System and method for providing a data center management controller

1. A server rack, comprising:

a plurality of 1-U rack unit locations, each rack unit location provided for the retaining of equipment within the server rack, each rack unit location including an interlock on a side of the rack unit location, each interlock configured in a first position to permit the installation and removal of equipment from the associated rack unit location, and configured in a second position to prevent the installation and removal of the equipment from the associated rack unit location; and

a rack interlock controller configured to control the interlocks to be in one of the first or second positions, to determine a weight of the equipment installed in the server rack based upon a calculation of weights of each element of equipment installed in the server rack, determine a center of gravity of the server rack based upon the weight of the equipment installed in the server rack, determine if the center of gravity is above or below a centerline of the server rack, and retain the interlocks in the second position when the center of gravity is above the centerline.

2. The server rack of claim 1 , wherein the interlock controller is further configured to maintain the interlocks in the second position until the interlock controller receives an interlock override to set the interlocks into the first position.

3. The server rack of claim 1 , wherein the interlock controller is further configured to provide the interlock override when the center of gravity is below the centerline.

4. The server rack of claim 1 , wherein the interlock controller is further configured to determine that a particular element of the equipment is removed from the server rack, determine a new weight of the equipment in response to determining that the particular element is removed, and determine a new center of gravity of the server rack based upon the new weight.

5. The server rack of claim 1 , further comprising:

a plurality of foot assemblies configured to raise the server rack off a floor and to lower the server rack onto the floor;

wherein the interlock controller is further configured prevent the foot assemblies from lowering the server rack onto the floor when the center of gravity is above the centerline.

6. The server rack of claim 5 , the interlock override further configured to permit the foot assemblies to lower the server rack onto the floor.

7. The server rack of claim 1 , further comprising:

a handle at a back side of the server rack, the back side being opposite a front side of the server rack were the equipment is accessed for installation or removal.

8. The server rack of claim 7 , wherein the handle includes an override switch configured to provide the interlock override.

9. A method, comprising:

providing, in a server rack, a plurality of 1-U rack unit locations, wherein each rack unit location is provided for the retaining of equipment within the server rack, wherein each rack unit location includes an interlock on a side of the rack unit location, and wherein each interlock is configured in a first position to permit the installation and removal of equipment from the associated rack unit location, and is configured in a second position to prevent the installation and removal of the equipment from the associated rack unit location;

controlling, by a rack interlock controller of the server rack, the interlocks to be in one of the first or second positions;

determining, by the interlock controller, a weight of the equipment installed in the server rack based upon a calculation of weights of each element of equipment installed in the server rack;

determining a center of gravity of the server rack based upon the weight of the equipment installed in the server rack;

determining if the center of gravity is above a centerline of the server rack; and

retaining the interlocks in the second position when the center of gravity is above the centerline.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

maintaining, by the interlock controller, the interlocks in the second position until the interlock controller receives an interlock override to set the interlocks into the first position.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

providing, by the interlock controller, the interlock override when the center of gravity is below the centerline.

12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

determining, by the interlock controller, that a particular element of the equipment is removed from the server rack;

determining a new weight of the equipment in response to determining that the particular element is removed; and

determining a new center of gravity of the server rack based upon the new weight.

13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

providing, in the server rack, a plurality of foot assemblies configured to raise the server rack off a floor and to lower the server rack onto the floor; and

preventing, by the interlock controller, the foot assemblies from lowering the server rack onto the floor when the center of gravity is above the centerline.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:

permitting, by the interlock override, the foot assemblies to lower the server rack onto the floor.

15. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

providing, on the server rack, a handle at a back side of the server rack, the back side being opposite a front side of the server rack were the equipment is accessed for installation or removal.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:

providing, by an override switch of the handle, the interlock override.

17. A server rack, comprising:

a plurality of 1-U rack unit locations, each rack unit location provided for the retaining of equipment within the server rack, each rack unit location including an interlock on a side of the rack unit location, each interlock configured in a first position to permit the installation and removal of equipment from the associated rack unit location, and configured in a second position to prevent the installation and removal of the equipment from the associated rack unit location;

an element of datacenter equipment installed into a first rack unit location; and

a rack interlock controller configured to control the interlocks to be in one of the first or second positions, to determine a weight of the equipment installed in the server rack based upon a calculation of weights of each element of equipment installed in the server rack, determine a center of gravity of the server rack based upon the weight of the equipment installed in the server rack, determine if the center of gravity is above a centerline of the server rack, and retain the interlocks in the second position when the center of gravity is above the centerline.