Server rack system with integrated management module therein

A server rack system includes a management network switch, servers, a power supply unit, fan units, and an integrated management module (IMM). Management network ports of baseboard management controllers (BMCs) of the servers are connected to the management network switch. A management network port of the power supply unit is connected to the management network switch. Management network ports of the fan units are connected to the management network switch. A management network port of the IMM is connected to the management network switch. The IMM communicates with the BMCs of the servers, the fan units, and the power supply unit through the management network switch, so as to obtain operation states of the servers, the fan units and the power supply unit, or control operations of the servers, the fan units and the power supply unit.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of China application serial no. 201110383873.1, filed on Nov. 28, 2011. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to a server, in particular, to a server rack system.

2. Description of Related Art

FIG. 1is a schematic block diagram of a conventional server rack. In a conventional rack100, a service network switch120and multiple servers110_1-110—nare disposed. The servers110_1-110—neach have a service network port, and the service network ports are all connected to the service network switch120. The servers110_1-110—nare connected to an Internet10through the service network switch120. In the conventional rack100, each server manages internal power consumption and temperature thereof respectively, and the conventional management technique has a problem of poor energy-saving effectiveness. On the other hand, each server is an independent system. Each server respectively includes an AC-to-DC power supply, and multiple small fans for heat dissipation. However, large numbers of the power supplies and small fans for heat dissipation increase the manufacturing cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a server rack system, which manages servers, fan units, and a power supply unit in a rack system through a network.

An embodiment of the present invention provides a server rack system, which includes a first network switch, multiple servers, at least one power supply unit, multiple fan units and an integrated management module (IMM). The first network switch is coupled to a management network. The servers each have a baseboard management controller (BMC). The BMCs each have a management network port. The management network ports of the BMCs are connected to the first network switch. A management network port of the power supply unit is connected to the first network switch. The fan units each have a management network port, and the management network ports of the fan units are connected to the first network switch. A management network port of the IMM is connected to the first network switch. The IMM communicates with the BMCs of the servers, the fan units, and the power unit through the first network switch, so as to obtain operation states of the servers, the fan units and the power supply unit, or control operations of the servers, the fan units and the power supply unit.

Based on the above, the server rack system disclosed in the embodiment of the present invention manages operation states of the servers, the fan units and the power supply unit through the first network switch by using the IMM, so as to obtain preferred cost effectiveness and energy-saving effectiveness.

In order to make the above features and advantages of the present invention more comprehensible, embodiments are illustrated in detail below through accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In this embodiment, fan units and a power supply unit disposed in a rack replace fans and power supplies in a conventional server, so as to facilitate centralized management on power source and fans, thereby obtaining better cost effectiveness and energy-saving effectiveness. For example,FIG. 2is a schematic view of functional modules of a server rack system200according to an embodiment of the present invention. The server rack system200includes a first network switch210, multiple servers220, at least one power supply unit230, multiple fan units240, an integrated management module (IMM)250, and a second network switch260.

The servers220each have a service network port. Multiple network connection ports of the second network switch260(that is, a service network switch) are respectively connected to the service network ports of the servers220. The servers220provide services to a service network10(for example, an Internet) through the second network switch260.

The servers220each have a baseboard management controller (BMC), and the BMCs each have a management network port. The BMC is a well-known technique of the server, and is not repeated here. The management network ports of the BMCs are respectively connected to one of multiple network connection ports of the first network switch210. The first network switch210(that is, a management network switch) is coupled to a management network20. The management network20may be a local area network (LAN), such as Ethernet. The first network switch210may be an Ethernet switch or another LAN switch.

The management network port of the IMM250is connected to the first network switch210. The IMM250communicates with the BMCs of the servers220through the first network switch210, so as to obtain operation states of the servers220(for example, operation states such as internal temperatures of the servers), and/or control operations of the servers220(for example, control operations such as switching on and off of the servers, and updating of firmware).

The server rack system200is configured with at least one power supply unit230. The power supply unit230supplies power to the server rack system200, for example, supplies power to the first network switch210, the second network switch260, the servers220, the fan units240, and the IMM250. The power supply unit230has a management network port. The management network port of the power supply unit230is connected to the first network switch210. The IMM250may communicate with the power supply unit230through the first network switch210, so as to obtain an operation state of the power supply unit230, and/or control an operation of the power supply unit230. For example, the IMM250may obtain related power consumption information of the server rack system200through the first network switch210, for example, obtains power consumption of all the servers220. According to the power consumption information, the IMM250sends a control command to the power supply unit230through the first network switch210, so as to control/adjust power output of the power supply unit230.

FIG. 3is a schematic view of functional modules of a power supply unit230shown inFIG. 2according to an embodiment of the present invention. The power supply unit230includes a power distribution board (PDB)310and multiple power supplies320. Referring toFIG. 2andFIG. 3, a management network port of the PDB310is connected to the first network switch210. The multiple power supplies320are connected to the PDB310. The power supplies320supply power to the server rack system200under the control of the PDB310. The IMM250sends a control command to the PDB310through the first network switch210. The PDB310controls outputs of the power supplies320according to the control command. In this embodiment, the PDB310includes a controller311and a network interface card (NIC)312. The controller311may receive the control command of the IMM250through the NIC312and the first network switch210. According to the control command, the controller311correspondingly controls the power supplies320through a bus. The bus between the controller311and the power supply320may be a power management bus (PMBUS) or another bus.

Referring toFIG. 2, the server rack system200is configured with multiple fan units240, for example,FIG. 2shows seven fan units240. The fan units240each have a management network port. The management network ports of the fan units240are connected to the first network switch210. The IMM250may communicate with the fan units240through the first network switch210, so as to obtain operation states of the fan units240(for example, detecting rotational speeds of the fans), or control operations of the fan units240(for example, adjusting rotational speeds of the fans). For example, the IMM250accesses the BMCs of the servers220through the first network switch210, so as to obtain temperature values of the servers220. According to the temperature values of the servers220, the IMM250sends a control command to the fan units240through the first network switch210, so as to control/adjust the rotational speeds of the fans of the fan units240.

In some embodiments, the IMM250looks up a “Fan Speed Control Table” according to the temperature values of the servers220. The fan speed control table records corresponding relationships of the temperature values and the rotational speeds of the fans. Therefore, the IMM250may obtain the rotational speed values of the fan units240from the fan speed control table. According to the rotational speed values of the fan units240, the IMM250sends a control command to the fan units240through the first network switch210, so as to control/adjust the rotational speeds of the fans of the fan units240.

FIG. 4is a schematic view of functional modules of a fan unit240shown inFIG. 2according to an embodiment of the present invention. The fan unit240includes a fan control panel410and multiple fans420. Referring toFIG. 2andFIG. 4, a management network port of the fan control panel410is connected to the first network switch210. The multiple fans420are connected to the fan control panel410. The IMM250sends a control command to the fan control panel410through the first network switch210. The fan control panel410controls rotational speeds of the fans420according to the control command. In this embodiment, the fan control panel410includes a controller411and an NIC412. The controller411may receive the control command of the IMM250through the NIC412and the first network switch210. According to the control command, the controller411correspondingly controls the fans420through a bus. The bus between the controller411and the fans420may be a System Management Bus (SMBus) or another bus.

Referring toFIG. 2, the first network switch210may be connected to a remote management station through the management network20. The servers220, the power supply unit230and the fan units240each have an NIC. That is to say, the servers220, the power supply unit230and the fan units240each have a different Media Access Control (MAC) address and a different Internet Protocol (IP) address. Therefore, the remote management station may communicate with the IMM250, the servers220, the power supply unit230and/or the fan units240through the first network switch210. How to perform communication by using the MAC addresses or the IP addresses is a well-known technique in the field of network communications, and details about the communication are not repeated here. Therefore, the remote management station may obtain the operation states of the power supply unit230and/or the fan units240by accessing the IMM250. Moreover, the remote management station may directly access the power supply unit230and/or the fan units240, without through the IMM250.

In some embodiments, the server rack system200adopt a full-network architecture, so the server rack system200may easily manage/update firmware of all devices in the rack in a centralized manner. For example, the IMM250stores installation firmware of the servers220, the power supply unit230and/or the fan units240. The installation firmware includes images and/or update software. When the server rack system200is started up, the IMM250may read, through the first network switch210, a version serial number (or other version information) of current installation firmware of each of the servers220, the power supply unit230and/or the fan units240, and compares the version serial numbers with version serial numbers of installation firmware stored in the IMM250to see whether they are consistent. When the version serial numbers are not consistent, the IMM250may update the current installation firmware by using the installation firmware stored in the IMM250.

For example, the IMM250stores installation firmware of the servers220. When the server rack system200is started up, the IMM250may read a version serial number of current installation firmware of each of the servers220through the first network switch210, and compares the version serial numbers of the current installation firmware in the servers220and version serial numbers of installation firmware stored in the IMM250to see whether they are consistent. If the IMM250finds that the current installation firmware of a number 1 server220is of an old version and the installation firmware stored in the IMM250is of a new version, the IMM250may update the old current installation firmware in the number 1 server220by using the new installation firmware.

In other embodiments, the IMM250may store in advance corresponding relationships of identification information and in-rack positions (for example, a rack device table) of the servers220, the power supply unit230and/or the fan units240, with the management network ports. The identification information may include MAC addresses and/or numbers (such as device numbers and asset numbers).

During the operation of the system, the IMM250may access the first network switch210through a Command Line Interface (CLI), so as to obtain corresponding relationships of the MAC addresses of the servers, the power supply unit and/or the fan units with the management network ports and generated by the first network switch210, and obtain corresponding relationships of the identification information, in-rack positions, and the MAC addresses of the servers, the power supply unit and/or the fan units according to the corresponding relationships of the identification information and the in-rack positions of the servers, the power supply unit and/or the fan units with the management network ports.

For example, the server rack system200configures devices such as the network switches, the servers, the power supply unit, and the fan units in the rack according to the “Rack Device Table” as shown in Table 1. For example, according to the rack device table shown in Table 1, a number 7 fan unit is placed at a 7th layer at a rear side of the rack and occupies a height of 6 layers of the servers. The number 1 server is placed at a 1st layer at a front side of the rack and occupies a height of 1 layer.

In addition, the first network switch210has 48 LAN ports, and the LAN ports of the first network switch210are connected to the devices, such as the servers, the power supply unit, and the fan units, at the corresponding positions, according to a “Port Device Position Table” shown in Table 2. For example, according to the port device position table, a first network port of the network switch210is specified to be connected to the number 1 server (that is, the device located at the first layer of the rack), the rest may be deduced through analog, and a 36th network port of the network switch210is specified to be connected to a number 36 server (that is, the device located at the 42nd layer of the rack). A 40th network port of the network switch210is specified to be connected to the IMM250(that is, the device located at the 19th layer of the rack). A 41st network port of the network switch210is specified to be connected to the power supply unit230(that is, the device located at the 23rd layer of the rack).

Based on the “Rack Device Table” shown in Table 1 and referring to the “Port Device Position Table” shown in Table 2, it is known that a number 7 fan unit is connected to a number 48 network port of the switch, and the number 1 server is connected to a number 1 network port. By accessing the switch210through the CLI, a MAC address of a device connected to a number 10 network port the switch210and a MAC address of a device connected to the number 1 network port of the switch210may be obtained. Therefore, the IMM250may obtain static connections and position s of the servers220, the power supply unit230or the fan units240in the whole rack device200with reference to the “Rack Device Table” shown in Table 1 and the “Port Device Position Table” shown in Table 2.

During the operation of the system, through the CLI (for example, a serial port or Telnet) of the switch210, the IMM250and the switch210may access with each other, so as to obtain a port MAC address table (that is, a PORT_MAC table), and the port MAC address table has a port field and a MAC address field. For example, the IMM250may know, from the port MAC address table of the switch210, the MAC address of the device connected to the number 1 network port of the switch210, and the MAC address of the device connected to the number 10 network port of the switch210. The IMM250parses communication packets according to the MAC addresses in the port MAC address table, so as to obtain IP addresses of the servers, the power supply unit or the fan units. Therefore, the IMM250may obtain IP addresses corresponding to devices inserted in specific network ports of the switch210. For example, the IMM250may obtain the IP address of the number 7 fan unit240connected to the number 48 network port of the switch, and obtain the IP address of the number 1 server220connected to the number 1 network port of the switch. At this time, the IMM250may recognize that the number 7 fan unit240and the number 1 server220are in position. Therefore, the IMM250may perform communication with the servers220, the power supply unit230and/or the fan units240in specific rack positions by using the corresponding IP addresses.

In another embodiment, the IMM250stores, in advance, corresponding relationships of the identification information of the servers220, the power supply unit230and/or the fan units240with asset numbers. Referring to the related illustration of the above embodiments, with reference to the “Rack Device Table” shown in Table 1 and the “Port Device Position Table” shown in Table 2, the IMM250may obtain the identification information (for example, device numbers) of the servers220, the power supply unit230and/or the fan units240of the whole rack device200, obtain corresponding relationships of the identification information and positions of corresponding devices in the rack, and even obtain corresponding relationships of the identification information and the MAC addresses. According to the corresponding relationships of the identification information and the in-rack positions and the corresponding relationships of the identification information and the MAC addresses, the IMM250may generate corresponding relationships of the following four times of the devices such as the servers220, the power supply unit230and/or the fan units240: identification information, in-rack positions, MAC addresses and assert numbers, and accordingly perform assert management and assert location on the devices such as the servers220, the power supply unit230and/or the fan units240.

The IMM250may further upload the corresponding relationships of the identification information, in-rack positions, MAC addresses and assert numbers of the devices such as the servers220, the power supply unit230and/or the fan units240to the remote management station through the first network switch210. According to the above operation procedure, when replacing a device, the MAC address is also updated, so the asset number may be updated in time. With reference to the “Rack Device Table” shown in Table 1 and the “Port Device Position Table” shown in Table 2 again, the IMM250may provide a specific position of the new device to the remote management station. The IMM250may also upload the rack device table automatically, or provide an in-time query, for a user (or the remote management station) to perform tabulate statistics on the assert of multiple rack devices. Accordingly, the IMM250may perform assert management and assert location on the servers220, the power supply unit230and/or the fan units240.

It should be noted that, referring toFIG. 2, whether a standby IMM270is configured to the server rack system200may be determined according to design requirements of actual products. A management network port of the standby IMM270is connected to the first network switch210. The standby IMM270has functions the same as those of the IMM250, and may also perform operations the same as those of the IMM250. When the IMM250fails, the standby IMM270may replace the IMM250to work.

In view of the above, the IMM250in the embodiment of the present invention serves as a management centre of the whole rack. The IMM250is connected to all of the fan units240, the power supply unit230and the BMCs of the server220through a high-speed Ethernet (10/100M). The IMM250, through the BMCs of the servers220, obtains temperature of each server220, calculates to obtain optimized rotational speed of a fan, and sends a command to the fan unit240through the management network so as to control the rotational speed of the fan. Alternatively, the IMM250, through the BMCs of the servers220, obtains power consumption information of each server220, so as to obtain the total power consumption of all the servers220. According to the total power consumption, the IMM250sends a command to the power supply unit230through the management network, so as to optimize power source output of the power supply unit230, thereby achieving the object of energy-saving. In some embodiments, two IMMs may be deployed in one rack, so as to provide stable management to the whole rack in a 1+1 redundancy manner. All devices in the rack are connected in a full-network manner, and therefore, the server rack system200has the following advantages: having high speed (100M Ethernet), easy deployment (only needing to change network connections), and capable of realizing location and management of each device through a switch without any additional hardware.