and other physical information related to the switch, may include location information for the switch in server rack210and for the server rack in datacenter200, may include information related to the health of the switch in terms of physical operational status and in terms of logical operational status such as error and alert status information, and may also include switch mappings, both physical and logical, port configurations, or other information that identifies the uses to which the switch is configured to perform. Near-filed communication module226represents a wireless communication endpoint that is capable of establishing a wireless communication link282to another similarly equipped device (here shown as a short-range communication module262of mobile service device262). Short-range communication module226is configured to provide a very short connection range as compared with other wireless technologies, such as Wi-Fi or wireless cellular technologies. An example of short-range communication module226may include a communication endpoint in accordance with a Bluetooth standard, a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) standard, or another short-range communication standard, as needed or desired.

BMC232includes configuration information234and a short-range communication module236. Configuration information234is similar to configuration information224, representing management information utilized by datacenter management system250to monitor, manage, and maintain datacenter equipment230. Thus configuration information234may represent physical information about datacenter equipment230, and may also represent information about the logical configuration of the datacenter equipment. For example, where datacenter equipment230represents a blade server, configuration information234may include the make and model of the server, a service tag, a number of blades, and other physical information related to the server, may include location information for the blade server in server rack210and for the server rack in datacenter200, may include information related to the health of the blade server in terms of physical operational status and in terms of logical operational status such as error and alert status information, and may also include information as to the installed operating systems, the workloads and processing tasks being performed on the blades, and other information that identifies the uses to which the server is configured to perform. Near-filed communication module236is similar to short-range communication module226, and is capable of establishing a wireless communication link282to another similarly equipped device (again shown as short-range communication module262).

BMC242includes configuration information244and a short-range communication module246. Configuration information244is similar to configuration information224and234, representing management information utilized by datacenter management system250to monitor, manage, and maintain datacenter equipment240. Thus configuration information244may represent physical information about datacenter equipment240, and may also represent information about the logical configuration of the datacenter equipment. For example, where datacenter equipment240represents a storage server, configuration information244may include the make and model of the server, a service tag, a number of storage drives and their capacities, and other physical information related to the server, may include location information for the server in server rack210and for the server rack in datacenter200, may include information related to the health of the server in terms of physical operational status and in terms of logical operational status such as error and alert status information, and may also include information as to the physical, logical, and virtual drive configurations implemented on the storage drives, and other information that identifies the uses to which the server is configured to perform. Near-filed communication module246is similar to short-range communication modules226and236, and is capable of establishing a wireless communication link282to another similarly equipped device (again shown as short-range communication module262). It will be understood that, under various short-range communication standards, any particular short-range communication module226,236,246, and262may only be able to establish a single wireless communication link to one other short-range communication module at a time. The methods for establishing wireless communication links between short-range communication modules, and for reestablishing different links to other modules is known in the art and will not be further described herein except as needed to describe the teachings herein. While the communication links between the datacenter equipment and mobile service device are illustrated as being wireless communication links, the communication links are not necessarily wireless communication links. In particular, embodiments where mobile service device260represents a computer system on a crash cart of a datacenter, it will be understood that the communication links between the mobile service device and the datacenter equipment may also represent wired communication links, such as via Ethernet, USB, or another wired communication fabric, as needed or desired.

Datacenter management system250represents a centralized and unified processing resource for monitoring, managing, and maintaining datacenter equipment220,230, and240through the datacenter management system's respective connections to BMCs222,232, and242via management network280. Datacenter management system250includes a wireless communication module252that represents a wireless communication endpoint that is capable of establishing a wireless communication link284to another similarly equipped device (here shown as a wireless communication module264of mobile service device262). Wireless communication module252is configured to provide a medium connection range as compared with other wireless technologies, such as wireless cellular technologies. An example of short-range communication module may include a communication endpoint in accordance with various IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi) standards, or another medium-range communication standard, as needed or desired.

Mobile service device260represents a device that may be utilized by service technicians of the datacenter to perform monitoring, management, service, and maintenance of datacenter equipment220,230, and240, and may represent a mobile device such as tablet computing devices, smart phone devices, and the like. Mobile service device260includes short-range communication module262, wireless communication module264, a camera/video system266, an accelerometer module268, an equipment image library270, an augmented reality evaluation module272, and a display274. Short-range communication module262operates to establish communication links282with short-range communication modules226,236, and246. It will be understood that under some short-range wireless communication standards, communication links282may represent only one point-to-point communication link for any particular one of short-range communication modules226,236,246, and264, such as where a particular Bluetooth or BLE endpoint only operates to create a single point-to-point communication link at a time. Methods for switching between such single point-to-point communication links are known in the art and will not be further discussed herein except as needed to describe the teachings herein. Wireless communication module264operates to establish communication link284with wireless communication module252. Here, it will be understood that one, the other, or both of wireless communication modules252and264may represent an access point device that is capable of establishing multiple communication links similar to communication link284, as needed or desired.

Camera/video system266represents an integrated device of mobile service device260that is configured to obtain still and motion-based images from the surroundings of the mobile service device. The field of view of camera/video system266may be restricted to a particular area in front of mobile service device260. However, camera/video system266will be understood to include an ability to stitch together larger images that encompass a wider field of view than that of the camera/video system alone, by moving mobile service device260to bring additional image spaces into the field of view of the camera/video system. Methods and mechanisms for providing a camera/video system are known in the art and will not be further discussed herein except as needed to describe the teachings herein. Accelerometer module268represent an integrated device of mobile service device260that operates to track the motion of the mobile service device in three-dimensional space. Thus, from a particular location, accelerometer module268can determine a relative location to which mobile service device260has been moved based upon the accelerations which the mobile service device experiences. Accelerometer module268also includes an ability to locate the mobile service device within datacenter200. For example, accelerometer module268may include a Global Positioning System (GPS) functionality to determine the location, or may include a triangulating functionality based upon the establishment of one or more communication links similar to communication link284. Methods and mechanisms for providing an accelerometer module are known in the art and will not be further discussed herein except as needed to describe the teachings herein.

Image library270represents a structure of information that stores image objects that each represent various datacenter equipment such as server rack210, and datacenter equipment220,230, and240, along with other datacenter equipment that may be utilized in datacenter200. In particular, the image objects in image library270can be provided by a manufacturer of datacenter equipment, where each image object is associated with a particular piece of datacenter equipment or a particular family of datacenter equipment. For example, where datacenter equipment210represents a specific type of top-of-rack switch manufactured by a particular manufacturer, image library270can include one or more image objects associated with top-of-rack switches and particularly, can include a specific image object associated with the specific type of top-of-rack switch. More specifically, the specific image object can represent in a primitive form the visible features of the specific type of top-of-rack switch. The image objects may also include other types of visibly distinguishing information such as QR-codes, bar codes, service tags, or other information that serves to visually identify storage racks and datacenter equipment, as needed or desired.

In addition to the image objects, image library270includes database information associated with each image object. The database information includes information about the specific type of datacenter equipment depicted by the associated image object. Thus, again where datacenter equipment210represents the specific type of top-of-rack switch, the associated database information can include the name, product code, SKU, or other information that identifies the specific type of top-of-rack switch, specification information about the specific type of top-of-rack switch such as a number of network ports, an associated switch fabric, speed and throughput information, or other information related to the specific type of top-of-rack switch, configuration information such as installed optional equipment and the like, or other information that may be utilized to identify the type of top-of-rack switch with more particularity, as needed or desired. In a particular embodiment, image library270is provided by the manufacturers of the various pieces of datacenter equipment and is routinely updated as new types of datacenter equipment is released. In general, the image objects and associated database information within image library270is available for comparison with the image data from the field of view of camera/video system266to assist evaluation module272to determine a location of mobile service device260, as described further below.

It will be understood that a typical datacenter will include hundreds, if not thousands, of server racks similar to server rack210, and that each server rack may include various datacenter equipment similar to datacenter equipment220,230, and240. It will be further understood that some of the server racks may include a common set of datacenter equipment, such as by including a particular brand and model of top-of-rack switch in a top rack unit of the server rack, one or more of a particular brand and model of blade servers in lower rack units of the server rack, and a particular brand and model of storage server in a bottom rack unit of the server rack. Thus, a typical data center may include many rows of server racks that are visually indistinct from each other, or with only slight visual differences to distinguish between server racks. In addition, various models of a particular type of datacenter equipment may be visually identical or have only slight visual differences to distinguish between the models of that type of datacenter equipment. It will be further understood that, even where different server racks or the datacenter equipment therein look visually indistinct from each other, the data processing tasks being performed on each server rack will be different and unique from the data processing tasks being performed on the other server racks, but that such differences in the data processing tasks will give no visibly discernable clues as to which processing task is being performed on which server rack.

Augmented reality evaluation module272represents a processing function of mobile service device260that provides an augmented reality visual depiction of the surroundings of the mobile service device overlain on display274. The augmented reality visual display is generated by evaluation module272based upon various inputs to mobile service device260, including image data from camera/video system266, location information from accelerometer module268, configuration information from one or more of datacenter equipment220,230, and240via communication links282, from datacenter management system250via communication link284, or from other input information available to the mobile service device. In particular, evaluation module272operates to identify the datacenter equipment within server rack210. Then, evaluation module272operates to present image information from camera/video system268on display274, and then having matched the correct image objects to the elements of server rack210, to project an augmented reality overlay of the matched image objects onto their respective elements of the server rack. In addition to the projected image objects, evaluation module272displays associated identifying information in the projected image objects that identifies the various elements of the server rack.

FIG. 3illustrates an embodiment of a display300similar to display274. Display274presents image information302from a camera/video system that show what is presently within the field of view of the camera/video system. Here, an evaluation module similar to evaluation module272operates to project an augmented reality overlay304onto screen300. Note that augmented reality overlay304provides information that identifies the server rack and the elements within the server rack over image information302. It will be understood that, as image information302changes, for example because the mobile service device is moved such that the field of view of the camera/video system changes, augmented reality overlay304will likewise change aspect to match the image information, including to identify new elements of the datacenter that come within the field of view of the camera/video system. The mechanisms and methods for creating augmented reality overlays for display over image information are known in the art and will not be further disclosed herein, except as needed to illustrate the present embodiments. Thus, using available sensor data, such as location information, visual information, and configuration information available to a mobile service device, the present invention represents an improvement in the ability datacenter equipment to be reliably identified, in addition to the improvements derived from the use of augmented reality to depict to a service technician the identities of the datacenter equipment in their vicinity.

In addition to identifying the elements within server rack210, evaluation module272operates to create a datacenter management solution that provides a datacenter technician with a direct connection between datacenter management system250, including the associated management information for datacenter200, and datacenter equipment230,240, and250. In this way, the datacenter technician views sensor data overlays for each of the datacenter equipment. For example, the sensor data overlays can include augmented reality overlays onto display274for system health, temperature, power, and performance, log information, support information, and other management information as the datacenter technician maintains the datacenter equipment. The support information may include a library of technical notes and best practices, videos, on-line based resources, and the like. In this way, in addition to improvements in the “at-the-box” support experience by the datacenter technician, the support activities are performed on the identified datacenter equipment, thereby reducing the errors from performing support tasks on a wrong element of datacenter equipment.

FIG. 4illustrates a method for determining the identity of an element of datacenter equipment, starting at block400. In block402, a mobile service device measures a field of view of a camera/video system to identify regions that correlate to slots in a server rack. Here, the mobile service device may be sufficient to measure dimensions of the server rack and the slots with an accuracy margin of less than one percent (1%). Thus, where a particular server rack may have a height of 78 inches, the mobile service device can expect an accuracy margin of less than 0.8 inch. Thus, where a slot of a server rack is typically 1.75 inches, the mobile service device may be expected to be able to resolve all rack slots such that any recognized point in the field of view would fall within a locus. Further, whichever portion of the locus most overlaps with a measured, segmented space within the field of view would be reasonably considered as the fixed point of the slot. Here, the mobile service device segments the server rack into regions of 1.75 inch high slots, and the regions are utilized for further image recognition tasks as described below. It will be understood that other measurement algorithms can be utilized consistent with the teachings of present disclosure. Additionally, other types, sizes, and configurations of equipment enclosures are also subject to the teachings of the present disclosure.

In block404, image recognition is performed on the visual space to identify datacenter equipment within a server rack. Here, using image recognition, an evaluation module operates to understand bounding regions within a field of view of camera/video system. In particular, a geometry is assigned which is parsed and mathematically operated upon to map to the field of view of the camera/video system. Then an image object that matches the datacenter equipment is identified that narrows down the possible identities of the datacenter equipment to one of a few number of image objects. In another embodiment, an image object is selected based upon a known identifier for the datacenter equipment, such as an asset tag or other identifier for the datacenter equipment.

Once the bounding region of the datacenter equipment has been identified by the evaluation module, an appropriate point is chosen to measure against the segmented field of view. In this way, the evaluation module assigns the visual identity of the datacenter equipment in each slot to recognized image objects. For example, the field of view of a particular server rack can be parsed and segmented into 42 slots. Here, where the server rack has three elements of datacenter equipment that are located in slots21,22, and23, the evaluation module can activate image recognition on the field of view to attempt to matching image objects. Then the evaluation module can position geometries within the field of view and centered to the nearest slot, thereby locating three elements of datacenter equipment at slots21,22, and23.

In block406, a wireless communication link is established between the mobile service device and the datacenter equipment to confirm the identity of the datacenter equipment. In a particular embodiment, the evaluation module sends indication information to the datacenter equipment, and the datacenter equipment responds by providing a visible indication associated with the indication information and which is detected in the field of view to establish the location of the datacenter equipment. Here, the image recognition correlations and the wireless communication links are combined to establish greater confidence in the identity of the datacenter equipment. It will be understood that due to the nature of wireless communication links, the evaluation module may detect multiple unidentified wireless communication beacons. Here, the evaluation module needs to assign a particular identity for each element of datacenter equipment.

FIG. 5illustrates a method for pairing elements of datacenter equipment with their associated slots in a server rack, starting at block500. At block502, in order to establish full confidence in the identity of a recognized element of datacenter equipment, the evaluation module constructs unique messages to send in response to each wireless communication beacon detected. The messages are selected to be unique enough to identify the elements of datacenter equipment with sufficient confidence to eliminate the other wireless connection beacons. For example, if eight wireless connection beacons are detected, the evaluation module can create eight messages with at least three bits of information. In block504, the mobile service device transmits a unique message to each element of datacenter equipment vie the respective wireless communication links. In block506, after each element of datacenter equipment receives the message, the datacenter equipment visually relays the message back to the mobile service device. For example, the datacenter equipment may include an identification light and the message can represent a blink pattern for the datacenter equipment. Then each element of datacenter equipment can flash the identification light in the received blink pattern. In another example, the datacenter equipment may include a display device. Then each element of datacenter equipment can display a code or pattern associated with the received message. In block508, the camera/video system receives the displayed message from the elements of datacenter equipment. In block510, the evaluation module utilizes the image recognition to detect the message and, by analysis of the boundary where the recognition of the message was detected, links the message and the corresponding identifier to the visually detected datacenter equipment, and the method ends in block512. Returning toFIG. 4, in block408, the mobile service device receives management information from the elements of datacenter equipment via the respective wireless communication links and via a management network with a datacenter management system, and the method ends at block410.

FIGS. 6 and 7illustrate an embodiment of a display600similar to displays274and300. Display600presents image information602from a camera/video system that show what is presently within the field of view of the camera/video system. Here, an evaluation module similar to evaluation module272operates to project an augmented reality overlay604onto screen600. Note that augmented reality overlay604provides information that identifies an element of datacenter equipment, here a blade server, and the individual modules that make up the datacenter equipment, here server blades 0-7, disk drives 0-7, and power supplies 0-3. Augmented reality overlay604further shows two modules606and608as being highlighted, disk drive 0 and server blade 5. Here, the evaluation module operates to receive not only identification and location information for the datacenter elements within the field of view of a camera/video system, but also communicates with the datacenter equipment and a datacenter management system to receive configuration information related to the datacenter equipment. The type of configuration information that is displayed on augmented reality overlay604can vary based upon a selection by a service technician of one or more types of configuration information that is desired to be displayed. For example, while the evaluation module can have protected access to various levels of management information for the datacenter equipment, the service technician may select between different types of management information to be displayed by augmented reality overlay604. Types of management information may include health information for the modules of the datacenter equipment such as hardware status, processor, memory, storage, or I/O utilization levels, and the like, environmental information such as temperature information, fan speed and fan efficiency information, or other environmental information, module of datacenter equipment configuration settings such as may be accessed via a BIOS setup mode, network connectivity information including physical and virtual network connectivity and the like, logical information such as virtual machine status, workload information and status, and the like. Here, the evaluation module can provide selection options on display600and the service technician may interact with the selection options to obtain different management information from augmented reality overlay600. Further, the service technician can interact with augmented reality overlay600to expand selected elements of the augmented reality overlay to get additional information for the selected elements. For example, by selecting module606, the service technician can expand the view702and get further information704on module606, or by selecting module608, the service technician can expand the view706to get further information708on module608.

In a particular embodiment, a mobile service device operates to provide configuration information to elements of datacenter equipment via their respective wireless communication links. In this way, the mobile service device can be used to configure a datacenter for creation of groups and clusters of servers, storage element assignment, template assignment, network assignment, or the like. In particular, an evaluation module operates to gather configuration information from a number of related elements of datacenter equipment, such as membership in multi-chassis management groups, peers in a stack, attributes of each chassis, components within each chassis, or the like. The evaluation module then determines locations of other elements of datacenter equipment within the datacenter that are related to the datacenter equipment that is in the field of view, and overlays the locations on an augmented reality overlay to show which elements are in a common grouping. Then the evaluation module operates to provide options to add or delete datacenter equipment from the groupings. In another embodiment, the augmented reality overlay operates to provide options for modifying the configuration information from one or more elements of datacenter equipment and returns the modified configuration information to the elements to implement the modifications as provided by the mobile service device. For example, a mobile service device may include programs or APIs for modifying the configuration of the elements of datacenter equipment, as needed or desired.

While the computer-readable medium is shown to be a single medium, the term “computer-readable medium” includes a single medium or multiple media, such as a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers that store one or more sets of instructions. The term “computer-readable medium” shall also include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by a processor or that cause a computer system to perform any one or more of the methods or operations disclosed herein. In a particular non-limiting, exemplary embodiment, the computer-readable medium can include a solid-state memory such as a memory card or other package that houses one or more non-volatile read-only memories.

Further, the computer-readable medium can be a random access memory or other volatile re-writable memory. Additionally, the computer-readable medium can include a magneto-optical or optical medium, such as a disk or tapes or other storage device to store information received via carrier wave signals such as a signal communicated over a transmission medium. A digital file attachment to an e-mail or other self-contained information archive or set of archives may be considered a distribution medium that is equivalent to a tangible storage medium. Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include any one or more of a computer-readable medium or a distribution medium and other equivalents and successor media, in which data or instructions may be stored.