System And Method For Increasing Power Delivery To Information Handling Systems Patent Application (2024)

U.S. patent application number 16/842248 was filed with the patent office on 2021-10-07 for system and method for increasing power delivery to information handling systems.The applicant listed for this patent is DELL PRODUCTS, LP. Invention is credited to Doug E. Messick, Ayedin Nikazm, Aaron M. Rhinehart.

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INCREASING POWER DELIVERY TO INFORMATIONHANDLING SYSTEMS

Abstract

A chassis includes power supply units configured to be a primarysource of power for several information handling systems. A chassismanagement controller monitors a power capacity of the power supplyunits, and sends a measure of first available power of the powersupply units to one of the information handling systems. If thepower limit of a sled connector is at least equal to the firstpower requirement of the information handling system, then it maybe determined whether a total power available for the informationhandling system is at least equal to the first power requirement ofthe one information handling system. If the total power availablefor the information handling system is at least equal to the firstpower requirement of the information handling system, then theinformation handling system may be powered on.

Claims

1. A method comprising: determining, by a service processor, apower requirement of an information handling system; determiningwhether a power limit of a connector between the informationhandling system and a first power source is less than or equal tothe power requirement of the information handling system;subsequent to determining that the power limit of the connector isless than or equal to the power requirement of the informationhandling system, comparing the power requirement of the informationhandling system with a total available power, wherein the totalavailable power is a sum of a first available power from the firstpower source and a second available power from a second powersource, wherein the first available power is based on a lesser of afirst power capacity of the first power source and the power limitof the connector; determining whether the total available power isat least equal to the power requirement of the information handlingsystem; and responsive to determining that the total availablepower is at least equal to the power requirement of the informationhandling system: allowing the information handling system to poweron; determining whether the second power source is healthy; andresponsive to determining that the second power source is healthy,enabling the information handling system to draw the firstavailable power from the first power source and the secondavailable power from the second power source.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the power limit is a maximumpower that can pass through the connector without damaging theconnector.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the power requirement is amaximum throttled power required by the information handling systemat full utilization.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whetherthe total available power is at least equal to a particular powerrequirement.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the particular power requirementis a sustained power required by information handling system attypical utilization.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether apower-on request is received from the information handlingsystem.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising responsive todetermining that the total available power is less than the powerrequirement of the information handling system, denying thepower-on request of the information handling system.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring theinformation handling system to detect a power shutdown request ofthe information handling system.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising responsive todetecting the power shutdown request, shutting down the informationhandling system and monitoring the information handling system todetect a power-on request of the information handling system.

10. A chassis, comprising: a plurality of power supply unitsconfigured to be a primary source of power for a plurality ofinformation handling systems; and a chassis management controllercommunicatively coupled to the information handling systems, thechassis management controller configured to: monitor a first powercapacity of the power supply units; and send a measure of a firstavailable power of the power supply units to a service processor ofone of the information handling systems, wherein the measure of thefirst available power is the first power capacity of the powersupply units that is limited by a power limit of a sled connectorbetween the chassis and the one information handling system;wherein the service processor, responsive to a power-on requestfrom the one information handling system, is configured to: if thepower limit of the sled connector is at least equal to a firstpower requirement of the one information handling system, thendetermine whether a total power available for the one informationhandling system is at least equal to the first power requirement ofthe one information handling system, wherein the total poweravailable is a sum of the first available power of the power supplyunits and a second power capacity of a secondary power source ofthe one information handling system; and if the total poweravailable for the one information handling system is at least equalto the first power requirement of the one information handlingsystem, then allow the one information handling system topower-on.

11. The chassis of claim 10, wherein the service processor isfurther configured to, subsequent to the power-on request of theone information handling system, determine whether the secondarypower source is healthy.

12. The chassis of claim 11, wherein the service processor isfurther configured to, responsive to a determination that thesecondary power source is healthy, enable the one informationhandling system to draw the first available power from the powersupply units and the second power capacity from the secondary powersource.

13. The chassis of claim 10, wherein the first power capacity ofthe power supply units is at full capacity of the power supplyunits.

14. The chassis of claim 10, the service processor is furtherconfigured to determine whether the total power available for theone information handling system is at least equal to a second powerrequirement of the one information handling system.

15. The chassis of claim 10, the service processor is furtherconfigured to monitor the one information handling system to detecta power shutdown request from the one information handlingsystem.

16. The chassis of claim 10, wherein the secondary power source isin parallel with the power supply units.

17. A method comprising: if a power-on request from an informationhandling system is detected by a service processor, thendetermining whether a power limit of a connector between theinformation handling system and a first power source is less thanor equal to a first power requirement of the information handlingsystem; if the power limit of the connector is less than or equalto the first power requirement, then determining whether a totalavailable power for the information handling system is at leastequal to the first power requirement and a second power requirementof the information handling system, wherein the total availablepower is a sum of a first power available from the first powersource and a second power available from a second power source; ifthe total available power for the information handling system is atleast equal to the first power requirement and the second powerrequirement of the information handling system, allowing theinformation handling system to power on and then determiningwhether the second power source is healthy; and if the second powersource is healthy, then drawing the first power available from thefirst power source and the second power available from the secondpower source.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the first power available fromthe first power source is based on a power capacity of the firstpower source and the power limit of the connector.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising responsive to thedetermining that the second power source is unhealthy, drawingpower from the first power source.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising responsive to thedetermining that the second power source is unhealthy, limitingsustained power consumption from the first power source to thepower limit of the connector.

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0001] The present disclosure generally relates to informationhandling systems, and more particularly relates to increasing powerdelivery to information handling systems.

BACKGROUND

[0002] As the value and use of information continues to increase,individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process andstore information. One option is an information handling system. Aninformation handling system generally processes, compiles, stores,or communicates information or data for business, personal, orother purposes. Technology and information handling needs andrequirements can vary between different applications. Thus,information handling systems can also vary regarding whatinformation is handled, how the information is handled, how muchinformation is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quicklyand efficiently the information can be processed, stored, orcommunicated. The variations in information handling systems allowinformation handling systems to be general or configured for aspecific user or specific use such as financial transactionprocessing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, orglobal communications. In addition, information handling systemscan include a variety of hardware and software resources that canbe configured to process, store, and communicate information andcan include one or more computer systems, graphics interfacesystems, data storage systems, networking systems, and mobilecommunication systems. Information handling systems can alsoimplement various virtualized architectures. Data and voicecommunications among information handling systems may be vianetworks that are wired, wireless, or some combination.

SUMMARY

[0003] A chassis may include power supply units configured to be aprimary source of power for several information handling systems. Achassis management controller monitors a power capacity of thepower supply units, and sends a measure of first available power ofthe power supply units to one of the information handling systems.If the power limit of a sled connector is at least equal to thefirst power requirement of the information handling system, then itmay be determined whether a total power available for theinformation handling system is at least equal to the first powerrequirement of the one information handling system. If the totalpower available for the information handling system is at leastequal to the first power requirement of the information handlingsystem, then the information handling system may be powered on.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity ofillustration, elements illustrated in the Figures are notnecessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of someelements may be exaggerated relative to other elements. Embodimentsincorporating teachings of the present disclosure are shown anddescribed with respect to the drawings herein, in which:

[0005] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an informationhandling system according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

[0006] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example of asystem for increasing power delivery to a modular informationhandling system in a chassis, according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

[0007] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an example of asystem for increasing power delivery to a monolithic informationhandling system, according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

[0008] FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a methodfor increasing power delivery to an information handling system,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0009] FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a methodfor monitoring and managing power to an information handlingsystem, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;and

[0010] FIGS. 6A-6E are block diagrams illustrating examples ofbudgeting power for an information handling system, according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

[0011] The use of the same reference symbols in different drawingsindicates similar or identical items.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The following description in combination with the Figures isprovided to assist in understanding the teachings disclosed herein.The description is focused on specific implementations andembodiments of the teachings and is provided to assist indescribing the teachings. This focus should not be interpreted as alimitation on the scope or applicability of the teachings.

[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of an information handlingsystem 100 including processors 102 and 104, a chipset 110, amemory 120, a graphics adapter 130 connected to a video display134, a non-volatile RAM (NV-RAM) 140 that includes a basic inputand output system/extensible firmware interface (BIOS/EFI) module142, a disk controller 150, a hard disk drive (HDD) 154, an opticaldisk drive 156, a disk emulator 160 connected to a solid-statedrive (SSD) 164, an input/output (I/O) interface 170 connected toan add-on resource 174 and a trusted platform module (TPM) 176, anetwork interface 180, and a baseboard management controller (BMC)190. Processor 102 is connected to chipset 110 via processorinterface 106, and processor 104 is connected to the chipset viaprocessor interface 108. In a particular embodiment, processors 102and 104 are connected together via a high-capacity coherent fabric,such as a HyperTransport link, a QuickPath Interconnect, or thelike. Chipset 110 represents an integrated circuit or group ofintegrated circuits that manage the data flow between processors102 and 104 and the other elements of information handling system100. In a particular embodiment, chipset 110 represents a pair ofintegrated circuits, such as a northbridge component and asouthbridge component. In another embodiment, some or all of thefunctions and features of chipset 110 are integrated with one ormore of processors 102 and 104.

[0014] Memory 120 is connected to chipset 110 via a memoryinterface 122. An example of memory interface 122 includes a DoubleData Rate (DDR) memory channel and memory 120 represents one ormore DDR Dual In-Line Memory Modules (DIMMs). In a particularembodiment, memory interface 122 represents two or more DDRchannels. In another embodiment, one or more of processors 102 and104 include a memory interface that provides a dedicated memory forthe processors. A DDR channel and the connected DDR DIMMs can be inaccordance with a particular DDR standard, such as a DDR3 standard,a DDR4 standard, a DDR5 standard, or the like.

[0015] Memory 120 may further represent various combinations ofmemory 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 adapter 130 is connected to chipset110 via a graphics interface 132 and provides a video displayoutput 136 to a video display 134. An example of a graphicsinterface 132 includes a Peripheral Component Interconnect-Express(PCIe) interface and graphics adapter 130 can include a four-lane(x4) PCIe adapter, an eight-lane (x8) PCIe adapter, a 16-lane (x16)PCIe adapter, or another configuration, as needed or desired. In aparticular embodiment, graphics adapter 130 is provided down on asystem printed circuit board (PCB). Video display output 136 caninclude a Digital Video Interface (DVI), a High-DefinitionMultimedia Interface (HDMI), a DisplayPort interface, or the like,and video display 134 can include a monitor, a smart television, anembedded display such as a laptop computer display, or thelike.

[0016] NV-RAM 140, disk controller 150, and I/O interface 170 areconnected to chipset 110 via an I/O channel 112. An example of I/Ochannel 112 includes one or more point-to-point PCIe links betweenchipset 110 and each of NV-RAM 140, disk controller 150, and I/Ointerface 170. Chipset 110 can also include one or more other I/Ointerfaces, including an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA)interface, a Small Computer Serial Interface (SCSI) interface, anInter-Integrated Circuit (I.sup.2C) interface, a System PacketInterface (SPI), a Universal Serial Bus (USB), another interface,or a combination thereof. NV-RAM 140 includes BIOS/EFI module 142that stores machine-executable code (BIOS/EFI code) that operatesto detect the resources of information handling system 100, toprovide drivers for the resources, to initialize the resources, andto provide common access mechanisms for the resources. Thefunctions and features of BIOS/EFI module 142 will be furtherdescribed below.

[0017] Disk controller 150 includes a disk interface 152 thatconnects the disc controller to a hard disk drive (HDD) 154, to anoptical disk drive (ODD) 156, and to disk emulator 160. An exampleof disk interface 152 includes an Integrated Drive Electronics(IDE) interface, an Advanced Technology Attachment (ATA) such as aparallel ATA (PATA) interface or a serial ATA (SATA) interface, aSCSI interface, a USB interface, a proprietary interface, or acombination thereof. Disk emulator 160 permits SSD 164 to beconnected to information handling system 100 via an externalinterface 162. An example of external interface 162 includes a USBinterface, an institute of electrical and electronics engineers(IEEE) 1394 (Firewire) interface, a proprietary interface, or acombination thereof. Alternatively, SSD 164 can be disposed withininformation handling system 100.

[0018] I/O interface 170 includes a peripheral interface 172 thatconnects the I/O interface to add-on resource 174, to TPM 176, andto network interface 180. Peripheral interface 172 can be the sametype of interface as I/O channel 112 or can be a different type ofinterface. As such, I/O interface 170 extends the capacity of I/Ochannel 112 when peripheral interface 172 and the I/O channel areof the same type, and the I/O interface translates information froma format suitable to the I/O channel to a format suitable to theperipheral interface 172 when they are of a different type. Add-onresource 174 can include a data storage system, an additionalgraphics interface, a network interface card (NIC), a sound/videoprocessing card, another add-on resource, or a combination thereof.Add-on resource 174 can be on a main circuit board, on separatecircuit board or add-in card disposed within information handlingsystem 100, a device that is external to the information handlingsystem, or a combination thereof.

[0019] Network interface 180 represents a network communicationdevice disposed within information handling system 100, on a maincircuit board of the information handling system, integrated ontoanother component such as chipset 110, in another suitablelocation, or a combination thereof. Network interface 180 includesa network channel 182 that provides an interface to devices thatare external to information handling system 100. In a particularembodiment, network channel 182 is of a different type thanperipheral interface 172 and network interface 180 translatesinformation from a format suitable to the peripheral channel to aformat suitable to external devices.

[0020] In a particular embodiment, network interface 180 includes aNIC or host bus adapter (HBA), and an example of network channel182 includes an InfiniBand channel, a Fibre Channel, a GigabitEthernet channel, a proprietary channel architecture, or acombination thereof. In another embodiment, network interface 180includes a wireless communication interface, and network channel182 includes a Wi-Fi channel, a near-field communication (NFC)channel, a Bluetooth or Bluetooth-Low-Energy (BLE) channel, acellular based interface such as a Global System for Mobile (GSM)interface, a Code-Division Multiple Access (CDMA) interface, aUniversal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) interface, aLong-Term Evolution (LTE) interface, or another cellular basedinterface, or a combination thereof. Network channel 182 can beconnected to an external network resource (not illustrated). Thenetwork resource can include another information handling system, adata storage system, another network, a grid management system,another suitable resource, or a combination thereof.

[0021] BMC 190 also referred to as a service processor or anembedded controller is connected to multiple elements ofinformation handling system 100 via one or more managementinterface 192 to provide out of band monitoring, maintenance, andcontrol of the elements of the information handling system. Assuch, BMC 190 represents a processing device different fromprocessor 102 and processor 104, which provides various managementfunctions for information handling system 100. For example, BMC 190may be responsible for power management, cooling management, andthe like. The term BMC is often used in the context of serversystems, while in a consumer-level device a BMC may be referred toas an embedded controller (EC). A BMC included at a data storagesystem can be referred to as a storage enclosure processor. A BMCincluded at a chassis of a blade server can be referred to as achassis management controller and embedded controllers included atthe blades of the blade server can be referred to as blademanagement controllers. Capabilities and functions provided by BMC190 can vary considerably based on the type of information handlingsystem. BMC 190 can operate in accordance with an IntelligentPlatform Management Interface (IPMI). Examples of BMC 190 includean Integrated Dell.RTM. Remote Access Controller (iDRAC).

[0022] Management interface 192 represents one or more out-of-bandcommunication interfaces between BMC 190 and the elements ofinformation handling system 100, and can include an I.sup.2C bus, aSystem Management Bus (SMBus), a Power Management Bus (PMBUS), aLow Pin Count (LPC) interface, a serial bus such as a UniversalSerial Bus (USB) or a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI), a networkinterface such as an Ethernet interface, a high-speed serial datalink such as a Peripheral Component Interconnect-Express (PCIe)interface, a Network Controller Sideband Interface (NC-SI), or thelike. As used herein, out-of-band access refers to operationsperformed apart from a BIOS/operating system execution environmenton information handling system 100, that is apart from theexecution of code by processors 102 and 104 and procedures that areimplemented on the information handling system in response to theexecuted code.

[0023] BMC 190 operates to monitor and maintain system firmware,such as code stored in BIOS/EFI module 142, option ROMs forgraphics adapter 130, disk controller 150, add-on resource 174,network interface 180, or other elements of information handlingsystem 100, as needed or desired. In particular, BMC 190 includes anetwork interface 194 that can be connected to a remote managementsystem to receive firmware updates, as needed or desired. Here, BMC190 receives the firmware updates, stores the updates to a datastorage device associated with the BMC, transfers the firmwareupdates to NV-RAM of the device or system that is the subject ofthe firmware update, thereby replacing the currently operatingfirmware associated with the device or system, and rebootsinformation handling system, whereupon the device or systemutilizes the updated firmware image.

[0024] BMC 190 utilizes various protocols and applicationprogramming interfaces (APIs) to direct and control the processesfor monitoring and maintaining the system firmware. An example of aprotocol or API for monitoring and maintaining the system firmwareincludes a graphical user interface (GUI) associated with BMC 190,an interface defined by the Distributed Management Taskforce (DMTF)(such as a Web Services Management (WSMan) interface, a ManagementComponent Transport Protocol (MCTP) or, a Redfish.RTM. interface),various vendor defined interfaces (such as a Dell EMC Remote AccessController Administrator (RACADM) utility, a Dell EMC OpenManageServer Administrator (OMSA) utility, a Dell EMC OpenManage StorageServices (OMSS) utility, or a Dell EMC OpenManage DeploymentToolkit (DTK) suite), a BIOS setup utility such as invoked by a"F2" boot option, or another protocol or API, as needed ordesired.

[0025] In a particular embodiment, BMC 190 is included on a maincircuit board (such as a baseboard, a motherboard, or anycombination thereof) of information handling system 100 or isintegrated onto another element of the information handling systemsuch as chipset 110, or another suitable element, as needed ordesired. As such, BMC 190 can be part of an integrated circuit or achipset within information handling system 100. An example of BMC190 includes an iDRAC or the like. BMC 190 may operate on aseparate power plane from other resources in information handlingsystem 100. Thus BMC 190 can communicate with the management systemvia network interface 194 while the resources of informationhandling system 100 are powered off. Here, information can be sentfrom the management system to BMC 190 and the information can bestored in a RAM or NV-RAM associated with the BMC. Informationstored in the RAM may be lost after power-down of the power planefor BMC 190, while information stored in the NV-RAM may be savedthrough a power-down/power-up cycle of the power plane for theBMC.

[0026] Information handling system 100 can include additionalcomponents and additional busses, not shown for clarity. Forexample, information handling system 100 can include multipleprocessor cores, audio devices, and the like. While a particulararrangement of bus technologies and interconnections is illustratedfor the purpose of example, one of skill will appreciate that thetechniques disclosed herein are applicable to other systemarchitectures. Information handling system 100 can include multiplecentral processing units (CPUs) and redundant bus controllers. Oneor more components can be integrated together. Information handlingsystem 100 can include additional buses and bus protocols, forexample, I.sup.2C and the like. Additional components ofinformation handling system 100 can include one or more storagedevices that can store machine-executable code, one or morecommunications ports for communicating with external devices, andvarious input and output (I/O) devices, such as a keyboard, amouse, and a video display.

[0027] For purpose of this disclosure information handling system100 can include any instrumentality or aggregate ofinstrumentalities operable to compute, classify, process, transmit,receive, retrieve, originate, switch, store, display, manifest,detect, record, reproduce, handle, or utilize any form ofinformation, intelligence, or data for business, scientific,control, entertainment, or other purposes. For example, informationhandling system 100 can be a personal computer, a laptop computer,a smartphone, a tablet device or other consumer electronic device,a network server, a network storage device, a switch, a router, oranother network communication device, or any other suitable deviceand may vary in size, shape, performance, functionality, and price.Further, information handling system 100 can include processingresources for executing machine-executable code, such as processor102, a programmable logic array (PLA), an embedded device such as aSystem-on-a-Chip (SoC), or other control logic hardware.Information handling system 100 can also include one or morecomputer-readable media for storing machine-executable code, suchas software or data. Further, while a single information handlingsystem is illustrated in FIG. 1, the term "system" shall also betaken to include any collection of systems or sub-systems thatindividually or jointly execute a set or multiple sets ofinstructions to perform one or more computer functions.

[0028] Chassis are generally manufactured to support modularinformation handling systems, also referred to as nodes or sleds.The present system and method allow for increasing power providedto the information handling systems by adding a secondary powersource in parallel with an existing, primary power supply unit(PSU) of the chassis. The secondary power source may be integratedinto the existing chassis architecture by leveraging the chassishardware and firmware features.

[0029] FIG. 2 shows a system 200 for increasing power delivery to amodular information handling system in a chassis. System 200includes a power source 250 and a chassis 205 that includesmultiple modular information handling systems 210a-210h, I/Omodules 207a-210h, management controllers 220a-220b, and PSUs215a-215f. Chassis 205 may include more or less than the componentsand/or resources that are shown in FIG. 2. As depicted, informationhandling system 210a includes a BMC 255, a complex programmablelogic device (CPLD) 270, a chipset 260, processors 265a-265b,hot-swap controllers 290a-290b, a power interface 285, a voltageregulator 295, and a connector 297. Chipset 260 may be similar tochipset 110 of FIG. 1, while BMC 255, which includes a power budgetcontroller 257, may be similar to BMC 190 of FIG. 1. In addition,processors 265a-265b may be similar to processor 102 and processor104 of FIG. 1. Information handling system 210a may be similar toinformation handling system 100 of FIG. 1 while informationhandling systems 210b-210h may be similar to information handlingsystem 210a. Similar to chassis 205, information handling system210a may include more or fewer components and/or resources as shownin FIG. 2.

[0030] Chassis 205 may be configured as an enclosure that serves asa container for information handling systems, storage resources,and various other components. Chassis 205 may be constructed fromsteel, aluminum, plastic, and/or any other suitable material.Although the term chassis is used, chassis 205 may also be referredto as a case, cabinet, tower, box, enclosure, and/or housing. Incertain embodiments, chassis 205 may be configured to hold and/orprovide power to information handling systems 210a-210h.

[0031] PSUs 215a-215f, which are housed by chassis 205, may beconfigured to provide a primary source of power to informationhandling systems 210a-210h and the other components of chassis 205.Generally speaking, each one of PSUs 215a-215f may include anysystem, device, or apparatus configured to supply electricalcurrent to one or more information handling systems 210a-210h,management controllers 220a-220b, storage resources, I/O modules207a-207h, etc. For example, in some embodiments, each one of PSUs215a-215f may drive electrical current to a power bus from whichinformation handling systems 210a-210h, management controllers220a-220b, etc. draw electrical energy for operation. In someembodiments, PSUs 215a-215f may be configured in a redundantconfiguration, such that in the event of a failure of one of PSUs215a-215f or failure of an alternating current power source to oneor more of PSUs 215a-215f in order to adequately power informationhandling systems 210a-210h.

[0032] Management controller 220a, also referred to as an enclosurecontroller or a chassis management controller, includes an I.sup.2Ccontroller 225, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) interface230, a power manager 235, and an FPGA 240. Management controller220a may be configured to provide out-of-band management facilitiesfor the management of information handling systems 210a-210h, PSUs215a-215f, and the other components of chassis 205. The managementcontroller 220a may perform said management even if chassis 205 andits components are powered off or powered to a standby state.Management controller 220a may include a processor, a memory, andan out-of-band network interface separate from and physicallyisolated from an in-band network interface of information handlingsystems 210a-210h and/or other components. In certain embodiments,management controller 220a may include or may be a part of a BMC ora remote access controller such as a Dell Remote Access Controlleror an iDRAC. In other embodiments, management controller 220a mayinclude or may be a part of a chassis management controller (CMC)also known as an enclosure management controller.

[0033] In some embodiments, management controller 220a may beconfigured to communicate with each one of PSUs 215a-215f. Each oneof PSUs 215a-215f may be configured to communicate I.sup.2C/controldata and/or telemetry data or signals via I.sup.2C controller 225across a suitable type of management communication media path suchas an I.sup.2C bus. For example, PSU 215a may communicateinformation regarding its status and/or health to managementcontroller 220a via I.sup.2C controller 225. PSU 215a may alsocommunicate electrical measurements such as electrical current,wattage, and/or voltage. As shown, chassis 205 may includeadditional management controllers such as management controller220b which is similar in configuration to management controller220a, arranged in a redundant fashion, thus allowing failover inthe event of a fault in the operation of management controller220a.

[0034] Power manager 235 may be configured to manage power fromPSUs 215a-215f or control its operations with FPGA 240. As such,power manager 235 and FPGA 240 may be communicatively coupled toPSUs 215a-215f via FPGA interface 230 and I.sup.2C controller 225.I.sup.2C controller 225 may be configured to receiveI.sup.2C/control data and/or telemetry data from PSUs 215a-215f.Based on the I.sup.2C/control data and/or telemetry data received,power manager 235 may determine or identify the maximum, sustained,and/or minimum power capacities of each one of PSUs 215a-215f.Power manager 235 may also determine the total or collectivemaximum, minimum, and/or sustained power capacities of PSUs215a-215f. In addition, management controller 220a may determine apower limit of each connector to information handling systems210a-210h. For example, management controller 220a may determinethe power limit of connector 275 which may be a sled connector thatconnects power from PSUs 215a-215f to information handling system210a. The power limit of connector 275 may be similar to the powerlimit of connector 280 which connects information handling system210a to connector 275.

[0035] Power manager 235 may transmit I.sup.2C/control data and/ortelemetry data such as a measure of minimum, sustained, and/ormaximum power capacity. Power manager 235 may also transmit aminimum, sustained, and/or maximum available power, etc. of PSUs215a-215f to CPLD 270 via FPGA 240 through a single wire serialinterface. Power manager 235 may also transmit a measure of a powerlimit such as the measure of the power limit of connector 275. Inaddition, power manager 235 may also transmit a signal thatindicates whether the maximum available power of PSUs 215a-215f iswithin specifications. The signal may also indicate whether PSUs215a-215f are healthy. The signal may be de-asserted by powermanager 235 or FPGA 240 prior to the PSUs 215a-215f entering thefail state.

[0036] I/O modules 207a-207h may include any system, device, orapparatus configured to facilitate communication betweeninformation handling systems 210a-210h and a user interface device,such as a keyboard, a mouse, or a display. I/O modules 207a-207hmay also be configured to facilitate communication betweeninformation handling systems 210a-210h and another informationhandling system external to chassis 205, such as wherein I/Omodules 207a-207h may include network interface cards orswitches.

[0037] System 200 shows a system that allows connection from asecondary power source, such as power source 250 which may beexternal to information handling system 210a and/or chassis 205. Inother embodiments, there may be additional power sources forinformation handling system 210a other than PSUs 215a-215f andpower source 250. For example, information handling system 210a mayhave a third or a fourth power source.

[0038] Power source 250 may provide power to information handlingsystem 210a and/or information handling systems 210b-210h inaddition to the power provided from PSUs 215a-215f of chassis 205.Power source 250 may provide power in parallel with the powerprovided from PSUs 215a-215f. Power source 250 may be connected bya power cable to the front of information handling system 210a. Inanother embodiment, power source 250 may be connected toinformation handling system 210a via one of I/O modules 207a-207hwhich are located in the back the chassis 205. Power source 250 mayalso be connected to information handling system 210a via amezzanine card with power connection capabilities. Mezzanine cardsmay be interfaces between the information handling system 210a-210hand I/O modules 207a-207h.

[0039] Power source 250 may be a PSU configured to provide asecondary power source for information handling system 210a. In oneembodiment, power source 250 may include a battery configured toconvert stored chemical energy into electrical power. In anotherembodiment, power source 250 may include a capacitor configured tostore electrical power and deliver such electrical power toinformation handling system 210a. In yet some embodiments, powersource 250 may represent power drawn from a typical alternatingcircuit wall outlet.

[0040] In some embodiments, power source 250 may be communicativelycoupled to BMC 255 via CPLD 270 through a systems managementinterface such as an I.sup.2C bus, an SMBus, or a PMBus allowingBMC 255 to receive health and status information from and/orcommunicate commands to power source 250. In particular, powerbudget controller 257 may receive the aforementioned health andstatus information. Power source 250 may also communicateelectrical measurements such as electrical current, wattage, and/orvoltage to BMC 255 or to power budget controller 257, inparticular. In some embodiments, power source 250 may provideenergy to a plurality of information handling systems in additionto information handling system 210a. While it is shown that powersource 250 is external to chassis 205 and information handlingsystem 210a, in other embodiments, power source 250 may be internalto chassis 205 or information handling system 210a. Power source250 may be needed to enable information handling system 210a toreach sustained and/or maximum performance when the power needs ofinformation handling system 210a exceed the sustained and/ormaximum available power from PSUs 215a-215f. If power source 250 isunhealthy, failed or is otherwise removed, then informationhandling system 210a may operate within the capacity of the maximumavailable power from chassis 205.

[0041] BMC 255 may be configured to provide out-of-band managementfacilities for the management of information handling system 210aeven if information handling system 210a is powered off or poweredto a standby state. BMC 255 may include a processor, a memory, andan out-of-band network interface separate from and physicallyisolated from an in-band network interface of information handlingsystem 210a and/or other resources of information handling system210a. In some embodiments, BMC 255 or power budget controller 257in particular, may be configured to receive I.sup.2C/control dataand/or telemetry data directly from power source 250. In anotherembodiment BMC 255 or power budget controller 257 in particular maybe configured to receive I2C/control data and/or telemetry dataindirectly from power source 250 via CPLD 270. Based on thereceived I.sup.2C/control data and/or telemetry data, BMC 255 orpower budget controller 257 in particular, may determine,calculate, and/or identify various values such as the maximum,minimum, and sustained power requirements of information handlingsystem 210a. The maximum power requirement of information handlingsystem 210a indicates a throttle boundary that still allows peakpower excursions that can be achieved to prevent overconsumption ofpower from PSUs 215a-215f, possibly resulting in a PSU shutdownevent. The minimum power requirement of information handling system210a indicates the lowest amount of power that information handlingsystem 210 may consume when it is at 100% utilization and maximumthrottling is applied. The sustained power requirement ofinformation handling system 210a indicates a throttle boundary thatstill allows peak power excursions.

[0042] BMC 255 or power budget controller 257, in particular, maydetermine, calculate, and/or identify the sustained and maximumpower capacity of power source 250. The sustained power capacity ofpower source 250 may be the amount of power that power source 250can provide when operating at typical or rated capacity. Themaximum power capacity of power source 250 may be the amount ofpower that power source 250 can provide when operating in a maximumoperational state such as full capacity, allowing for briefexcursions above the sustained or rated capacity of the powersource. Also, power source 250 may communicate informationregarding its status and/or health. In addition, power source 250may also communicate information and/or measurements of itselectrical parameters such as electrical current, wattage orvoltage. The aforementioned information may be utilized by powerbudget controller 257 during the power budgeting analysis and/orcalculations.

[0043] In addition, BMC 255 or power budget controller 257 mayreceive I.sup.2C/control data and/or telemetry data associated withchassis 205 from management controller 220a and FPGA 240 via CPLD270. For example, BMC 255 or power budget controller 257 mayreceive the measure of the maximum or sustained power available.Also, BMC 255 or power budget controller 257 may receiveI.sup.2C/control data and/or telemetry data associated with voltageregulator 295 from CPLD 270. For example, BMC 255 or power budgetcontroller 257 the input and output power limits of voltageregulator 295 such as the input and output, current, wattage,and/or voltage limits of voltage regulator 295. The data may beused by BMC 255 in its power monitoring, power budgeting, powermanagement, and/or power limiting functions.

[0044] Power budget controller 257 may be configured to performvarious processes related to power monitoring, power budgeting,power limit, and/or power management of information handling system210a. For example, power budget controller 257 may performcalculations associated with the above functions such as tocalculate the maximum available power from chassis 205 and/or powersource 250, a delta between the maximum available power fromchassis 205 and the minimum power requirement of informationhandling system 210a among others. Although power budget controller257 is shown as a firmware located within BMC 255, power budgetcontroller 257 may be a system, device or apparatus external to BMC255. In addition, BMC 255 may not include power budget controller257 and the functions and features associated with power budgetcontroller 257 may be performed by BMC 255 instead.

[0045] Voltage regulator 295 may include any system, device, orapparatus configured to control the output voltage of power source250. Voltage regulator 295 may be coupled between the output ofpower source 250 at connector 297 and hot-swap controller 290b. Inaddition, voltage regulator 295 may be communicatively coupled toBMC 255 via CPLD 270. In some embodiments, voltage regulator 295may be configured to communicate control and/or telemetry data toBMC 255 via CPLD 270. For example, voltage regulator 295 maycommunicate information regarding its status and health. Voltageregulator 295 may also communicate information and/or measurementsof electrical parameters of power received from power source 250such as the electrical current, wattage, or voltage output. BMC 255may also set the power and/or voltage limits of voltage regulator295. For example, BMC 255 may communicate the power and/or voltagerequirements of information handling system 210a to voltageregulator 295. Voltage regulator 295 may be configured to adjustit* outputs, such as output voltage based on the voltagerequirement that is communicated by BMC 255.

[0046] CPLD 270 may be configured to monitor the available powerfrom chassis 205 and power source 250 with BMC 255. Further, CPLD270 may be configured to sum up the maximum available power fromchassis 205 and power source 250, which is the total availablemaximum power for information handling system 210a. CPLD 270 maythen communicate the total available maximum power to BMC 255 thatmay be used by power budget controller 257 in performing powerbudget calculations. CPLD 270 may also be configured, with BMC 255,to determine and take corrective action, such as throttlinginformation handling system 210a, when power source 250 is about toenter a fail state or there is an issue with the power from chassis205. CPLD 270 may receive power limits associated with informationhandling system 210a from either Management Controller 220a, BMC255 or both. Power limits may be the amount of power thatinformation handling system 210a may be limited to use. CPLD 270may then transmit the power limits to chipset 260 which may beconfigured to set registers in processors 265a-265b according tothe power limits. CPLD 270 may modify power limits sent to chipset260 based on the health of power source 250. As such, processors265a-265b may limit power utilization based on the power limits. Inone embodiment, chipset 260 may be a platform controller hub (PCH).Power source 250 may have a signal that indicates when its powercapacity is within specifications. The signal may be de-asserted bythe power source 250 prior to entering the fail state. CPLD 270 maytransmit the signal or its de-assertion to BMC 255.

[0047] Hot-swap controllers 290a-290b may be configured to be incommunication with CPLD 270 for controlling power to informationhandling system 210a via power interface 285. Hot-swap controllers290a-290b may be configured to provide I.sup.2C/control data and/ortelemetry data such as current, voltage, power, and temperaturereadback to CPLD 270. In addition, the PSUs 215a-215f and powersource 250 may provide information associated with its health,sustained power capacity, maximum power capacity and/or minimumpower capacity via CPLD 270. The health and capacity information ofPSUs 215a-215f provided to CPLD 270 may be abstracted by powermanager 235 into another form such as a power limit indicating tothe information handling system 210a how much power from thechassis 205 it may consume through connectors 275 and 280. Inparticular, hot-swap controller 290a may be configured to controlpower from PSUs 215a-215f. While hot-swap controller 290b may beconfigured to control power from power source 250.

[0048] BMC 255 may utilize the information from hot-swapcontrollers 290a-290b for managing the power from PSUs 215a-215fand power source 250. For example, BMC 255 may implement powermonitoring, power limiting, and/or power capping features. BMC 255may be configured to communicate I.sup.2C/control data and/ortelemetry data to information handling system 210a via chipset 260.The information communicated may be associated with the sustainedpower, maximum power and/or minimum power available for informationhandling system 210a. Chipset 260 may be configured to control orlimit the power utilization of processors 265a-265b based on thecommunicated information. In addition, BMC 255 may provide reportsassociated with various statistics associated with the current, thevoltage, the power, the temperature, etc. of PSUs 215a-215f andpower source 250.

[0049] Information handling system 210a may include a storageresource configured to store data. The storage resource may includeone or more hard disk drives, magnetic tape libraries, optical diskdrives, magneto-optical disk drives, solid-state storage drives,compact disk drives, compact disk arrays, disk array controllers,and/or any other systems, apparatuses, or devices configured tostore data. The storage resource may be communicatively coupled toone or more resources of information handling system 210a such asBMC 255 and/or one or more resources of chassis 205 such asmanagement controller 220a.

[0050] Information handling system 210a may be configured toinclude additional resources, such as more processors, memory, etc.In addition, the processors may include an enhanced processingfeature. The enhanced processing feature allows the processors torun faster than base operating frequencies if the workload demandsadditional performance. Because of the additional resources and/orenhanced processing feature during an increased workload, theinformation handling system's power requirement may increasedynamically until a maximum power requirement is reached. When theworkload is decreased, the information handling system 210a's powerrequirement may automatically decrease.

[0051] The actual power that information handling system 210a mayconsume at any point in time may be above the power capacity ofPSUs 215a-215f. For example, each of information handling systems210b-210h may be drawing maximum power from PSUs 215a-215f as well.The present disclosure enables information handling system 210a tobe powered by a combined power from both a primary power source,such as PSUs 215a-215f and a secondary power source, such as powersource 250. For example, PSUs 215a-215f may supply electrical powerwith a particular voltage, such as 12.2 volts, to connector 275which is routed to the main power rail via a first hot-swapcontroller such as hot-swap controller 290a. Power source 250 cansupply electrical power to information handling system 210a. Insome embodiments, the electrical power supplied by power source 250can have a higher voltage, such as 20 volts, than the voltage ofthe electrical power from PSUs 215a-215f.

[0052] Thus, a programmable voltage regulator, such as voltageregulator 295 may be used to stabilize the voltage level to theparticular voltage. For example, power source 250 feeds intovoltage regulator 295 that has a variable output voltage such as 12volts to 12.5 volts. Power source 250 may power informationhandling system 210a with voltage regulator 295 in a constantvoltage mode until the maximum effective output capacity of powersource 250 is reached, and then voltage regulator 295 may enter aconstant current mode. After power source 250 is operating at itsmaximum effective capacity, information handling system 210a maysource its sustained power and maximum power requirements alsoreferred to as peak power requirement from PSUs 215a-215f. BMC 255may set the limits of the voltage regulator 295 and hot-swapcontrollers 290a-290b to safely deliver power to informationhandling system 210a within the maximum power capacity of PSUs215a-215f and power source 250.

[0053] The present disclosure also includes two power limitingsolutions when information handling system 210a can pull more powerthan the sled connector, such as connector 275 and/or connector 280are designed to deliver. The first solution is to decrease thefeature that limits the electrical power from chassis 205 toinformation handling system 210a. This feature may be the lesserbetween the maximum, minimum, or sustained power capacity of PSUs215a-215 and the power limit of connector 275 and/or connector 280to prevent physical damage to the connectors when the primary powersource is the sole source of power resulting in a maximum, minimum,or sustained available power for the information handling system210. The second solution is to increase the aforementioned featuresuch as the maximum, minimum, or sustained available power toinformation handling system 210a with the maximum, minimum, orsustained available power from the secondary power source. Thisenables information handling system 210a to reach maximumperformance even if the power from the primary power source cannotsupport the power requirement of information handling system 210a.The available power may be the power capacity of the power sourceor the power as limited in transmitting the power source to aninformation handling system, by component or resource such as aconnector, whichever is less.

[0054] FIG. 3 illustrates a system 300 that enables a monolithicinformation handling system to draw power from a combined primaryand secondary power sources. System 300 includes a power source 305and an information handling system 310 which is similar toinformation handling system 210a of FIG. 2. Information handlingsystem 310 includes a BMC 340, a chipset 350, a CPLD 345,processors 355a-355b, a power interface 360, hot-swap controller365, a voltage regulator 370, a connector 375, a PSU 380, and anI/O module 385. BMC 340 includes an I.sup.2C controller 315, anFPGA interface 320, a power manager 325, an FPGA 330, and a powerbudget controller 257. Power connector 375, which is similar toconnector 297, connects power source 305 to information handlingsystem 310. Power interface 360 is similar to power interface 285of FIG. 2 while hot-swap controller 365 is similar to hot-swapcontroller 290b. In addition, voltage regulator 370 is similar tovoltage regulator 295 of FIG. 2 while I/O module 385 is similar toI/O modules 207a-207h of FIG. 2

[0055] BMC 340, which is similar to BMC 255 of FIG. 2, may furtherbe configured to include various features of management controller220a of FIG. 2. BMC 340 may be configured to provide out-of-bandmanagement facilities for the management of information handlingsystem 310 which may be performed even if information handlingsystem 310 is powered off or powered to a standby state. BMC 340may include a processor, a memory, and an out-of-band networkinterface separate from and physically isolated from an in-bandnetwork interface of information handling system 310 and/or othercomponents. Further, BMC 340 may be configured to communicate withPSU 380 and power source 305. PSU 380 and power source 305 may beconfigured to communicate control and/or telemetry data or signalsvia I.sup.2C controller 315 through CPLD 345, which is similar toCPLD 270 of FIG. 2, across a suitable type of managementcommunication media path such as an I.sup.2C bus. For example, PSU380 and power source 305 may communicate information regarding itsstatus and/or health. PSU 380 and power source 305 may alsocommunicate electrical measurements such as electrical current,wattage, and/or voltage. In addition, PSU 380 and power source 305may communicate its sustained and maximum power capacity. Inaddition, BMC 340 may be configured to determine, based on thepower requirements of information handling system 310 it's minimum,maximum, and sustained power requirements.

[0056] Power manager 325, which is similar to power manager 235 ofFIG. 2, may be configured to manage power from PSU 380 and powersource 305. Power manager 325 may receive I.sup.2C/control dataand/or telemetry data from PSU 380 and power source 305 viaI.sup.2C controller 315. Power manager 325 with power budgetcontroller 357 may perform the power budget analysis based on thecontrol data from PSU 380 and power source 305. Power manager 325may then communicate information associated with the power budgetanalysis to CPLD 345 via FPGA 330, which is similar to FPGA 240 ofFIG. 2. FPGA 330 may be communicatively coupled with power manager325 and I.sup.2C controller 315, similar to I.sup.2C controller 225of FIG. 2 via FPGA interface 320 which is similar to FPGA interface230 of FIG. 2. CPLD 345 may then communicate the information tochipset 350 which is similar to chipset 260 of FIG. 2. Chipset 350may provide power limits to processors 355a-355b which are similarto processors 265a-265b of FIG. 2. The information may include thesustained and maximum power capacity of PSU 380 and power source305.

[0057] PSU 380 which is similar to PSUs 215a-215f, may beconfigured to be the primary source of power to informationhandling system 310. Generally speaking, PSU 380 may include anysystem, device, or apparatus configured to supply electricalcurrent to information handling system 310. In some embodiments,information handling system 310 may include an additional PSU in aredundant configuration to PSU 380, such that in the event of afailure of PSU 380 the redundant PSU may provide the primary sourceof power to information handling system 310.

[0058] Power source 305 which is similar to power source 250 may beconfigured to be the secondary power source for informationhandling system 310. Generally speaking, power source 305 mayinclude any system, device, or apparatus configured to supplyelectrical current to information handling system 310. PSU 380 andpower source 305 may be communicatively coupled to BMC 340 via asystems management interface such as an I.sup.2C bus, an SMBus, ora PMBus allowing BMC 340 to receive health and status informationfrom and/or communicate commands to PSU 380 and power source305.

[0059] The actual power that information handling system 310 mayconsume at any point in time may be above the power capacity of PSU380. In this instance, information handling system 310 may beconfigured to be powered by a combined power from the primary powersource and the secondary power source if the secondary power sourceis healthy.

[0060] FIG. 4 illustrates a method 400 for enabling an informationhandling system to consume combined power from a primary powersource and a secondary power source. Method 400 enables aninformation handling system to consume more power than a primarypower source can provide. For example, if the information handlingsystem is a modular information handling system in a chassis,method 400 enables the information handling system to consume morepower than the chassis can provide while maintaining backwardcompatibility with the existing chassis architecture. Method 400may be implemented using embedded controllers similar to managementcontrollers 220a-220b and BMC 255 of FIG. 2 and/or BMC 340 of FIG.3 or any other resource operable to implement method 400. Method400 typically starts at block 405.

[0061] At block 405, the information handling system has power andits BMC is running. In addition, the management controller of thechassis holding the information handling system is also running. Inan embodiment, the information handling system may just have beenplaced in the chassis. The power into the information handlingsystem may be from a PSU in the chassis which is the informationhandling system's primary power source or from a secondary powersource. The method proceeds to block 410, where the method monitorsthe information handling system for power-on request which may betransmitted by the BMC to the management controller.

[0062] The method proceeds to decision block 415, where the methoddetermines whether a power-on request is received from theinformation handling system. If a power-on request is received fromthe information handling system, then the "YES" branch is taken andthe method proceeds to block 420. If the power-on request is notreceived from the information handling system, then the methodloops back to block 410.

[0063] At block 420, the method may inventory the components and/orresources of the chassis such as the PSUs and the informationhandling systems. The inventory may be performed by the managementcontroller and the BMC. The method proceeds to block 425 where themethod determines the sustained and maximum power capacity of thePSUs based on the inventory. The method may also determine thesustained and maximum power available to the information handlingsystem based on the capacity of the PSU and its current load. Thesustained and maximum power available to the information handlingsystem may also be based on the power limit of the sled connectorbetween the chassis and the information handling system. Forexample, the maximum power available be the lesser value betweenthe maximum power capacity and the power limit of the sledconnector. The aforementioned determinations may be performed bythe management controller.

[0064] The method proceeds to block 430 where the method may alsodetermine the power requirements such as the minimum, sustained,and maximum power requirements of the information handling system.The method may also determine the minimum, sustained, and maximumpower capacity of the secondary power source of the informationhandling system. Block 430 may be performed by a BMC or an embeddedcontroller.

[0065] The method may proceed to process block 435 where the methodmonitors and manages the power requirements of the informationhandling system. The method may also perform power budgetcalculations associated with the management of the powerrequirements of the information handling system. The method mayperform the power budget calculations based on the powerrequirements of the information handling system and the powercapacities and/or available power from the primary and secondarypower sources. The calculations may also be based on the powerlimit of one or more connectors. Process block 435 includessub-process blocks 555 and 565 of FIG. 5.

[0066] Process block 435 determines the power budgeting andallocation of power to determine if there is enough power topower-on and support the operations of the information handlingsystem. Process block 435 may prevent the information handlingsystem from powering on if its minimum power requirement orsustained power requirement exceeds the power limit of theconnector that connects the information handling system to thechassis and/or power source. The power limit of the said connectoris the maximum power that may pass through the connector withoutphysically damaging the connector. However, this approach may notallow a feature-rich information handling system to power-on. Forexample, if the minimum power requirement of the informationhandling system is greater than the power limit of the connector,the information handling system may not be powered on.

[0067] Process block 435 may also determine the sustained andmaximum power requirement of the information handling system. Thecurrent disclosure may enable the information handling system topower-on if the power limit of the connector is greater than orequal to the minimum power requirement of the information handlingsystem. Process block 435 may be performed by the managementcontroller and/or the BMC periodically. For example, process block435 may be performed every particular number of seconds,milliseconds, etc. until a power-off request is received from theinformation handling system, and then the method proceeds todecision block 415.

[0068] FIG. 5 shows a method 500 which is a detailed illustrationof process block 435 of FIG. 4. Method 500 typically starts atsub-process block 555 which includes block 510 and decision blocks505 and 515. Sub-process block 555 performs the power budgetcalculations for operating the information handling system anddecides whether the information handling system can be safelypowered on. Sub-process block 555 typically starts at decisionblock 505 where the method determines whether the power limit ofthe connector is greater than or equal to the minimum powerrequirement of the information handling system. If the power limitof the connector is greater than or equal to the minimum powerrequirement of the information handling system, then the "YES"branch is taken and the method proceeds to decision block 515. Ifthe power limit of the connector is less than the minimum powerrequirement of the information handling system, then the "NO"branch is taken and the method proceeds to block 510. At block 510,the method denies the power-on request of the information handlingsystem and logs error associated with the denial. Block 510 may beperformed by the management controller and or the BMC. The methodproceeds to decision block 415 of FIG. 4.

[0069] At decision block 515, the method may determine whether thetotal power available from the primary power source and thesecondary power source is greater than or equal to the sustainedpower and minimum power requirements of the information handlingsystem. The total power available may be the sum of the maximumpower capacity of the primary power source and the maximum powercapacity of the secondary power source. If the total poweravailable is greater than or equal to the sustained power andminimum power requirements of the information handling system, thenthe "YES" branch is taken and the method proceeds to block 520. Atthis point, the information handling system can be safely poweredon. If the total power available is less than the sustained powerand minimum power requirements of the information handling system,then the "NO" branch is taken and the method and proceeds to block510. In another embodiment, the method may use the maximum powerrequirement of the information handling system instead of thesustained power requirement. In yet another embodiment, the methodmay use the maximum power capacity, the sustained power capacity orthe sustained power available from the primary and secondary powersources instead of the maximum power available from theaforementioned.

[0070] After determining that it is safe to power-on theinformation handling system, the method proceeds to sub-process 565wherein the method performs the power limit calculations foroperating the information handling system after it is powered on.Sub-process 565 includes blocks 520, 540, 545, 530, and 535.Sub-process 565 also includes decision blocks 525 and 550.Sub-process 565 may be performed periodically until a power-offrequest from the information handling system is received. Forexample, sub-process 565 may be performed based on a time intervaldetermined by the manufacturer or the administrator such as everyparticular number of milliseconds or seconds.

[0071] At block 520, the management controller monitors the healthof the secondary power source. For example, the managementcontroller may query the secondary power source for its healthand/or status information. In another embodiment, the managementcontroller may periodically receive health and/or statusinformation from the secondary power source. The method proceeds todecision block 525 where the method determines if the secondarypower source is healthy. If the secondary power source is healthy,then the "YES" branch is taken and the method proceeds to block540. If the secondary power source is not healthy, then the "NO"branch is taken and the method proceeds to block 530.

[0072] At block 540, the method calculates the current sustainedand maximum available power from the primary power source and thesecondary power source. The current sustained available power fromthe primary power source may be the current sustained powercapacity of the primary power source as limited by the power limitof the connector. In other words, the current sustained availablepower from the primary power source may be the lesser between thecurrent sustained capacity of the primary power source and thepower limit of the connector. The method proceeds to block 545where the method enables the information handling system to drawpower from both the primary power source and the secondary powersource and limit performance to the capabilities of the primary andsecondary power sources. The method may also monitor theinformation handling system to detect if there is a power-offrequest from the information handling system. The method proceedsto decision block 550.

[0073] At block 530, the method calculates the current sustainedand maximum available power from the primary power source. Themethod proceeds to block 535 where the method enables theinformation handling system to draw power from the primary powersource and limit performance of the information handling system tothe capabilities of the primary power source. This limiting can beachieved through methods such as throttling or applying powerlimits. The method may also monitor the information handling systemto detect if there is a power-off request from the informationhandling system. The method proceeds to decision block 550. Inblocks 540 and 530, the method performs the calculations based onthe current sustained and maximum power available from the primarypower source and the secondary power source. In another embodiment,the method may perform the calculations based only on the sustainedpower available from the primary and secondary power sources. Inyet another embodiment, the power capacity of the secondary powersource may be limited by a power limit of a connector or othercomponent or resource.

[0074] At decision block 550, the method determines whether thereis a power-off request from the information handling system. Themanagement controller may wait for or detect a power-off requestfrom the BMC. In another embodiment, the management controller mayquery the BMC to determine if there is a power-off request. Ifthere is a power-off request or power shutdown request from theinformation handling system, then the "YES" branch is taken and themethod proceeds to block 570 where the method powers down theinformation handling system. After powering down the informationhandling system, the method proceeds to block 410 of FIG. 4. Ifthere is no power-off request from the information handling system,then the "NO" branch is taken and the method proceeds to decisionblock 525.

[0075] Although FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 illustrates method 400 and method500 for increasing power delivery to each modular informationhandling system in a chassis, those skilled in the art willappreciate that method 400 and method 500 may be performed toincrease power delivery to a monolithic information handlingsystem. Accordingly, the BMC or the embedded controller may performfunctions performed by the management controller of thechassis.

[0076] FIG. 6A shows a breakdown of budget calculations for aninformation handling system with a power requirement that isgreater than the power that a primary power source could safelydeliver. The budget calculations may incorporate a power limitingfeature for the information handling system referred herein as atotal available power for the information handling system. Thetotal available power may be also referred to as a total availablemaximum power. In another embodiment, the total available power maybe the total available sustained power. The total available maximumpower may be the sum of the maximum available power of the powersources that the information handling system can draw power from.However, the total available maximum power may be limited based onthe power limits of one or more components such as a connector(s)where power is transmitted through for the information handlingsystem. The power limit of the component may be the maximum powerthat can pass through the connector without damaging thecomponent.

[0077] The budget calculations may also incorporate the powerrequirements of the information handling system which may be basedon the components of the information handling system such as thenumber of processors, memory, etc. A highly configured informationhandling system has more processors, memory, etc. requires morepower than a less configured information handling system. If thepower available from the primary source of power is less than thepower requirement of the information handling system, then the saidpower may be augmented by an additional power available from asecondary power source. This allows the information handling systemto reach full utilization or performance.

[0078] As shown in FIG. A, information handling system 620 may havea maximum power requirement of 2,196 watts, a minimum powerrequirement of 1,098 watts, and a sustained power requirement of1,298 watts. Also shown is a PSU 605, which is a primary source ofpower for information handling system 620. PSU 605 may have amaximum power capacity of 1,249 watts and a sustained or ratedpower capacity of 1,100 watts. The maximum power capacity may bethe power generated by a power source allowing for short peak powerexcursions. The sustained power capacity may be the average amountof power generated by the power source. In addition, power source610, which is a secondary power source for information handlingsystem 620, has a maximum power capacity of 1,249 watts and asustained power capacity of 1,050 watts. Connector 615, which is asled connector that connects power from PSU 605 to informationhandling system 620, has a power limit of 1,098 watts. Power fromPSU 605 is drawn via connector 615. As shown, the sustainedavailable power for information handling system 620 is 1,100 wattsfrom PSU 605 and 1050 watts from power source 610. PSU 605 canprovide the lesser power between the sustained power capacity ofPSU 605 and the power limit of connector 615. Thus, PSU 605 canprovide 1,098 watts of power to information handling system620.

[0079] At this point, information handling system 620 may be safelypowered on, because the sustained available power from PSU 605 isgreater than or equal to the minimum power requirement of theinformation handling system 620 and and the maximum power capacityavailable from PSU 605 and power source 610 is greater than orequal to the sustained and maximum power requirement of informationhandling system 620. If the secondary power source, that is powersource 610, failed as shown in FIG. 6B, the information handlingsystem would still be able to operate and would be limited to thesustained power capacity of PSU 605 or the power limit of connector615. The information handling system may be guaranteed a powerconsumption to 1,100 watts which is the sustained power capacity ofPSU 605 or the 1,098 watts which is the power limit of connector615. The information handling system may have a performancedegradation as it will only be able to consume 151 watts (maximumpower capacity of PSU605-power limit of connector 615) of peakpower, which is less than its requested 200 watts (sustained powerrequirement-minimum power requirement) but the information handlingsystem would not shut down.

[0080] As shown in FIG. 6C, the minimum power requirement ofinformation handling system 620 is 800 watts which is less than thetotal available power from PSU 605 and power source 610. Also shownis a power delta 625 of 298 watts between the minimum powerrequirement and the maximum available power from PSU 605. Based onthe above, information handling system 620 may be safely poweredon. However, in FIG. 6D, the minimum power requirement ofinformation handling system 620 is 1,100 watts while the maximumpower available from PSU 605 as limited by the power limit ofconnector 615 is 1,098 watts. Here there is a power delta 625B of-2 watts. Thus, information handling system 620 may not be safelypowered on because if the secondary power source becomes unhealthy,the information handling system would draw all its powerrequirements from the primary power source through the connector,thus limiting sustained power consumption from the primary powersource to the power limit of the connector. Because there is noguarantee that the information handling system would draw powerthat is less than the power limit of the connector, the connectormay sustain damage.

[0081] As shown in FIG. 6E, the maximum available power forinformation handling system 620 includes 1,098 watts from PSU 605because it is lower than the power limit of connector 615 which is1,200 watts. In addition, the maximum available power forinformation handling system includes 1,249 watts from power source610, assuming that there is no power limit from a connector betweenpower source 610 and information handling system 620. In anotherembodiment, the power limit from the said connector is equal to orgreater than 1,249 watts. As such, information handling system 620may be powered on.

[0082] If the minimum power requirement of the information handlingsystem is less than the power limit of the connector but thesustained and maximum power requirements of the informationhandling system is above the power limit of the connector, theinformation handling system would be allowed to power on and have acertain amount of peak power consumption. That is the peak powerconsumption may be based on the workload of the informationhandling system and may be above the minimum power requirement andless than or equal to the maximum power requirement. The amount ofpeak power consumption that the information handling system wouldbe allowed to have may depend on whether the secondary power sourceis healthy or not. If the secondary power source is healthy, thenthe peak power consumption may be equal to the maximum powerrequirement. The peak power requirement may be more than themaximum power requirement for a short period if the primary powersource and the secondary power source could support it. If thesecondary power source is not healthy, the information handlingsystem is limited to consuming power such that its averageconsumption is not above the power limit of the connector.

[0083] The calculations shown in FIGS. 6A-6E are based on totalpower available for the information handling system. In otherembodiments, the calculations may be based on the minimum poweravailable or the sustained power available for the informationhandling system. In addition, the present disclosure is not limitedto the calculations shown herein, as various other power budgetingcalculations may be performed as deemed appropriate duringmanufacture and/or by the administrator. For example, theadministrator may not power-on the information handling systemunless there is enough available power for the maximum powerrequirement of the information handling system.

[0084] Although FIG. 4, and FIG. 5 show example blocks of method400 and method 500 in some implementation, method 400 and method500 may include additional blocks, fewer blocks, different blocks,or differently arranged blocks than those depicted in FIG. 4 andFIG. 5. Additionally, or alternatively, two or more of the blocksof method 400 may be performed in parallel. For example, block 425and block 430 of may be performed in parallel.

[0085] In accordance with various embodiments of the presentdisclosure, the methods described herein may be implemented bysoftware programs executable by a computer system. Further, in anexemplary, non-limited embodiment, implementations can includedistributed processing, component/object distributed processing,and parallel processing. Alternatively, virtual computer systemprocessing can be constructed to implement one or more of themethods or functionalities as described herein.

[0086] The present disclosure contemplates a computer-readablemedium that includes instructions or receives and executesinstructions responsive to a propagated signal; so that a deviceconnected to a network can communicate voice, video or data overthe network. Further, the instructions may be transmitted orreceived over the network via the network interface device.

[0087] While the computer-readable medium is shown to be a singlemedium, the term "computer-readable medium" includes a singlemedium or multiple media, such as a centralized or distributeddatabase, and/or associated caches and servers that store one ormore sets of instructions. The term "computer-readable medium"shall also include any medium that is capable of storing, encodingor carrying a set of instructions for execution by a processor orthat cause a computer system to perform any one or more of themethods or operations disclosed herein.

[0088] In a particular non-limiting, exemplary embodiment, thecomputer-readable medium can include a solid-state memory such as amemory card or other package that houses one or more non-volatileread-only memories. Further, the computer-readable medium can be arandom-access memory or other volatile re-writable memory.Additionally, the computer-readable medium can include amagneto-optical or optical medium, such as a disk or tapes oranother storage device to store information received via carrierwave signals such as a signal communicated over a transmissionmedium. A digital file attachment to an e-mail or otherself-contained information archive or set of archives may beconsidered a distribution medium that is equivalent to a tangiblestorage medium. Accordingly, the disclosure is considered toinclude any one or more of a computer-readable medium or adistribution medium and other equivalents and successor media, inwhich data or instructions may be stored.

[0089] Although only a few exemplary embodiments have beendescribed in detail above, those skilled in the art will readilyappreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplaryembodiments without materially departing from the novel teachingsand advantages of the embodiments of the present disclosure.Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be includedwithin the scope of the embodiments of the present disclosure asdefined in the following claims. In the claims, means-plus-functionclauses are intended to cover the structures described herein asperforming the recited function and not only structural equivalentsbut also equivalent structures.

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