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REVERSIBLE FAN DIRECTION CONTROL RESPONSIVE TO DEVICE ENCLOSURE
ORIENTATION
Abstract
A computer program product is provided for controlling the airflow
direction through a device enclosure. A first device enclosure is
positioned adjacent a second device enclosure, wherein both enclosures
have an airflow pathway extending from the front to the back, and a fan
for moving air through the airflow pathway, wherein the fan of the first
device enclosure is a reversible rotary fan. The computer program product
automatically determines whether the first device enclosure is in a first
orientation with its front facing in the same direction as the front of
the adjacent second device enclosure or in a second orientation with the
front facing in the same direction as the back of the adjacent second
device enclosure. The airflow direction imparted by a reversible rotary
fan is then controlled according to the determined orientation of the
first device enclosure relative to the second device enclosure.
Inventors:
Alshinnawi; Shareef F.; (Durham, NC); Cudak; Gary D.; (Creedmoor, NC); Suffern; Edward S.; (Chapel Hill, NC); Weber; J. Mark; (Wake Forest, NC)
Applicant:
Name
City
State
Country
Type
Lenovo Enterprise Solutions (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
Singapore
SG
Family ID:
1000002987172
Appl. No.:
15/810933
Filed:
November 13, 2017
Related U.S. Patent Documents
Application Number
Filing Date
Patent Number
14050741
Oct 10, 2013
9820411
15810933
Current U.S. Class:
1/1
Current CPC Class:
H05K 7/20736 20130101; H05K 7/20836 20130101
International Class:
H05K 7/20 20060101 H05K007/20
Claims
1. A computer program product comprising non-transitory computer readable
storage media having program instructions embodied therewith, the program
instructions executable by a processor to: cause a first transceiver
positioned on a first device enclosure to transmit a first near-field
communication signal to a second transceiver positioned on an adjacent
second device enclosure at a first time, wherein the second transceiver
transmits a second near-field communication signal to the first
transceiver in response to receiving the first near-field communication
signal, and wherein the first transceiver receives the second near-field
communication signal from the second transceiver at a second time;
automatically determine whether a first device enclosure is oriented in a
first orientation with a front of the first device enclosure facing in
the same direction as a front of an adjacent second device enclosure or
in a second orientation with the front of the first device enclosure
facing in the same direction as a back of the adjacent second device
enclosure, wherein the first device enclosure is determined to be
oriented in the first orientation in response to the time delay between
the first time and the second time being less than a predetermined amount
of time, and wherein the first device enclosure is determined to be
oriented in the second orientation in response to the time delay between
the first time and the second time being greater than a predetermined
amount of time; operate a reversible rotary fan of the first device
enclosure in a first rotational direction to move air through the first
device enclosure in a first airflow direction from front to back through
an airflow pathway extending through the first device enclosure in
response to determining that the first device enclosure is in the first
orientation; and operate the reversible rotary fan of the first device
enclosure in a second rotational direction to move air through the first
device enclosure in a second airflow direction from the back to the front
through the airflow pathway in response to determining that the first
device enclosure is in the second orientation.
2. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the reversible rotary
fan of the first device enclosure maintains airflow through the first
device enclosure from a cold aisle to a hot aisle flow regardless of
whether the first device enclosure is in the first orientation or the
second orientation.
3. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the first device
enclosure houses a network switch and the adjacent second device
enclosure houses a server.
4. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein either the first
transceiver is positioned at the front of the first device enclosure and
the second transceiver is positioned at the front of the second device
enclosure, or the first transceiver is positioned at the back of the
first device enclosure and the second transceiver is positioned at the
back of the second device enclosure.
5. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein each near-field
communication signal includes a characteristic that identifies the
position of a near-field communication transceiver that generated the
near-field communication signal.
6. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the first device
enclosure includes one or more near-field communication transceiver along
a top of the first device enclosure for transmitting and receiving
near-field communication signals with a near-field transceiver on a
device enclosure adjacent the top of the first device enclosure, and
wherein the first device enclosure includes one or more near-field
communication transceiver along a bottom of the first device enclosure
for transmitting and receiving near-field communication signals with a
near-field transceiver on a device enclosure adjacent the bottom of the
first device enclosure.
7. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein each device enclosure
has a near-field communication transmitter located in four corners of the
device enclosure.
8. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein each device enclosure
has a near-field communication transmitter located in front, rear, left
side and right side of the device enclosure.
9. A computer program product comprising non-transitory computer readable
storage media having program instructions embodied therewith, the program
instructions executable by a processor to: measure the air temperature at
a front and a back of an airflow pathway through a first device
enclosure; automatically determine whether the first device enclosure is
oriented in a first orientation with a front of the first device
enclosure facing in the same direction as a front of an adjacent second
device enclosure or in a second orientation with the front of the first
device enclosure facing in the same direction as a back of the adjacent
second device enclosure, wherein the first device enclosure is determined
to be oriented in the first orientation in response to the air
temperature measured at the front of the first device enclosure being
less than the air temperature measured at the back of the first device
enclosure, and wherein the first device enclosure is determined to be
oriented in the second orientation in response to the air temperature
measured at the front of the first device enclosure being greater than
the air temperature measured at the back of the first device enclosure;
operate a reversible rotary fan of the first device enclosure in a first
rotational direction to move air through the first device enclosure in a
first airflow direction from front to back through an airflow pathway
extending through the first device enclosure in response to determining
that the first device enclosure is in the first orientation; and operate
the reversible rotary fan of the first device enclosure in a second
rotational direction to move air through the first device enclosure in a
second airflow direction from the back to the front through the airflow
pathway in response to determining that the first device enclosure is in
the second orientation.
10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the reversible
rotary fan of the first device enclosure maintains airflow through the
first device enclosure from a cold aisle to a hot aisle flow regardless
of whether the first device enclosure is in the first orientation or the
second orientation.
11. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the first device
enclosure houses a network switch and the adjacent second device
enclosure houses a server.
12. A computer program product comprising non-transitory computer
readable storage media having program instructions embodied therewith,
the program instructions executable by a processor to: run a reversible
rotary fan of the first device enclosure in a first rotational direction
to move air through the first device enclosure in a first airflow
direction during a first test period and measure one or more temperatures
within the first device enclosure during the first test period; run the
reversible rotary fan in a second rotational direction to move air
through the first device enclosure in a second airflow direction during a
second test period and measure one or more temperatures within the first
device enclosure during the second test period; automatically determine
whether a first device enclosure is oriented in a first orientation with
a front of the first device enclosure facing in the same direction as a
front of an adjacent second device enclosure or in a second orientation
with the front of the first device enclosure facing in the same direction
as a back of the adjacent second device enclosure, wherein the first
device enclosure is determined to be oriented in the first orientation in
response to the one or more temperatures measured during the first test
period being less than the one or more temperatures measured during the
second test period, and wherein the first device enclosure is determined
to be oriented in the second orientation in response to the one or more
temperatures measured during the first test period being greater than the
one or more temperatures measured during the second test period; operate
the reversible rotary fan of the first device enclosure in the first
rotational direction to move air through the first device enclosure in
the first airflow direction from front to back through an airflow pathway
extending through the first device enclosure in response to determining
that the first device enclosure is in the first orientation; and operate
the reversible rotary fan of the first device enclosure in the second
rotational direction to move air through the first device enclosure in
the second airflow direction from the back to the front through the
airflow pathway in response to determining that the first device
enclosure is in the second orientation.
13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the reversible
rotary fan of the first device enclosure maintains airflow through the
first device enclosure from a cold aisle to a hot aisle flow regardless
of whether the first device enclosure is in the first orientation or the
second orientation.
14. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the first device
enclosure houses a network switch and the adjacent second device
enclosure houses a server.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 14/050,741 filed on Oct. 10, 2013, which application is incorporated
by reference herein.
BACKGROUND
Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to methods, systems and computer
program products for controlling the direction of airflow through a
device enclosure that is part of a computer system.
Background of the Related Art
[0003] A data center is a facility where computer equipment and related
infrastructure are consolidated for centralized operation and management.
Computer equipment may be interconnected in a datacenter to produce
large, powerful computer systems that are capable of meeting the
computing requirements of entities that store and process large amounts
of data, such as corporations, web hosting services, and Internet search
engines. A data center may house any number of racks, with each rack
capable of holding numerous modules of computer equipment. The computer
equipment typically includes a large number of rack-mounted servers along
with supporting equipment, such as switches, power supplies, network
communications interfaces, environmental controls, and security devices.
These devices are typically mounted in racks in a compact, high-density
configuration to make efficient use of space while providing physical
access and enabling the circulation of cool air.
[0004] An important aspect of operating a datacenter is the provision of
adequate cooling to each and every device. The large amount of
rack-mounted computer equipment in a datacenter may collectively generate
a large amount of heat. The infrastructure provided in a datacenter
includes a cooling system capable of removing the large quantity of heat
generated by the rack-mounted computer equipment. The cooling system in
many installations will also include a particular arrangement of
equipment racks into alternating hot aisles and cold aisles, and a
computer room air conditioner ("CRAC") capable of supplying chilled air
to the cold aisles. Meanwhile, fans within individual device enclosures
move the chilled air through the racks to remove heat from the computer
equipment and exhaust the heated air into the hot aisles.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0005] One embodiment of the present invention provides a computer program
product comprising non-transitory computer readable storage media having
program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions
executable by a processor to: cause a first transceiver positioned on a
first device enclosure to transmit a first near-field communication
signal to a second transceiver positioned on an adjacent second device
enclosure at a first time, wherein the second transceiver transmits a
second near-field communication signal to the first transceiver in
response to receiving the first near-field communication signal, and
wherein the first transceiver receives the second near-field
communication signal from the second transceiver at a second time;
automatically determine whether a first device enclosure is oriented in a
first orientation with a front of the first device enclosure facing in
the same direction as a front of an adjacent second device enclosure or
in a second orientation with the front of the first device enclosure
facing in the same direction as a back of the adjacent second device
enclosure, wherein the first device enclosure is determined to be
oriented in the first orientation in response to the time delay between
the first time and the second time being less than a predetermined amount
of time, and wherein the first device enclosure is determined to be
oriented in the second orientation in response to the time delay between
the first time and the second time being greater than a predetermined
amount of time; operate a reversible rotary fan of the first device
enclosure in a first rotational direction to move air through the first
device enclosure in a first airflow direction from front to back through
an airflow pathway extending through the first device enclosure in
response to determining that the first device enclosure is in the first
orientation; and operate the reversible rotary fan of the first device
enclosure in a second rotational direction to move air through the first
device enclosure in a second airflow direction from the back to the front
through the airflow pathway in response to determining that the first
device enclosure is in the second orientation.
[0006] Another embodiment of the present invention provides a computer
program product comprising non-transitory computer readable storage media
having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions
executable by a processor to: measure the air temperature at a front and
a back of an airflow pathway through a first device enclosure;
automatically determine whether the first device enclosure is oriented in
a first orientation with a front of the first device enclosure facing in
the same direction as a front of an adjacent second device enclosure or
in a second orientation with the front of the first device enclosure
facing in the same direction as a back of the adjacent second device
enclosure, wherein the first device enclosure is determined to be
oriented in the first orientation in response to the air temperature
measured at the front of the first device enclosure being less than the
air temperature measured at the back of the first device enclosure, and
wherein the first device enclosure is determined to be oriented in the
second orientation in response to the air temperature measured at the
front of the first device enclosure being greater than the air
temperature measured at the back of the first device enclosure; operate a
reversible rotary fan of the first device enclosure in a first rotational
direction to move air through the first device enclosure in a first
airflow direction from front to back through an airflow pathway extending
through the first device enclosure in response to determining that the
first device enclosure is in the first orientation; and operate the
reversible rotary fan of the first device enclosure in a second
rotational direction to move air through the first device enclosure in a
second airflow direction from the back to the front through the airflow
pathway in response to determining that the first device enclosure is in
the second orientation.
[0007] Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides a computer
program product comprising non-transitory computer readable storage media
having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions
executable by a processor to: run a reversible rotary fan of the first
device enclosure in a first rotational direction to move air through the
first device enclosure in a first airflow direction during a first test
period and measure one or more temperatures within the first device
enclosure during the first test period; run the reversible rotary fan in
a second rotational direction to move air through the first device
enclosure in a second airflow direction during a second test period and
measure one or more temperatures within the first device enclosure during
the second test period; automatically determine whether a first device
enclosure is oriented in a first orientation with a front of the first
device enclosure facing in the same direction as a front of an adjacent
second device enclosure or in a second orientation with the front of the
first device enclosure facing in the same direction as a back of the
adjacent second device enclosure, wherein the first device enclosure is
determined to be oriented in the first orientation in response to the one
or more temperatures measured during the first test period being less
than the one or more temperatures measured during the second test period,
and wherein the first device enclosure is determined to be oriented in
the second orientation in response to the one or more temperatures
measured during the first test period being greater than the one or more
temperatures measured during the second test period; operate the
reversible rotary fan of the first device enclosure in the first
rotational direction to move air through the first device enclosure in
the first airflow direction from front to back through an airflow pathway
extending through the first device enclosure in response to determining
that the first device enclosure is in the first orientation; and operate
the reversible rotary fan of the first device enclosure in the second
rotational direction to move air through the first device enclosure in
the second airflow direction from the back to the front through the
airflow pathway in response to determining that the first device
enclosure is in the second orientation.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a side elevation diagram of a rack securing first and
second adjacent device enclosures.
[0009] FIGS. 2A-2D are side elevation diagrams of first and second
adjacent device enclosures.
[0010] FIGS. 3A-3D are plan view diagrams of first and second adjacent
device enclosures.
[0011] FIGS. 4A-4B are diagrams of a first device enclosure having
temperature sensors near the front and rear of the first device
enclosure.
[0012] FIGS. 5A-5B are diagrams of a first device enclosure having a
temperature sensors within the airflow pathway of the first device
enclosure.
[0013] FIG. 6 is a system diagram including a management module in
communication with first and second device enclosures.
[0014] FIG. 7 is a diagram of a fan controller and a reversible rotary
fan.
[0015] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a method for controlling the airflow
direction through a device enclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] One embodiment of the present invention provides a method for
controlling the airflow direction through a device enclosure. A first
device enclosure is positioned adjacent a second device enclosure,
wherein both of the first and second device enclosures have a front, a
back, an airflow pathway extending through the device enclosure from the
front to the back, and a fan for moving air through the airflow pathway,
wherein the fan of the first device enclosure is a reversible rotary fan.
The method includes automatically determining whether a first device
enclosure is oriented in a first orientation with the front of the first
device enclosure facing in the same direction as the front of the
adjacent second device enclosure or in a second orientation with the
front of the first device enclosure facing in the same direction as the
back of the adjacent second device enclosure. The reversible rotary fan
of the first device enclosure is operated in a first rotational direction
to move air through the first device enclosure in a first airflow
direction from front to back through the airflow pathway in response to
determining that the first device enclosure is in the first orientation.
Conversely, the reversible rotary fan of the first device enclosure is
operated in a second rotational direction to move air through the first
device enclosure in a second airflow direction from the back to the front
through the airflow pathway in response to determining that the first
device enclosure is in the second orientation.
[0017] Each of the device enclosures contains one or more heat generating
component or system that is cooled by airflow through the device
enclosure. For example, each device enclosure may contain a server or a
network switch.
[0018] A further embodiment of the invention makes use of near-field
communication signals to automatically determine whether the first device
enclosure is oriented in the first orientation or in the second
orientation. For example, the method may include transmitting a first
near-field communication signal from a first transceiver positioned on
the first device enclosure at a first time; receiving the first
near-field communication signal at a second transceiver positioned on the
adjacent second device enclosure and transmitting a second near-field
communication signal from the second transceiver, and receiving the
second near-field communication signal at the first transceiver at a
second time. The amount of time delay between the first time and second
time is a function of the distance between the first and second
transceivers. The first and second transceivers should be positioned on
their respective device enclosures so that the distance between the first
and second transceivers if a function of the orientation of the first
device enclosure relative to the second device enclosure. Preferably, the
first transceiver is positioned at the front of the first device
enclosure and the second transceiver is positioned at the front of the
second device enclosure, or the first transceiver is positioned at the
back of the first device enclosure and the second transceiver is
positioned at the back of the second device enclosure. Accordingly, the
first device enclosure may be determined to be oriented in the first
orientation in response to the time delay between the first time and the
second time being less than a predetermined amount of time (i.e., the
first and second transceivers are positioned at the same end), and
determined to be oriented in the second orientation in response to the
time delay between the first time and the second time being greater than
a predetermined amount of time (i.e., the first and second transceivers
are position at opposite ends). The predetermined amount of time should
be selected, such as by empirical determination, to be greater than the
time delay when the first device enclosure is in the first orientation
and less than the time delay when the first device enclosure is in the
second orientation.
[0019] In one option, each near-field communication signal may include a
characteristic or content that identifies the device enclosure position
of a near-field communication transceiver that generated the near-field
communication signal. For example, if a particular near-field
communication transceiver is secured to the right-front corner of a
device enclosure, that transceiver would transmit a near-field
communication signal including a characteristic that identifies the fact
that the transceiver is positioned in the right-front corner.
Non-limiting examples of the characteristic include digital
identification codes or a signal frequency.
[0020] In a further option, each near-field communication signal may
include a characteristic or content that identifies a rack position of
the device enclosure that includes the near-field communication
transceiver that generated the near-field communication signal. For
example, a service processor installed in each device enclosure may
provide the rack position of the device enclosure to the NFC transceiver
for modification of or inclusion in the near-field communication signal
that is transmitted. Where an adjacent device enclosure has a transceiver
that transmits a near-field communication signal that identifies the rack
position of that device enclosure, it is possible for the first device
enclosure identify its rack position relative to the rack position of the
adjacent device enclosure.
[0021] In yet another embodiment, the first device enclosure includes one
or more near-field communication transceiver along a top of the first
device enclosure for transmitting and receiving near-field communication
signals with a near-field transceiver on a device enclosure adjacent the
top of the first device enclosure, and the first device enclosure
includes one or more near-field communication transceiver along a bottom
of the first device enclosure for transmitting and receiving near-field
communication signals with a near-field transceiver on a device enclosure
adjacent the bottom of the first device enclosure.
[0022] While embodiments of the invention are operable with a single
near-field communication transceiver, other embodiments may include
multiple near-field communication transceivers. For example, a device
enclosure may have transceivers located in four corners of the device
enclosure, or perhaps transceivers located in four top corners and four
bottom corners of the device enclosure. Similarly, a device enclosure
might have near-field communication transceivers located in the front,
rear, left side and right side of the device enclosure. Other
configurations of the transceivers may be used as well, so long as it is
possible to distinguish between the first orientation and the second
orientation.
[0023] In a further embodiment of the invention, a management entity
obtains a system identification and the time delay from the first device
enclosure, wherein the management entity is responsible for determining
whether the first device enclosure is oriented in the first orientation
or the second orientation. The system identification might include a
system type (such as server or network switch) or a unique system
identifier (such as a serial number). Still further, the management
entity may provide a fan direction instruction to a fan controller in the
first device enclosure for controlling the rotational direction of the
reversible rotary fan. In a non-limiting alternative embodiment, a
controller within the first device enclosure determines whether the first
device enclosure is oriented in the first orientation or the second
orientation, and controls the rotational direction of the reversible
rotary fan. Such a controller may be a service processor, such as a
baseboard management controller (BMC).
[0024] Still further embodiments use temperature measurements as the basis
for automatically determining whether the first device enclosure is
oriented in the first orientation or the second orientation. In one
example, this determination includes measuring the air temperature at the
front and back of the airflow pathway through the first device enclosure,
determining that the first device enclosure is oriented in the first
orientation in response to the air temperature at the front of the first
device enclosure being less than the air temperature at the back of the
first device enclosure, and determining that the first device enclosure
is oriented in the second orientation in response to the air temperature
at the front of the first device enclosure being greater than the air
temperature at the back of the first device enclosure. One benefit of
this method of determining orientation, is that the first device
enclosure does not require any cooperation or interaction with any other
device enclosure. The temperature difference at the front and back of the
first device enclosure arises due to one end facing a cold aisle and the
other end facing a hot aisle. It is the assumed that it is always
desirable to draw air from the cold aisle. In fact, a method may
optionally operate the reversible rotary fan of the first device
enclosure to maintain airflow through the first device enclosure from a
cold aisle to a hot aisle flow regardless of whether the first device
enclosure is in the first orientation or the second orientation.
[0025] Another embodiment that uses temperature measurements, includes
running the reversible rotary fan in a first rotational direction to move
air through the first device enclosure in a first airflow direction
during a first test period and measuring one or more temperatures within
the first device enclosure during the first test period, and then running
the reversible rotary fan in a second rotational direction to move air
through the first device enclosure in a second airflow direction during a
second test period and measuring one or more temperatures within the
first device enclosure during the second test period. Since there is a
cold aisle on one side of a rack securing the first device enclosure and
a hot aisle on the other side of the rack, drawing airflow through the
first device enclosure from the cold aisle will result in a cooler
internal temperature, all things being equal, than drawing airflow from
the hot aisle. Accordingly, the method further includes determining that
the first device enclosure is oriented in the first orientation in
response to the one or more temperatures measured during the first test
period being less than the one or more temperatures measured during the
second test period, and determining that the first device enclosure is
oriented in the second orientation in response to the one or more
temperatures measured during the first test period being greater than the
one or more temperatures measured during the second test period.
[0026] Another embodiment of the present invention provides a computer
program product including computer readable program code embodied on a
non-transitory computer readable storage medium. The computer program
product includes: computer readable program code for automatically
determining whether a first device enclosure is oriented in a first
orientation with a front of the first device enclosure facing in the same
direction as a front of an adjacent second device enclosure or in a
second orientation with the front of the first device enclosure facing in
the same direction as a back of the adjacent second device enclosure,
wherein both of the first and second device enclosures have an airflow
pathway extending through the device enclosure from the front to the back
and a fan for moving air through the airflow pathway, wherein the fan of
the first device enclosure is a reversible rotary fan; computer readable
program code for operating the reversible rotary fan of the first device
enclosure in a first rotational direction to move air through the first
device enclosure in a first airflow direction from front to back through
the airflow pathway in response to determining that the first device
enclosure is in the first orientation; and computer readable program code
for operating the reversible rotary fan of the first device enclosure in
a second rotational direction to move air through the first device
enclosure in a second airflow direction from the back to the front
through the airflow pathway in response to determining that the first
device enclosure is in the second orientation.
[0027] The foregoing computer program products may further include
computer readable program code for implementing or initiating any one or
more aspects of the methods described herein. Accordingly, a separate
description of the methods will not be duplicated in the context of a
computer program product.
[0028] FIG. 1 is a side elevation diagram of a rack 10 securing a first
device enclosure 20 and an adjacent second device enclosure 30. The rack
includes a large number of rack positions or bays 12 that are designed to
receive, support and facilitate operation of a device enclosure. Each
device enclosure 20, 30 includes a device that produces waste heat, such
as a server or a network switch. The devices within each device enclosure
20, 30 are cooled by passing air through the device enclosures from a
cold aisle 14, through an airflow pathway in the device enclosure, and
out of the device enclosure to a hot aisle 16. The direction and speed of
airflow through each device enclosure 20, 30 is controlled by a fan. The
first device enclosure 20 is shown to have a fan 22, and the second
device enclosure 30 is shown to have a fan 32. As shown in FIG. 1, the
fan 32 of the second device enclosure 30 is drawing air through the
enclosure from the cold aisle to the hot aisle (see wavy arrow indicating
airflow direction) as desired, but the fan 22 of the device enclosure 20
is drawing air through the enclosure from the hot aisle to the cold
aisle, which is typically undesired. This situation may have arisen from
the first device enclosure being installed backwards from what was
intended or from installing the wrong unit, model, or version of device
as the first device enclosure. In either situation, the methods of the
present invention may be used to automatically reverse the direction of
the fan 22 so that the airflow through the first device enclosure 20 will
reverse direction and drawing air from the cold aisle instead of the hot
aisle.
[0029] FIGS. 2A-2D are side elevation diagrams of first (top) and second
(bottom) adjacent device enclosures 20, 30, each having a fan 22, 32,
respectively, that is installed near a rear end 28, 38 of the respective
enclosure. Furthermore, each device enclosure 20, 30 has a single
transceiver 24, 34, respectively, such as a near-field communication
signal transceiver, that is installed near a front end 26, 36 of the
respective enclosure.
[0030] In FIG. 2A, the first device enclosure 20 is oriented in an
orientation that is the reverse of the second device enclosure 30.
Specifically, the first device enclosure 20 has a front end 26 facing the
hot aisle 16 and the second device enclosure 30 has a front end 36 facing
the cold aisle 14. Note the distance between the two transceivers 24, 34.
[0031] In FIG. 2B, the first device enclosure 20 is still oriented in an
orientation that is the reverse of the second device enclosure 30.
Specifically, the first device enclosure 20 has a front end 26 facing the
hot aisle 16 and the second device enclosure 30 has a front end 36 facing
the cold aisle 14. However, relative to the position shown in FIG. 2A,
the first device enclosure 20 has been moved to an extreme leftward
position. Thus, in FIG. 2B, the distance between the two transceivers 24,
34 is less than in FIG. 2A.
[0032] In FIG. 2C, the first device enclosure 20 is oriented in an
orientation that is the same as the second device enclosure 30.
Specifically, the first device enclosure 20 has a front end 26 facing the
cold aisle 14 and the second device enclosure 30 also has a front end 36
facing the cold aisle 14. Note the distance between the two transceivers
24, 34.
[0033] In FIG. 2D, the first device enclosure 20 is still oriented in an
orientation that is the same as the second device enclosure 30.
Specifically, the first device enclosure 20 has a front end 26 facing the
cold aisle 14 and the second device enclosure 30 also has a front end 36
facing the cold aisle 14. However, relative to the position shown in FIG.
2C, the first device enclosure 20 has been moved to an extreme leftward
position. Thus, in FIG. 2D, the distance between the two transceivers 24,
34 is less than in FIG. 2C.
[0034] If the length of the server 30 is said to be a nominalized length
of 1.0, then the distance between the two transceivers 24, 34 is perhaps
0.95 in FIG. 2A, 0.6 in FIG. 2B, 0.4 in FIG. 2C, and 0.05 in FIG. 2D.
Since the time delay in a signal transmitted from a first transceiver to
the second transceiver and back to the first transceiver is a function of
the distance between the two transceivers 24, 34, the nominalized time
delay may be considered to be 0.95 in FIG. 2A, 0.6 in FIG. 2B, 0.4 in
FIG. 2C, and 0.05 in FIG. 2D. Accordingly, given the lengths of the two
device enclosures 20, 30, and the positioning of the two transceivers 24,
34 in or on the device enclosures, it can be concluded that a time delay
that is greater than a setpoint, such as 0.5, indicates that the first
device enclosure 20 is oriented in a first orientation (front-to-back;
per FIGS. 2A, 2B) relative to the second device enclosure 30. Similarly,
a time delay that is less than a sepoint, such as 0.5, indicates that the
first device enclosure 20 is oriented in a second orientation
(front-to-front; per FIGS. 2C, 2D) relative to the second device
enclosure 30.
[0035] FIGS. 3A-3D are plan view diagrams of first and second adjacent
device enclosures 20, 30. In the context of a rack system as shown in
FIG. 1, the devices are "vertically" adjacent such that the plan views of
FIGS. 3A-3B show the first device enclosure 20 on top of the second
device enclosure 30. It should be recognized that the methods described
herein are equally applicable to device enclosures of various sizes,
including device enclosures of the same exact size.
[0036] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3A-3B, each device enclosure
includes four transceivers positioned one transceiver in each corner. For
each device enclosure, the right-front transceiver is labeled RF, the
right-rear transceiver is labeled RR, the left-front transceiver is
labeled LF, and the left-rear transceiver is labeled LR. A subscript is
used to distinguish between the two device enclosures, with a "1" used to
refer to the first device enclosure 20, and a "2" used to refer to the
second device enclosure 30. Each transceiver of the first device
enclosure 20 transmits a near-field communication (NFC) signal that is
received by a correspondingly positioned transceiver of the second device
enclosure 30. The correspondingly positioned transceiver then responds by
transmitting an NFC signal back to the transceiver of the first device
enclosure 20. The response time or time delay between the transmitting
the first NFC signal and receiving the second NFC signal is used as a
measure of relative distance between the two transceivers. Although there
are other transceivers on each device enclosure 20, 30, the NFC signal
transmitted by each transceiver may include a characteristic or content
that identifies the position of the transceiver on a device enclosure.
Accordingly, a transceiver may filter out or ignore NFC signals that are
not from a correspondingly positioned transceiver.
[0037] In FIG. 3A, dashed arrows are used to illustrate NFC signals that
are transmitted by the various transceivers of the first and second
device enclosures 20, 30. For example, the right-rear transceiver on the
first device enclosure 20 (i.e., RR.sub.1) transmits an NFC signal that
is received by the right-rear transceiver on the second device enclosure
30 (i.e., RR.sub.2), and then receives a response NFC signal from
RR.sub.2. Using the notation described above and shown in FIG. 3A,
similar communications may occur between RF.sub.1 and RF.sub.2, LF.sub.1
and LF.sub.2, and LR.sub.1 and LR.sub.2. Any one or all of the four time
delays may then be used to determine the orientation of the first device
enclosure 20 relative to the second device enclosure 30.
[0038] In FIGS. 3A and 3B, the first device enclosure 20 is in the same
(first) orientation (front-to-front) relative to the second device
enclosure 30, yet the first device enclosure is closer to the front of
the second device enclosure 30 in FIG. 3A and closer to the rear of the
second device enclosure 30 in FIG. 3B.
[0039] In FIGS. 3C and 3D, the first device enclosure 20 is in the reverse
(second) orientation (front-to-back) relative to the second device
enclosure 30, yet the first device enclosure is closer to the front of
the second device enclosure 30 in FIG. 3C and closer to the rear of the
second device enclosure 30 in FIG. 3D.
[0040] FIGS. 3A-3D illustrate that the NFC signal distances and associated
time delays are significantly greater when the first device enclosure 20
is in the reverse (second) orientation (front-to-back) relative to the
second device enclosure 30 as shown in FIGS. 3C-3D than when the first
device enclosure 20 is in the same (first) orientation (front-to-front)
relative to the second device enclosure 30 as shown in FIGS. 3A-3B.
Accordingly, the time delay measures may be used to determine the
orientation of the first device enclosure 20 relative to the second
device enclosure 30. A setpoint time delay may be used to distinguish
between the time delays associated with a first orientation from the time
delays associated with a second orientation.
[0041] FIGS. 4A-4B are diagrams of a first device enclosure having
temperature sensors near the front and rear of the first device enclosure
20. Measurements of temperature may be used as the basis for
automatically determining whether the first device enclosure is oriented
in the first orientation or the second orientation. In the embodiment
shown, the air temperature is measured by a first temperature sensor
(T.sub.1) at the back of the airflow pathway through the first device
enclosure and a second temperature sensor (T.sub.2) at the front of the
airflow pathway through the first device enclosure. These two
measurements should be taken with the fan 22 turned off, such that the
temperature measurements provide an indication of the ambient air
temperature at each end of the first device enclosure 20. If the air
temperature (T.sub.2) at the front of the first device enclosure is less
than the air temperature (T.sub.1) at the back of the first device
enclosure, then the orientation logic determines that the first device
enclosure is oriented in the first orientation (front-to-front).
Conversely, if the air temperature (T.sub.2) at the front of the first
device enclosure is greater than the air temperature (T.sub.1) at the
back of the first device enclosure, then the orientation logic determines
that the first device enclosure is oriented in the second orientation
(front to back). One benefit of this method of determining orientation,
is that the first device enclosure does not require any cooperation or
interaction with any other device enclosure. The arrow in FIGS. 4A-4B
shows the desirable direction of airflow to be induced by the reversible
fan 22.
[0042] FIGS. 5A-5B are diagrams of a first device enclosure 20 having a
temperature sensor within the airflow pathway of the first device
enclosure. In FIG. 5A, the fan 22 is run in a first rotational direction
to move air through the first device enclosure in a first airflow
direction (see arrows) during a first test period while measuring a
temperature (T.sub.test1) within the first device enclosure. In FIG. 5B,
the fan 22 is subsequently run in a second rotational direction to move
air through the first device enclosure in a second airflow direction
during a second test period while measuring the temperature (T.sub.test2)
within the first device enclosure. If T.sub.test1<T.sub.test2, then
the first device enclosure is oriented in the first orientation
(front-to-front), and the fan direction used in the first test period
(i.e., the first rotational direction) is selected for operation.
Conversely, if T.sub.test1>T.sub.test2, then the first device
enclosure is oriented in the second orientation (front-to-back), and the
fan direction used in the second test period (i.e., the second rotational
direction) is selected for operation.
[0043] FIG. 6 is a diagram of a system 40 including a management module 50
in communication with a first device enclosure 20 and a second device
enclosure 30. The first and second device enclosures 20, 30 each include
a service processor 60, 70. In accordance with the embodiment of FIGS.
3A-3D, the service processors may be in communication with one or more
NFC transceivers 62, 72. In accordance with the embodiment of FIGS. 4A-4B
or the embodiment of FIGS. 5A-5B, the service processors may be in
communication with one or more temperature sensors 64, 74.
[0044] The service processors receive input from either the NFC
transceivers 62, 72 or the temperature sensors 64, 74 and process that
input using the orientation logic 66, 76 to determine the orientation of
the device enclosure and output a fan direction instruction to the fan
controller 68, 78, respectively. The fan controller 68, 78 then controls
the operation of the fan 22, 32 in the selected fan direction.
[0045] While the two device enclosures 20, 30 have been shown and
described as having identical configurations, this is not required. In
fact, it is desirable for evaluation the orientation of one device
enclosure at a time so that the two adjacent device enclosure are not
both constantly trying to reverse their fan directions. Optionally, the
orientation logic may be executed during the power on self test (POST) of
the devices within their respective device enclosure, or the management
module 50 may control when the orientation logic in each particular
device enclosure may be executed.
[0046] In one alternative, the orientation logic may be executed by the
management module 50 rather than the individual service processors 60,
70. The service processors may then pass along the input from the local
NFC transceivers 62, 72 or the local temperature sensors 64, 74 to the
management module. When the management module 50 has determined the
orientation of each device enclosure, then a fan direction instruction is
sent back to the service processors to share with the fan controller.
Furthermore, the management module 50 may collect rack position
information from each device enclosure and/or inform a device enclosure
of its rack position based upon the device enclosure's relative position
to an adjacent device enclosure having a known absolute rack position.
[0047] FIG. 7 is a diagram of a fan controller 68 and a reversible rotary
fan 22. A "reverse in control" or a "forward in control" signal from a
service processor instructs the fan controller which direction to run the
fan. The fan controller is also responsible for the normal control of the
fan speed. The fan controller may include a lock-out mechanism in the
circuit to prevent both the forward and reverse controls from being
active at the same time.
[0048] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a method 80 for controlling the airflow
direction through a device enclosure. In step 82, a first device
enclosure is positioned adjacent a second device enclosure, wherein both
of the first and second device enclosures have a front, a back, an
airflow pathway extending through the device enclosure from the front to
the back, and a fan for moving air through the airflow pathway, and
wherein the fan of the first device enclosure is a reversible rotary fan.
In step 84, it is automatically determined whether a first device
enclosure is oriented in a first orientation with the front of the first
device enclosure facing in the same direction as the front of the
adjacent second device enclosure or in a second orientation with the
front of the first device enclosure facing in the same direction as the
back of the adjacent second device enclosure. If step 84 determined that
the first device enclosure is in the first orientation, then step 88
causes the reversible rotary fan of the first device enclosure to operate
in a first rotational direction to move air through the first device
enclosure in a first airflow direction from front to back through the
airflow pathway. If step 84 determined that the first device enclosure is
in the second orientation, then step 90 causes the reversible rotary fan
of the first device enclosure to operate in a second rotational direction
to move air through the first device enclosure in a second airflow
direction from the back to the front through the airflow pathway.
[0049] As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the
present invention may be embodied as a system, method or computer program
product. Accordingly, aspects of the present invention may take the form
of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment
(including firmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an
embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that may all generally
be referred to herein as a "circuit," "module" or "system." Furthermore,
aspects of the present invention may take the form of a computer program
product embodied in one or more computer readable medium(s) having
computer readable program code embodied thereon.
[0050] Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may be
utilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signal
medium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readable storage
medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic,
optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus,
or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. More specific
examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readable storage medium
would include the following: an electrical connection having one or more
wires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory
(RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only
memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc
read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magnetic storage
device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. In the context of
this document, a computer readable storage medium may be any tangible
medium that can contain, or store a program for use by or in connection
with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.
[0051] A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data
signal with computer readable program code embodied therein, for example,
in baseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may
take any of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to,
electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof A computer
readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium that is not a
computer readable storage medium and that can communicate, propagate, or
transport a program for use by or in connection with an instruction
execution system, apparatus, or device.
[0052] Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be
transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited to
wireless, wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable
combination of the foregoing. Computer program code for carrying out
operations for aspects of the present invention may be written in any
combination of one or more programming languages, including an object
oriented programming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like
and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the "C"
programming language or similar programming languages. The program code
may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's
computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's
computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote
computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be
connected to the user's computer through any type of network, including a
local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection
may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet
using an Internet Service Provider).
[0053] Aspects of the present invention may be described with reference to
flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus
(systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of the
invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart
illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the
flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by
computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be
provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose
computer, and/or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce
a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of
the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create
means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart
and/or block diagram block or blocks.
[0054] These computer program instructions may also be stored in a
computer readable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable
data processing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particular
manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readable medium
produce an article of manufacture including instructions which implement
the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or
blocks.
[0055] The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a
computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices
to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,
other programmable apparatus or other devices to produce a computer
implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the
computer or other programmable apparatus provide processes for
implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block
diagram block or blocks.
[0056] The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the
architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of
systems, methods and computer program products according to various
embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the
flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion
of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions for
implementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be noted
that, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the
block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two
blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially
concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse
order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted
that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and
combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart
illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based
systems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations of
special purpose hardware and computer instructions.
[0057] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing
particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the
invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are
intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly
indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms
"comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify
the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,
components and/or groups, but do not preclude the presence or addition of
one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,
components, and/or groups thereof. The terms "preferably," "preferred,"
"prefer," "optionally," "may," and similar terms are used to indicate
that an item, condition or step being referred to is an optional (not
required) feature of the invention.
[0058] The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of
all means or steps plus function elements in the claims below are
intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the
function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically
claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for
purposes of illustration and description, but it is not intended to be
exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many
modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill
in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.
The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the
principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable
others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for
various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the
particular use contemplated.