Abstract: Cooling based on hardware activity patterns, including: identifying a hardware activity pattern associated with a system; determining, based on the hardware activity pattern, one or more cooling actions; and applying the one or more cooling actions to the system.

Abstract: A computer program product and an apparatus are provided. The computer program product includes a computer readable medium and program instructions embodied therein, wherein the program instructions are executable by a processor to cause the processor to perform various operations. The operations include obtaining, for each phase in a voltage regulator having multiple phases, values of at least one operating parameter over a period of time. The operations further include determining, for each phase in the multi-phase voltage regulator, a wear score as a function of the obtained values of at least one operating parameter. Still further, the operations include selecting a default phase, from among the multiple phases, that has a wear score indicating that the phase has less cumulative wear than any of the other phases, and instructing the voltage regulator to turn on the selected phase as a default phase when only one phase is turned on.

Abstract: Reconfigurable processors and methods for collecting computer program instruction execution statistics are disclosed. According to an aspect, a method includes providing a reconfigurable processor configured to execute a set of central processing unit (CPU) instructions that each have a function. The method also includes modifying the function of one or more of the CPU instructions that identifies an instruction address and a destination address pair of the CPU instruction(s) based on a defined test case. Further, the method includes using the reconfigurable processor to execute the set of CPU instructions. The method also includes identifying an instruction address and destination address pair of the CPU instruction(s) having the modified function when the CPU instruction(s) having the modified function is executed during execution of the set of CPU instructions.

Abstract: A computer readable storage medium embodies program instructions executable by a processor to perform a method including identifying a product warranty for each of a plurality of flash memory devices within a system, wherein the product warranty includes a maximum number of writes and a maximum age, and tracking the number of writes and the age of each flash memory device. The method further includes determining, for each flash memory device, a number of pro rata writes remaining in the product warranty, which is determined as a number of writes remaining until the flash memory device reaches the maximum number of writes divided by an amount of time remaining until the flash memory reaches the maximum age. The method then causes data to be written to the flash memory device having the greatest number of pro rata writes remaining in the product warranty.

Abstract: Out-of-band management of data drives including receiving, from a user, a control command targeting a data drive communicatively coupled to a backplane, wherein the data drive is communicatively coupled to the computing device via an interconnect bus; generating, based on the control command, an out-of-band command targeting a baseboard management controller (BMC) communicatively coupled to the backplane, wherein the out-of-band command comprises a data drive location identifier; sending the out-of-band command to the BMC, wherein the BMC, in response, identifies the data drive on the backplane using the data drive location identifier and a cable topology table, and performs the out-of-band command on the data drive; and receiving, from the BMC, a first notification that the out-of-band command has been performed on the data drive identified by the data drive location identifier.

Abstract: Detecting electrostatic discharge (“ESD”) events in a computer system, includes: determining, from an ESD detector installed in the computer system, that an ESD event has occurred; identifying a component of the computer system within a predefined proximity to the ESD detector as possibly affected by the ESD event; and notifying a user of the computer system of the component possibly affected by the ESD event.

Abstract: A method of determining power fault information using a voltage regulator-down (VRD) device having a fault-pin output. The method may include receiving a fault indication from one of a plurality of fault detection devices, correlating the received fault indication with a timing signal having a predetermined time duration, applying a voltage change on the fault-pin output of the VRD device for the predetermined time duration corresponding to the timing signal, and applying the voltage change on the fault-pin output to a plurality of fuses. Based on the predetermined time duration associated with the applied voltage change, the plurality of fuses may be blown according to a binary pattern indicative of a fault type associated with the fault indication.

Abstract: A computer program product and an apparatus are provided. The computer program product includes a computer readable medium and program instructions embodied therein, wherein the program instructions are executable by a processor to cause the processor to perform various operations. The operations include obtaining, for each phase in a voltage regulator having multiple phases, values of at least one operating parameter over a period of time. The operations further include determining, for each phase in the multi-phase voltage regulator, a wear score as a function of the obtained values of at least one operating parameter. Still further, the operations include selecting a default phase, from among the multiple phases, that has a wear score indicating that the phase has less cumulative wear than any of the other phases, and instructing the voltage regulator to turn on the selected phase as a default phase when only one phase is turned on.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining, for each phase in a voltage regulator having multiple phases, values of at least one operating parameter over a period of time. The method further includes determining, for each phase in the multi-phase voltage regulator, a wear score as a function of the obtained values of at least one operating parameter. Still further, the method includes selecting a default phase, from among the multiple phases, that has a wear score indicating that the phase has less cumulative wear than any of the other phases, and instructing the voltage regulator to turn on the selected phase as a default phase when only one phase is turned on.

Abstract: A method, computer system, and/or computer program product controls access to a wireless local area network (WLAN) access point in a retail establishment. A predetermined retail activity threshold is established for a retail establishment, where the retail establishment has a patron service area with a WLAN access point, and where a determination has been made that exceeding the predetermined retail activity threshold without increasing patron traffic out of the retail establishment will cause an excessive wait time for occupying the patron service area. In response to determining that the predetermined retail activity threshold is being exceeded, a secondary criterion is examined in order to determine if the mobile device should be disconnected from the WLAN access point, in order to motivate a user of the mobile device to leave the patron service area. If so, then the mobile device is disconnected from the WLAN access point.

Abstract: Out-of-band management of data drives including receiving, from a user, a control command targeting a data drive communicatively coupled to a backplane, wherein the data drive is communicatively coupled to the computing device via an interconnect bus; generating, based on the control command, an out-of-band command targeting a baseboard management controller (BMC) communicatively coupled to the backplane, wherein the out-of-band command comprises a data drive location identifier; sending the out-of-band command to the BMC, wherein the BMC, in response, identifies the data drive on the backplane using the data drive location identifier and a cable topology table, and performs the out-of-band command on the data drive; and receiving, from the BMC, a first notification that the out-of-band command has been performed on the data drive identified by the data drive location identifier.

Abstract: A method includes sensing, using a current sensing circuit of a voltage regulator, an apparent amount of current output from the voltage regulator and identifying a present value of at least one operating parameter for the voltage regulator. The method further includes determining at least one current sense correction factor as a function of the identified present value of the at least one operating parameter, and calculating a corrected amount of current output from the voltage regulator as a function of the apparent amount of the current output and the at least one current sense correction factor. Still further, the method includes reporting the corrected amount of current to an integrated circuit that receives current output from the voltage regulator. The method may be performed in an apparatus, such as a server, that includes the voltage regulator, a baseboard management controller, and the integrated circuit.

Abstract: A method includes obtaining, for each phase in a voltage regulator having multiple phases, values of at least one operating parameter over a period of time. The method further includes determining, for each phase in the multi-phase voltage regulator, a wear score as a function of the obtained values of at least one operating parameter. Still further, the method includes selecting a default phase, from among the multiple phases, that has a wear score indicating that the phase has less cumulative wear than any of the other phases, and instructing the voltage regulator to turn on the selected phase as a default phase when only one phase is turned on.

Abstract: A power supply and a server are disclosed. The power supply includes a voltage regulator (VR) and a control circuit (CC). The CC monitors the voltage on a power output of the VR, and enables the VR to supply power to the power output in response to the voltage on the power output being less than a threshold voltage level. The CC receives power from a power source even after the VR has been disabled. A server may include the power supply and the CC, as well as a CPU for executing an operating system (OS) and a baseboard management module for receive a virtual reseat request (VRR), request shutdown of the operating system in response to the VRR, enable the CC in response to the VRR, determine whether the OS has shut down, and disable the power supply in response to determining the OS has shut down.

Abstract: A power device powers a hardware component and a fan cools the component. A primary management device monitors a first characteristic, which is the temperature of the component or the power provided by the power device, and determines a desired fan speed of the fan based on the first characteristic. A secondary management device monitors a second characteristic, which is the temperature of the component or the power provided by the power device, and sets the fan speed to the desired fan speed determined by the primary management device. The secondary management device constructs a profile of the fan speed in relation to the second characteristic by periodically recording the fan speed and the second characteristic. In response to the primary management device failing, the secondary management device determines the desired fan speed based on the profile and set the fan speed to the desired fan speed that it determined.

Abstract: Detecting electrostatic discharge (“ESD”) events in a computer system, includes: determining, from an ESD detector installed in the computer system, that an ESD event has occurred; identifying a component of the computer system within a predefined proximity to the ESD detector as possibly affected by the ESD event; and notifying a user of the computer system of the component possibly affected by the ESD event.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention disclose a DIMM extraction tool for extracting a DIMM from a DIMM socket. Exemplary embodiments of the DIMM extraction tool include a frame adapted for use as an air baffle within the DIMM socket, a first arm and a second arm pivotably connected to the frame. When the first arm and second arm are in a resting position, the first and second arm respectively engage a first resting detent and a second resting detent to prevent pivotable rotation of the first arm and second arm in exemplary embodiments of the DIMM extraction tool. When the first arm and second arm are in a working position, the first arm and second arm respectively are adapted to releasably engage the DIMM and bias resilient latching arm of the DIMM socket.

Abstract: A method includes sensing ambient conditions in a datacenter containing a server, and determining whether the ambient conditions exceed threshold conditions representing risk of electrostatic discharge. A lid to the server is locked in a closed position in response to the ambient conditions exceeding the threshold conditions. However, the lid to the server is unlocked in response to a grounding strap being connected to the server. Optionally, the grounding strap may be identified and the server lid will only unlock if the identified grounding strap is associated with authorization to unlock the server lid.

Abstract: A method includes identifying a plurality of power supplies connected for supplying power to a computer system, wherein the plurality of power supplies includes at least one redundant power supply in a standby mode. For each of the plurality of power supplies identified, the method determines a length of a power supply cable connected between the power supply and a power distribution unit for supplying power to the power supply. The method further includes placing one or more of the plurality of power supplies in an active mode in ascending order of the length of the cable connected to the power supply, and supplying power to the computer system using the one or more of the plurality of power supplies in the active mode.

Abstract: Controlling power consumption of a voltage regulator in a computer system that includes computer memory and the voltage regulator is configured to provide regulated source voltage to the computer memory includes: receiving, by a voltage regulator controller, memory margin statistics of the computer memory, the memory margin statistics including data describing operational tolerance of the computer memory to source voltage signal variations; and adjusting, by the voltage regulator controller, one or more operating characteristics of the voltage regulator in dependence upon the memory margin statistics.