Method for managing power consumption of multiple computer servers

1. A method for managing power consumption for multiple computer servers, said method comprising:

determining the number of computer servers required to meet a current workload demand;

determining a thermally optimized configuration of powered-on computer servers to meet said current workload demand by:

determining thermal characteristics of a chassis enclosing said number of computer servers;

determining a physical location of cooling devices within said chassis enclosing said number of computer servers;

determining which of said number of computer servers are currently powered on; and

determining a physical location of any malfunctioned cooling devices; and

powering on or powering off at least one computer server from said number of computer server based on said thermally optimized configuration.

2. A computer program product residing on a computer usable medium for managing power consumption for multiple computer servers, said computer program product comprising:

program code means for determining the number of computer servers required to meet a current workload demand;

program code means for determining a thermally optimized configuration of powered-on computer servers to meet said current workload demand, wherein said program code means for determining a thermally optimized configuration further includes:

program code means for determining thermal characteristics of a chassis enclosing said number of computer servers;

program code means for determining a physical location of cooling devices within said chassis enclosing said number of computer servers; and

program code means for determining which of said number of computer servers are currently powered on; and

program code means for powering on or powering off at least one computer server from said number of computer servers based on said thermally optimized configuration.

3. The computer program product of claim 2 , wherein said program code means for determining a thermally optimized configuration further includes program code means for determining a physical location of any malfunctioned cooling devices.

4. A computer system capable of managing power consumption for multiple computer servers, said computer system comprising:

means for determining the number of computer servers required to meet a current workload demand;

means for determining a thermally optimized configuration of powered-on computer servers to meet said current workload demand, wherein said means for determining a thermally optimized configuration further includes:

means for determining thermal characteristics of a chassis enclosing said number of computer servers;

means for determining a physical location of cooling devices within said chassis enclosing said number of computer servers; and

means for determining which of said number of computer servers are currently powered on; and

means for powering on or powering off at least one computer server from said number of computer servers based on said thermally optimized configuration.

5. The computer system of claim 4 , wherein said computer system means for determining a thermally optimized configuration further includes computer system means for determining a physical location of any malfunctioned cooling devices.