International Business Machines Corporation

Lenovo (singapore) Pte. Ltd.

Aaron Eliahu Merkin

Thomas M Brey

Joseph Edward Bolan

David Benson Rhoades

William Bradley Schwartz

Brandon John Ellison

Mark Anthony Rinaldi

Zeynep Dayar

An improved solution for authenticating a user seeking to manage a computer system is provided according to aspects of the invention. A user seeking to perform out-of-band management of the computer system can provide a set of credentials to a service processor, which in turn provides them to the computer system for authentication. Additionally, a user seeking to perform in-band management of the computer system can provide a set of credentials to a management agent executing on the computer system for authentication. In either case, the computer system can authenticate the set of credentials, e.g., using an operating system interface.

Authentication for computer system management

A mechanism for controlling the hardware resources on a blade server, and thereby limiting the power consumption of the blade server is disclosed. The enforceable hardware resources that are controlled include the base frequency of the central processing unit (CPU) as well as power to individual banks of physical memory, for example dual-inline memory modules (DIMMs). The hardware resources are tuned in dependence on actual server utilization such that applications running on the blade only have the allocated hardware resources available to them. Deactivated hardware resources are powered off and are so 'hidden' from the operating system when they are not required. In this manner, power consumption in the entire chassis can be managed such that all server blades can be powered on and operate at higher steady-state utilization. The utilization of the powered on resources in a blade center is also improved.

System for maximizing server utilization in a resource constrained environment

Methods and arrangements for activating Internet Protocol (IP) configurations are discussed. Embodiments include transformations, code, state machines or other logic for activating in an end node an IP configuration suitable for IP communications between the end node and another end node upon the detection of a direct IP connection of the end node to another end node. In some embodiments, the other end node may have a direct IP connect only to the end node. In some embodiments, the suitable IP configuration may involve a static IP address which has been published. In some embodiments, detecting a direct IP connection with another node may be accomplished by detecting a crossed-over Ethernet connection. In some embodiments, an operating system device driver may activate the suitable IP configuration. In other embodiments, an embedded system may activate the suitable IP configuration.

Methods and arrangements for activating IP configurations

A method of managing resources in a data processing configuration includes allocating system resources to an application to ensure a specified level of performance for the application. A system parameter is then modified to conserve power consumption upon detecting a condition resulting in a reduction of available system power. The original system resource allocation is then modified to maintain the specified level of performance following the modification of the system parameter. The system resources may include system CPU cycles and allocating system resources may include allocating a specified percentage of the CPU cycles to a high priority application. The reduction of available system power may be caused by an excessive ambient temperature or the failure of a power supply. Modifying the system parameter to conserve power consumption includes throttling the CPU speed and then dynamically increasing the percentage of CPU cycles allocated to the high priority application.

Maintaining server performance in a power constrained environment

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for selectively enabling a power-on password. A password module stores the power-on password for a blade server. A test module determines if a power-on policy is satisfied. An access module grants access to the blade server if the power-on policy is not satisfied. If the power-on policy is satisfied, the access module may deny access to the blade server until the power-on password is received. In one embodiment, the power-on policy is satisfied if the blade server is removed from a first blade enclosure and inserted in a second blade enclosure.

Apparatus, system, and method for selectively enabling a power-on password

A mechanism for changing ownership over the physical power to a blade server in a blade center chassis that prevents a malfunctioning blade from jeopardizing other components in the chassis. When the management module is not present, control over power to the blade is switched to a service processor on the blade. This arbitration of control over power to a blade is accomplished by implementing a watchdog timer mechanism. The management module is responsible for tickling the watchdog timer when the present in the chassis and operating normally. This mechanism provides the management module with control over power. If the management module malfunctions or is removed, control over power is switched to the local service processor on the blade server as soon as the watchdog timer is not tickled.

Method and apparatus for enforcing of power control in a blade center chassis

An arrangement which eliminates the need to remove a computer system from its packaging in order to initiate a re-imaging process. Particularly, there is broadly contemplated herein the use of a position-sensitive switching arrangement, such as a mercury switch, that is configured to power selected control circuitry in a computer so as to receive additional information or data as needed to update imaging or other aspects of a computer's operating system.

Arrangement for initiating a re-imaging process for a computer system

A method and system for providing location information for a mobile Internet calling device are described. The method and system include receiving client information from the mobile Internet calling device coupled with a network at a location and providing the mobile Internet calling device with the location information corresponding to the location. The method and system further include providing the location information to a calling service provider in response to an emergency call made by the mobile Internet calling device when coupled with the network.

Growing community of inventors

Holly Springs, NC, United States of America

Aaron Eliahu Merkin