Method of optimizing air mover performance characteristics to minimize temperature variations in a computing system enclosure

1. A computer-implemented method for optimizing air mover performance to minimize temperature variations in a computer system enclosure, the computer system including one or more modules and at least one air mover, the method comprising:

collecting virtual PWM fan readings from the modules, wherein said virtual PWM fan readings are not based on a temperature reading from a temperature sensor;

using the collected virtual PWM fan readings, determining a maximum value of the virtual PWM fan readings;

comparing the determined maximum value of the virtual PWM fan readings to a current maximum value of a current RPM reading;

using the determined and the current maximum values, determining a desired operating characteristic of the air mover; and

adjusting the air mover, through an Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI), to the desired operating characteristic.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the computer system is a server and the modules are server blades.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the air mover is a pulse-width modulation (PWM) fan.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the computer system comprises multiple cooling fans running at the same RPM.

5. The method of claim 3 , wherein the computer system comprises multiple cooling fans running at different RPMs.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein fan RPM is calculated for each of the multiple cooling fans based on data of modules other than said server blades.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the desired operating characteristic, comprises:

comparing the virtual PWM fan readings to a calibrated set of fan RPM settings;

selecting a RPM reading corresponding to a maximum virtual PWM fan reading; and

comparing the selected RPM reading to a fan current RPM reading.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein if the selected RPM reading is greater than the fan current RPM reading, the method comprises writing a command to adjust fan RPM to the selected RPM reading.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein if the selected RPM reading is less than or equal to the fan current RPM reading, the method comprises comparing the selected RPM reading to a hysteresis value.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein if the selected RPM reading exceeds the hysteresis value, the method comprises writing a command to adjust fan RPM to the selected RPM reading.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein if the selected RPM reading is less than or equal to the hysteresis value, the method comprises retaining the fan current RPM reading.

12. A computer-implemented method for optimizing air mover performance characteristics in a computer system enclosure, the enclosure including one or more server blades, and one or more fans operating as air movers, the method comprising:

(a) receiving a virtual PWM fan reading from each of the one or more server blades, wherein said virtual PWM fan reading is not based on a temperature reading from a temperature sensor;

(b) determining a new maximum virtual PWM fan reading based on the received readings;

(c) determining if the new maximum PWM fan reading differs from a current maximum virtual PWM fan reading, wherein if the new maximum exceeds the current maximum, the method comprises:

(c)(1) determining a new fan RPM corresponding to the new maximum PWM fan reading,

(c)(2) determining if the new fan RPM exceeds a current fan RPM, and

(c)(3) if the new fan RPM exceeds the current fan RPM, writing a command, through an Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI), to adjust fan speed to the new fan RPM; and

(d) wherein if the new maximum is less than or equal to the current maximum, the method comprises:

(d)(1) determining a new fan RPM corresponding to the new maximum PWM fan reading, and

(d)(2) determining if the new fan RPM differs from the current fan RPM, wherein if the RPMs differ, the method comprises:

(d)(2)(i) determining if the new fan RPM is within a hysteresis range, and

(d)(2)(ii) if the new fan RPM is outside the hysteresis range, writing a command, through an Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI), to adjust fan speed to the new fan RPM.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12 , wherein the new fan RPM, the current fan RPM, the new maximum virtual PWM fan reading, and the current maximum virtual PWM fan readings are contained in a look up table calibrated according to a number of server blades and fans.

14. A non-transitory computer readable storage media comprising computer code for implementing a method for optimizing air mover performance characteristics in a computer system enclosure, the enclosure including one or more server blades, and one or more fans operating as air movers, the method comprising:

(a) receiving a virtual PWM fan reading from each of the one or more server blades, wherein said virtual PWM fan reading is not based on a temperature reading from a temperature sensor;

(b) determining a new maximum virtual PWM fan reading based on the received readings;

(c) determining if the new maximum PWM fan reading differs from a current maximum virtual PWM fan reading, wherein if the new maximum exceeds the current maximum, the method comprises:

(c)(1) determining a new fan RPM corresponding to the new maximum PWM fan reading,

(c)(2) determining if the new fan RPM exceeds a current fan RPM, and

(c)(3) if the new fan RPM exceeds the current fan RPM, writing, through an Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI), a command to adjust fan speed to the new fan RPM; and

(d) wherein if the new maximum is less than or equal to the current maximum, the method comprises:

(d)(1) determining a new fan RPM corresponding to the new maximum PWM fan reading, and

(d)(2) determining if the new fan RPM differs from the current fan RPM, wherein if the RPMs differ, the method comprises:

(d)(2)(i) determining if the new fan RPM is within a hysteresis range, and

(d)(2)(ii) if the new fan RPM is outside the hysteresis range, writing a command, through an Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI), to adjust fan speed to the new fan RPM.