Abstract: A method for billing server utilization based on power includes receiving power consumption data of a remote server used by a customer, deriving a power-utilization correlation between power consumption of the remote server with utilization of the remote server, determining utilization of the remote server from the power consumption data and the power-utilization correlation, preparing a bill for the customer based on the determined utilization of the remote server, and sending the bill to the customer.

Abstract: A method for using server power to predict failures includes receiving power consumption data and health alerts of a remote server, analyzing the power consumption data of the remote server to determine trends in the power consumption data, and comparing the trends in the power consumption data and the health alerts with a server failure model. The server failure model is derived from historical power consumption data and health alerts associated with one or more servers of a same type as the remote server. The method includes predicting a failure in the remote server based on the comparison between the trends in the power consumption data and the health alerts and the server failure model and sending an alert in response to the predicted failure. The alert indicates the predicted failure.

Abstract: A method for billing server utilization based on power includes receiving power consumption data of a remote server used by a customer, deriving a power-utilization correlation between power consumption of the remote server with utilization of the remote server, determining utilization of the remote server from the power consumption data and the power-utilization correlation, preparing a bill for the customer based on the determined utilization of the remote server, and sending the bill to the customer.

Abstract: A method for using server power to predict failures includes receiving power consumption data and health alerts of a remote server, analyzing the power consumption data of the remote server to determine trends in the power consumption data, and comparing the trends in the power consumption data and the health alerts with a server failure model. The server failure model is derived from historical power consumption data and health alerts associated with one or more servers of a same type as the remote server. The method includes predicting a failure in the remote server based on the comparison between the trends in the power consumption data and the health alerts and the server failure model and sending an alert in response to the predicted failure. The alert indicates the predicted failure.

Abstract: Systems and arrangements for remotely selecting a bootable image via a WOL packet for a wake-on-LAN (WOL) capable computer are contemplated. Server-side embodiments include hardware and/or software for determining a client to be managed, determining whether the client is active on the network, and transmitting a WOL packet having a vector, or operating system partition identification (OSPID), to describe a bootable image accessible by the WOL capable computer. Some embodiments may include an OSPID that points to a secure bootable image such as a bootable image on a hard drive, a compact disk (CD) connected to the computer, or other local resource. Client-side embodiments may receive the WOL packet at, for instance, a network interface card (NIC), recognize that the WOL packet includes an OSPID that describes the bootable image to boot, and implement an alternative boot sequence to boot from that bootable image.

Abstract: Systems and arrangements for remotely selecting a bootable image via a WOL packet for a wake-on-LAN (WOL) capable computer are contemplated. Server-side embodiments include hardware and/or software for determining a client to be managed, determining whether the client is active on the network, and transmitting a WOL packet having a vector, or operating system partition identification (OSPID), to describe a bootable image accessible by the WOL capable computer. Some embodiments may include an OSPID that points to a secure bootable image such as a bootable image on a hard drive, a compact disk (CD) connected to the computer, or other local resource. Client-side embodiments may receive the WOL packet at, for instance, a network interface card (NIC), recognize that the WOL packet includes an OSPID that describes the bootable image to boot, and implement an alternative boot sequence to boot from that bootable image.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system and computer program product for load balancing between different blade chassis within a blade center are presented. Each blade chassis is monitored for total data traffic to and from that blade chassis. If a first blade chassis within the blade center is overworked, then a most overtaxed blade within that first blade chassis is disabled. A less utilized second blade chassis within the blade center is then identified, and a least taxed blade within the second blade chassis is assigned to take over the workload of the disabled blade from the first blade chassis.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system and computer program product for managing failover of Management Modules (MMs) in a blade chassis are presented. Each server blade in the blade chassis evaluates a performance of a primary MM. If a threshold number of server blades determine that the primary MM is not meeting pre-determined minimum performance standards, then a secondary MM impeaches the primary MM and takes over the management of the server blades.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system and computer program product for managing USB ports on blades in a blade center are presented. A set of remotely-transmitted instructions causes a multiplexer to physically disconnect one or more selected USB ports on a blade. In one embodiment, the same one or more selected USB ports are also software-disabled by a USB software-based controller.

Abstract: A data processing system and method of password protecting the boot of a data processing system are disclosed. According to the method, in response to an attempt to boot the data processing system utilizing a boot device, the boot device is interrogated for a password. If the boot device supplies password information corresponding to that of a trusted boot device, the data processing system boots utilizing the boot device. If, however, the boot device does not supply password information corresponding to that of a trusted boot device, booting from the boot device is inhibited. In a preferred embodiment, the password information comprises a unique combination of the boot device's manufacturer-supplied model and serial numbers.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system and computer program product for load balancing between different blade chassis within a blade center are presented. Each blade chassis is monitored for total data traffic to and from that blade chassis. If a first blade chassis within the blade center is overworked, then a most overtaxed blade within that first blade chassis is disabled. A less utilized second blade chassis within the blade center is then identified, and a least taxed blade within the second blade chassis is assigned to take over the workload of the disabled blade from the first blade chassis.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system and computer program product for managing failover of Management Modules (MMs) in a blade chassis are presented. Each server blade in the blade chassis evaluates a performance of a primary MM. If a threshold number of server blades determine that the primary MM is not meeting pre-determined minimum performance standards, then a secondary MM impeaches the primary MM and takes over the management of the server blades.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, system and computer program product for managing USB ports on blades in a blade center are presented. A set of remotely-transmitted instructions causes a multiplexer to physically disconnect one or more selected USB ports on a blade. In one embodiment, the same one or more selected USB ports are also software-disabled by a USB software-based controller.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for reporting and recovering from an internal processor error in a multiprocessor system supporting system management mode. In accordance with the method of the present invention one or more replacement agents are allocated such as during system startup within the multiprocessor system. Machine specific error-reporting registers are monitored for one or more active processor agents during system operation. In response to detecting a faulty agent via the monitoring, a system management interrupt (SMI) request is issued to one or both the faulty agent and a selected replacement agent. In response to receiving the SMI request, the operating state of the faulty agent is copied to the selected replacement agent in system management mode. Operating system processing is then resumed using the replacement agent.

Abstract: A method and system for accessing a remote real communication port (“COM port”) from a server blade in a server blade chassis by creating a virtual COM port in the server blade. A basic input/output system (BIOS) controller monitors an internal COM port in the server blade for communication traffic. Upon detecting the communication traffic, the BIOS controller reroutes the traffic to a virtual USB COM port created by the BIOS controller chipset. The virtual USB COM port directs the communication traffic to an internal universal serial bus (USB) device in the server blade. The USB device then forwards the traffic to an Ethernet media access controller (MAC) input/output (I/O) on a sideband channel to a remote system, which passes the communication traffic to a real COM port in the remote system.

Abstract: A method and system for accessing a remote real communication port (“COM port”) from a server blade in a server blade chassis by creating a virtual COM port in the server blade. A basic input/output system (BIOS) controller monitors an internal COM port in the server blade for communication traffic. Upon detecting the communication traffic, the BIOS controller reroutes the traffic to a virtual USB COM port created by the BIOS controller chipset. The virtual USB COM port directs the communication traffic to an internal universal serial bus (USB) device in the server blade. The USB device then forwards the traffic to an Ethernet media access controller (MAC) input/output (I/O) on a sideband channel to a remote system, which passes the communication traffic to a real COM port in the remote system.

Abstract: Local drive presence is provided for local and remote drives by maintaining a plurality of uninterrupted protocol connections between a plurality of I/O controllers and a plurality of device interfaces through which peripheral bus commands are transmitted. Preferably, the I/O controllers are each housed in a separate server blade and provide each blade with access to the local and remote drives. At each of the device interfaces, rather than attaching an actual storage device, peripheral bus commands received at the device interfaces are serialized and conditionally passed or suppressed to and from the shared drive which is shared amongst the plurality of uninterrupted protocol connections. Preferably, the plurality of uninterrupted protocol connections is maintained such that the shared drives can be simultaneously shared. In one embodiment, the local drives are provided in a media tray which is shared amongst a plurality blades.

Abstract: Local drive presence is provided for local and remote drives by maintaining a plurality of uninterrupted protocol connections between a plurality of I/O controllers and a plurality of device interfaces through which peripheral bus commands are transmitted. Preferably, the I/O controllers are each housed in a separate server blade and provide each blade with access to the local and remote drives. At each of the device interfaces, rather than attaching an actual storage device, peripheral bus commands received at the device interfaces are serialized and conditionally passed or suppressed to and from the shared drive which is shared amongst the plurality of uninterrupted protocol connections. Preferably, the plurality of uninterrupted protocol connections is maintained such that the shared drives can be simultaneously shared. In one embodiment, the local drives are provided in a media tray which is shared amongst a plurality blades.

Abstract: A method and system for reducing power consumed by a computer system. A network switch includes a processor coupled to a plurality of ports which are coupled to a plurality of computer systems. The processor includes logic for receiving a media access control address from one of the computer systems. The computer system may later enter into either a hibernation state or an off state. The processor may further include logic for receiving a magic packet that includes a repetitive address that identifies the computer system. Upon receiving the magic packet, the processor remotely activates the computer system from either the hibernation state or the off state. By remotely activating the computer system, the computer system may consume less power since the network subsystem in the computer system may not need to monitor for a magic packet. Instead, the magic packet may be monitored by the network switch.

Abstract: A method and system for emulating a hardware Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI) Host Bus Adapter (HBA) without risking an interruption of communication between a computer and a remote secondary storage device is presented. During normal operations, a (hardware emulating) software HBA drives a Network Interface Card (NIC) to afford communication between the computer and the remote secondary storage. If an operating system (OS) anomaly occurs in the computer, the NIC is normally disconnected by the OS. To maintain communication between the computer and the secondary storage device if such an event occurs, a failover network device is called up by the computer's System Management Memory (SMM) Basic Input Output System (BIOS), which allows uninterrupted communication to continue between the computer and remote secondary storage device.