Patent ID: 7032119

Claim:
A computer system comprising: a plurality of computers operating as servers each having at least one processor and an activity monitor identifying a level of activity indicator for said at least one processor; each of said computers being operable in: (i) a first mode having a first maximum performance level and a first power consumption rate, and (ii) a third mode having a third maximum performance level lower than said first maximum performance level and a third power consumption rate lower than said first power consumption rate; each of said computers further being operable in (iii) a second mode having a second maximum performance level intermediate between said first maximum performance level and said third maximum performance level and a second power consumption rate intermediate between said first power consumption rate and said third power consumption rate; and a power manager computer: (i) configured within or coupled to each of said computers and receiving said level of activity information from each of said plurality of computers; (ii) analyzing said plurality of received level of activity information; (iii) determining an operating mode for each of said computers selected from said first mode, said second mode, and third mode based on said analyzed activity information and predetermined policies take into account performance of a combination of said servers and power conservation; and (iv) generating commands to each of said plurality of computers directing each of said plurality of computers to operate in said determined operating mode.