Mapping computers and ports of power distribution units in a data center

1. A method of mapping computers and ports of power distribution units in a data center, the data center comprising a facility that houses a plurality of computers and equipment supporting computer operations including a data center management server, the computers in the data center connected for power to one of a plurality of power distribution unit (‘PDU’) ports of a PDU, the PDU comprising one or more power consumption monitoring devices, one or more demodulators, and a communications module, each PDU connected through the communications module and a data communications network to the data center management server, the method comprising:

generating, by a power modulating module of a computer, a power consumption signal in the PDU, the power consumption signal encoding a unique identification of the computer, wherein the computer and the PDU are distinct and separate physical devices, wherein the computer is not a component within the PDU and the PDU is not a component within the computer;

demodulating, by the PDU, the power consumption signal, including retrieving from the signal the unique identification of the computer; and

reporting, by the PDU to the data center management server, an association of the unique identification of the computer and a PDU port.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the power modulating module comprises a set of computer program instructions capable of controlling power consumption by a computer when executed; and

generating, by a power modulating module of a computer modulating the power consumption of the computer, a power consumption signal in the PDU signal further comprises executing the computer program instructions by a processor of the computer.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the power modulating module comprises a hardware aggregation of synchronous and asynchronous logic capable of controlling power consumption by a computer.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein an association of the unique identification of the computer and a PDU port further comprises a port identifier (‘ID’) of the PDU port that uniquely identifies the PDU port of the PDU.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein generating a power consumption signal further comprises:

modulating the power consumption of the computer to generate an amplitude modulated power consumption signal.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein generating a power consumption signal further comprises:

modulating the power consumption of the computer to generate a frequency modulated power consumption signal.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein generating a power consumption signal further comprises:

modulating the power consumption of the computer to generate a pulse code modulated power consumption signal.

8. An apparatus for mapping computers and ports of power distribution units in a data center, the data center comprising a facility that houses a plurality of computers and equipment supporting computer operations including a data center management server, the computers in the data center connected for power to one of a plurality of power distribution unit (‘PDU’) ports of a PDU, the PDU comprising one or more power consumption monitoring devices, one or more demodulators, and a communications module, each PDU connected through the communications module and a data communications network to the data center management server, the apparatus comprising a computer processor, a computer memory operatively coupled to the computer processor, the computer memory having disposed within it computer program instructions capable of:

generating, by a power modulating module of a computer, a power consumption signal in the PDU, the power consumption signal encoding a unique identification of the computer, wherein the computer and the PDU are distinct and separate physical devices, wherein the computer is not a component within the PDU and the PDU is not a component within the computer;

demodulating, by the PDU, the power consumption signal, including retrieving from the signal the unique identification of the computer; and

reporting, by the PDU to the data center management server, an association of the unique identification of the computer and a PDU port.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein:

the power modulating module comprises a set of computer program instructions capable of controlling power consumption by a computer when executed; and

generating, by a power modulating module of a computer modulating the power consumption of the computer, a power consumption signal in the PDU signal further comprises executing the computer program instructions by a processor of the computer.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the power modulating module comprises a hardware aggregation of synchronous and asynchronous logic capable of controlling power consumption by a computer.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein an association of the unique identification of the computer and a PDU port further comprises a port identifier (‘ID’) of the PDU port that uniquely identifies the PDU port of the PDU.

12. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein generating a power consumption signal further comprises:

modulating the power consumption of the computer to generate an amplitude modulated power consumption signal.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein generating a power consumption signal further comprises:

modulating the power consumption of the computer to generate a frequency modulated power consumption signal.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein generating a power consumption signal further comprises:

modulating the power consumption of the computer to generate a pulse code modulated power consumption signal.

15. A computer program product for mapping computers and ports of power distribution units in a data center, the data center comprising a facility that houses a plurality of computers and equipment supporting computer operations including a data center management server, the computers in the data center connected for power to one of a plurality of power distribution unit (‘PDU’) ports of a PDU, the PDU comprising one or more power consumption monitoring devices, one or more demodulators, and a communications module, each PDU connected through the communications module and a data communications network to the data center management server, the computer program product disposed in a signal bearing medium, the computer program product comprising computer program instructions capable of:

generating, by a power modulating module of a computer, a power consumption signal in the PDU, the power consumption signal encoding a unique identification of the computer, wherein the computer and the PDU are distinct and separate physical devices, wherein the computer is not a component within the PDU and the PDU is not a component within the computer;

demodulating, by the PDU, the power consumption signal, including retrieving from the signal the unique identification of the computer; and

reporting, by the PDU to the data center management server, an association of the unique identification of the computer and a PDU port.

16. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein:

the power modulating module comprises a set of computer program instructions capable of controlling power consumption by a computer when executed; and

generating, by a power modulating module of a computer modulating the power consumption of the computer, a power consumption signal in the PDU signal further comprises executing the computer program instructions by a processor of the computer.

17. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein the power modulating module comprises a hardware aggregation of synchronous and asynchronous logic capable of controlling power consumption by a computer.

18. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein an association of the unique identification of the computer and a PDU port further comprises a port identifier (‘ID’) of the PDU port that uniquely identifies the PDU port of the PDU.

19. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein generating a power consumption signal further comprises:

modulating the power consumption of the computer to generate an amplitude modulated power consumption signal.

20. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein generating a power consumption signal further comprises:

modulating the power consumption of the computer to generate a frequency modulated power consumption signal.

21. A computer program product for mapping computers and ports of power distribution units in a data center, the data center comprising a facility that houses a plurality of computers and equipment supporting computer operations including a data center management server, the computers in the data center connected for power to one of a plurality of power distribution unit (‘PDU’) ports of a PDU, the PDU comprising one or more power consumption monitoring devices, one or more demodulators, and a communications module, each PDU connected through the communications module and a data communications network to the data center management server, the computer program product disposed in a computer readable transmission medium, the computer program product comprising computer program instructions capable of:

generating, by a power modulating module of a computer, a power consumption signal in the PDU, the power consumption signal encoding a unique identification of the computer; wherein the computer and the PDU are distinct and separate physical devices, wherein the computer is not a component within the PDU and the PDU is not a component within the computer:

demodulating, by the PDU, the power consumption signal, including retrieving from the signal the unique identification of the computer; and

reporting, by the PDU to the data center management server, an association of the unique identification of the computer and a PDU port.