Patent ID: 8725998

Claim:
A system for managing host computing devices, the host computing devices organized into a physical rack, the system comprising: a rack control component in communication with the host computing devices, the rack control component including: a management component for monitoring and controlling one or more aspects of the operation of the grouping of host computing devices; and a state monitoring component, the state monitoring component having a power supply independent of a power supply associated with the rack control component, a state processing component for determining power event information, and a communication interface for establishing communication with other state monitoring components via a communication channel independent of a communication channel associated with the grouping of host computing devices; wherein the state monitoring component attempts exchange communications via a communication channel with at least one other state monitoring component based on a determined power event, wherein the state monitoring component exchanges priority information with the at least one other state monitoring component if a communication channel is successfully established, and wherein the state monitoring component determines reboot parameters based on the determined power event.