Abstract: The invention is directed to a system and related method of allocating power in a rack mounted computer system where the individual servers are powered from a central power supply system. The structure includes a series of serial communication pathways coupling the servers and the individual power supplies in the power supply system. A series of chassis communication modules communicates with servers in its respective chassis, and relays messages to and from a power supply communication module, which is responsible for granting or denying permission for individual servers to allocate power. The disclosed system also envisions intelligent de-allocation of power, for example in the event of a failure of individual components of the central power supply system.

Abstract: The disclosed embodiments relate to the field of remote server management. More particularly, the disclosed embodiments relate to providing secure communications in the context of remote server management. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a client computer uses an established encrypted communication channel to request secret data from a managed server. The managed server provides the requested secret data, which is used by both the managed server and the client computer to encrypt communications across a second communications link.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a system and related method of allocating power in a rack mounted computer system where the individual servers are powered from a central power supply system. The structure includes a series of serial communication pathways coupling the servers and the individual power supplies in the power supply system. A series of chassis communication modules communicates with servers in its respective chassis, and relays messages to and from a power supply communication module, which is responsible for granting or denying permission for individual servers to allocate power. The disclosed system also envisions intelligent de-allocation of power, for example in the event of a failure of individual components of the central power supply system.

Abstract: A method for propagating a rack name within a computer server rack. The rack comprises a plurality of server and/or power supply chassis, each with its own chassis controller. The name of the rack is stored in memory in each chassis controller. Rack names are propagated by requesting a rack name or receiving a command to set the rack name at each controller. The rack name is assigned to the rack via manual input through an external port in any of the servers. If a controller receives a rack name from this external port, this rack name is used. If the name comes from another controller and there is no existing name, the new name is accepted. If the new name differs from an existing rack name, the controller issues a naming conflict message and raises a conflict flag.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a system and related method for determining a primary or master communication module in a system where multiple communication modules are present, and where each of the multiple communication modules are capable of operating in the primary or master capacity. Upon power-up, each communication module requests a response from a primary communication module. If no response is received within a predetermined time, the communication module self-promotes to master status, and broadcasts a message of that master status. If a response from a master is received, then the communication module remains in secondary or slave state. If multiple communication modules power on simultaneously, the first to win arbitration on the communication bus that couples them effectively wins the arbitration since that module starts its timer first.

Abstract: Improved techniques for monitoring behavioral data of components of a computer system are disclosed. The monitoring begins to monitor a component once a monitoring program recognizes the presence of the component within the computer system. Then, the monitoring program tracks behavioral data generated by the component. A user interacting with the monitoring program is thus able to monitor the operation of the component by analyzing the various behavioral data it receives from the component. In one embodiment, the component is a hardware resource and its driver sends events to the monitoring program, and the driver receives commands from the monitoring program.