Method and system for detecting whether a computer server has shut down gracefully
A server in a data center is supplied with power by a power distribution unit (“PDU”) having outlet-level power monitoring and switching capability. A predetermined server-specific time after a shutdown command has been issued to the server, the level of power consumption of the server is compared with a predetermined server-specific level of power consumption. If the level of power consumption of the server at that time is less than the server-specific level of power consumption, the server is considered to have been gracefully shut down and power to the server is switched off by delivering an appropriate command to the PDU. If the level of power consumption of the server at that time is not less than the server-specific level of consumption, this indicates a malfunction and power to the server is maintained so the cause can be determined and remedied without unnecessarily corrupting data or damaging the server.
1. A method for identifying whether a server has shut down gracefully after issuance to it of a shutdown command, comprising the following steps:
predetermining a non-zero level of power consumption below which the server is considered to have been gracefully shut down;
predetermining a maximum time duration required for the server to shut down gracefully after receiving a shutdown command;
monitoring the power consumption of the server;
monitoring the time elapsed since issuance of the shutdown command; and
comparing the power consumption of the server to the predetermined non-zero power consumption level immediately after the predetermined time duration has taken place.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of interrogating the server to determine its status, said interrogating step following receipt of said shutdown command.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said interrogating step comprises the step of issuing a ping command to the server.
4. Apparatus for identifying whether a server has shut down gracefully after issuance to it of a shutdown command, comprising:
means for monitoring the power consumption of the server;
means for detecting the issuance to the server of a shutdown command; and
means for comparing, after a predetermined time duration required for the server to shut down gracefully after receiving a shutdown command, the power consumption of the server with a predetermined level of power consumption below which the server is considered to have been shut down gracefully.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising means for interrogating the server to determine its status.
6. The apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising means for shutting off power to a server that has, after said predetermined time duration, a power consumption at most equal to said predetermined level of power consumption.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein said means for monitoring and said means for shutting off power comprise a power distribution unit having outlet-level power monitoring and switching capability.
8. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein said means for monitoring comprises a power distribution unit having outlet-level power monitoring and switching capability.
9. A power monitoring system for use with a plurality of servers, the system identifying a server that has failed to shut down gracefully after issuance to it of a shutdown command and thereby permitting an operator to take appropriate action with respect to such identified server, the system comprising:
means for monitoring the power consumption of each server;
means for detecting the issuance of a shutdown command to a server; and
means for comparing, after a predetermined time duration required for a server to shut down gracefully after receiving a shutdown command, the power consumption of the server that has been issued a shutdown command with a predetermined level of power consumption below which the server is considered to have been shut down; and
means for identifying, to an operator, a server that has been issued a shutdown command and that has a power consumption exceeding such predetermined level of power consumption.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein said means for monitoring includes at least one power distribution unit, all such power distribution units having outlet-level power monitoring and switching capability.
11. The system of claim 10 , wherein all such power distribution units are connected to an in-band network.
12. The system of claim 10 , wherein all such power distribution units are connected to an out-of-band network.