Abstract: Three-phase electrical power is used to distribute electrical power to electronic devices in a cluster. A power distribution system includes circuit breaker panels and power distribution units for providing electrical power to the electronic devices. The electrical connections within the power distribution system form a digital communication network that communicates identification codes for the purpose of identifying each electrical connection in the power distribution system. A cluster management entity may then collect the identification codes associated with each electrical connection in order to detect the actual configuration of the power distribution system. By further knowing the load of each electronic device and their association with entities of the power distribution system, the cluster management entity may determine the load on each phase and take steps to balance the load.

Abstract: Virtual machines having a high amount of identical memory pages are grouped under a common hypervisor to enable greater memory savings as the result of transparent page sharing. One method comprises analyzing the software image content of a plurality of virtual machines running on a plurality of hypervisors in a common migration domain, identifying two or more of the virtual machines having greater than a threshold amount of common memory pages, placing the two or more virtual machines under a common hypervisor, and sharing the common memory pages among the two or more virtual machines. Optionally, the identifying of two or more of the virtual machines may include identifying two or more of the virtual machines having the same software image content classifications; thereby, identifying images with a greater affinity for common memory pages.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method identifies the path of a first power circuit to a first power supply that is connected to supply power to an electronic device, and identifies the path of a second power circuit to a second power supply that is connected to supply power to the electronic device. The method then compares the path of the first power distribution circuit with the path of the second power distribution circuit to determine a measure of redundancy in the first and second distribution paths. A measure of redundancy may then be output to a user.

Abstract: Three-phase electrical power is used to distribute electrical power to electronic devices in a cluster. A power distribution system includes circuit breaker panels and power distribution units for providing electrical power to the electronic devices. The electrical connections within the power distribution system form a digital communication network that communicates identification codes for the purpose of identifying each electrical connection in the power distribution system. A cluster management entity may then collect the identification codes associated with each electrical connection in order to detect the actual configuration of the power distribution system. By further knowing the load of each electronic device and their association with entities of the power distribution system, the cluster management entity may determine the load on each phase and take steps to balance the load.

Abstract: A method provides digital communication over an electrical power supply cable between a management processor in a circuit breaker panel (CBP) and a management processor in a power distribution unit (PDU), wherein the CBP has a CBP identification code (ID) and the PDU has a PDU ID. The digital communication provides the CBP management processor with the PDU ID for the PDU that is connected through the electrical power supply cable to the CBP, or the digital communication provides the PDU management processor with the CBP ID for the CBP that is connected through the electrical power supply cable to the PDU. The method further comprises identifying the electrical power supply cable connection by communicating first and second endpoints of the electrical power cable connection to a cluster management entity, wherein the first endpoint is identified by the CBP ID and the second endpoint is identified by the PDU ID.

Abstract: A method of printing on a sheet of paper comprises drawing a first sheet of paper from a first paper source into a printer having an optical scanner and a print head, scanning a first face of the first sheet to determine the presence or absence of print thereon. In response to detecting print on the first face, the print head is caused to print an obstruction on the first face. In response to detecting no print on the first face, the print head is caused to print new matter on the first face. The method enables a printer to accept used paper while eliminating confusion over which face contains the new matter.

Abstract: A verified cluster configuration is collected and stored by a central management entity. Servers within the cluster are connected to network cables, where each of the servers has at least one network port and memory storing a port identification code for each network port, and where each network cable has memory storing a cable identification code. For each verified connection between a network cable and a network port, the port identification code is stored in the memory of the network cable and the cable identification code is stored in the memory of the corresponding server. The data identifying each connection is stored by the central management entity and includes the port identification code for a particular network port in association with the network cable identification code for the corresponding network cable. Any miswiring of the configuration is identified by the central management entity and easily corrected by the administrator.

Abstract: A computer program product includes computer usable program code for: identifying a plurality of power distribution units (PDUs) disposed in a rack, wherein each PDU receives power from a main power source and includes a circuit breaker; identifying a plurality of devices disposed in the rack, wherein each device receives power from one of the PDUs, and wherein the plurality of devices are selected from server nodes, network switches and external data storage devices; obtaining vital product data from a service processor in each device, wherein the vital product data identifies the device by a model identification code; and powering on, for each of the PDUs, the plurality of devices that are connected to the PDU in a sequence to prevent an inrush current from tripping the circuit breaker within the PDU, wherein the sequence powers on devices in order of ascending commonality of the model identification code.

Abstract: A method of powering on a plurality of devices includes identifying a plurality of power distribution units (PDUs) disposed in a rack, wherein each PDU receives power from a main power source and includes a circuit breaker. A plurality of devices disposed in the rack are identified, wherein each device receives power from one of the PDUs, and wherein the plurality of devices are server nodes, network switches or external data storage devices. Vital product data (VPD) is obtained from a service processor in each device, wherein the VPD identifies the device by a model identification code. For each PDU, the plurality of devices connected to the PDU are powered on in a sequence to prevent an inrush current from tripping the circuit breaker within the PDU, wherein the sequence powers on devices in order of ascending commonality of the model identification code.

Abstract: A method of powering on a plurality of devices includes identifying a plurality of power distribution units disposed in a rack, wherein each power distribution units is connected to receive power from a main power source, and wherein each power distribution unit includes a circuit breaker. The method further includes identifying a plurality of devices disposed in the rack, wherein each device is connected to receive power from one of the power distribution units, and wherein the plurality of devices are selected from server nodes, network switches and external data storage devices. For each of the power distribution units, the plurality of devices that are connected to the power distribution unit are powered on in a sequence to prevent an inrush current from tripping the circuit breaker within the power distribution unit. The sequence powers on the devices identified as network switches and external data storage devices prior to powering on the devices identified as server nodes.

Abstract: A computer program product includes computer usable program code embodied on a tangible computer usable storage medium for: identifying a plurality of power distribution units (PDUs) disposed in a rack, wherein each PDU receives power from a main power source, and wherein each PDU includes a circuit breaker; identifying a plurality of devices disposed in the rack, wherein each device receives power from one of the PDUs, and wherein the plurality of devices are selected from server nodes, network switches and external data storage devices; and powering on, for each of the PDU, the plurality of devices that are connected to the PDU in a sequence to prevent an inrush current from tripping the circuit breaker within the PDU, wherein the sequence powers on the devices identified as network switches and external data storage devices prior to powering on the devices identified as server nodes.

Abstract: A method of mitigating EMI in an electronic device includes selecting a subset of surface-mount socket connectors on an electronic device to be connected with corresponding working plug connectors and connecting the working plug connectors with the selected subset of socket connectors by inserting the working plug connectors into the selected subset of socket connectors. The method further includes positioning a dummy plug in each of the unselected surface-mount socket connectors, the dummy plug comprising a flexible foam material configured to attenuate electromagnetic radiation by absorption and having a dummy plug profile generally matched to a socket profile of the corresponding socket connector.

Abstract: A method provides digital communication over an electrical power supply cable between a management processor in a circuit breaker panel (CBP) and a management processor in a power distribution unit (PDU), wherein the CBP has a CBP identification code (ID) and the PDU has a PDU ID. The digital communication provides the CBP management processor with the PDU ID for the PDU that is connected through the electrical power supply cable to the CBP, or the digital communication provides the PDU management processor with the CBP ID for the CBP that is connected through the electrical power supply cable to the PDU. The method further comprises identifying the electrical power supply cable connection by communicating first and second endpoints of the electrical power cable connection to a cluster management entity, wherein the first endpoint is identified by the CBP ID and the second endpoint is identified by the PDU ID.

Abstract: An improved solution for limiting the transmission rate of data over a network is provided according to an aspect of the invention. In particular, the transmission rate for a port is limited by rate limiting one of a plurality of queues (e.g., class/quality of service queues) for the port, and directing all data (e.g., packets) for transmission through the port to the single rate limited queue. In this manner, the transmission rate for the port can be effectively limited to accommodate, for example, a lower transmission rate for a port on a destination node.

Abstract: Redundant power delivery including a power cable comprising a first plug including contacts for hot, neutral, and ground and a plurality of power lines, each power line electrically connected independently to the hot, neutral, and ground contacts of the first plug at a first end and each power line having a second plug at a second end providing contacts for hot, neutral, and ground; a selectable redundant power module, the selectable redundant power module comprising a plurality of input connectors, each input connector comprising a hot, neutral, and ground contacts and adapted to engage each second plug of each power line; and a switch to select one or more of the input connectors of the selectable redundant power module for receiving power.

Abstract: A pass-through module in a blade chassis receives an incoming message that utilizes a transmission protocol from one of multiple transmission protocols. The pass-through module determines which of the multiple transmission protocols is used by the incoming message by: comparing a physical component of the transmission protocol used by the incoming message with known physical components of the multiple transmission protocols, and, if necessary, comparing a logical component of the transmission protocol used by the incoming message with known logical components of the multiple transmission protocols. The incoming message is then routed to an optimal blade that is specifically adapted to process messages that utilize the transmission protocol used by the incoming message.

Abstract: A method identifies uptime for each of a plurality of components within a cluster of nodes, and determines a reliability level for each of the plurality of components, where the reliability level of each component is determined by comparing the identified uptime for the component with mean-time-between-failure data for components of the same component type. The method also determines a priority level and a job type for a job to be scheduled. Then, at least one target component type is selected in consideration of the job type, and a target reliability level for the at least one target component type is selected in consideration of the priority level. The job is then scheduled on one of the nodes that includes a component of the at least one target component type having the target reliability level.

Abstract: A computer storage rack has vertically arranged bays for receiving electrical power-consuming components, an elongate electrical power distribution unit (PDU) having power distribution sockets vertically spaced along the length of the PDU, and a hinge pivotally coupling the PDU to the rack along a vertical axis. The PDU pivots about the hinge between a position proximal to the bays and a position distal to the bays. The apparatus further comprises a component power supply cables that are resiliently extendable from a collapsed configuration to an extended configuration. Each of the component power supply cables is connected between one of the power distribution sockets and an adjacent one of the electrical power-consuming components, and each is resiliently extendable in response to pivoting the PDU to the distal position and resiliently collapsed in response to pivoting the PDU to the proximal position.

Abstract: A component power cable having a pair of elongate conductive members each connected at a first end to a power distribution unit connector and at a second end to a component power supply connector, wherein the cable has sufficient resilience to impart a generally collapsed configuration to the component power cable, with the first end generally proximal to the second end. The component power cable is extendable from the collapsed configuration to an extended configuration by displacement of the first end to a position distal to the second end, wherein energy stored in the resilient cable by such displacement restores the component power cable to the collapsed configuration upon return of the first end to a position proximal the second end. The resilience may be provided by a spring element or by an elastomeric sheath.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for dynamic optimization of command sequencing in a computing cluster. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for dynamic optimization of command sequencing in a computing cluster can include selecting a set of nodes in the computing cluster to receive a single command and probing the nodes of the set to compute a computer communications latency for each of the nodes. Thereafter, the single command can be transmitted to the nodes in the set according to a sequence determined by the computed computer communications latency for each of the nodes.