Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for signature based distributed inventory caching. In an embodiment of the invention, a for signature based distributed inventory caching includes polling from a centralized management solution an endpoint aggregating state information for different monitored resources, and receiving in response to the polling a signature for one or more of the monitored resources aggregated by the endpoint. The method also includes comparing the received signature to a signature stored in the solution in connection with the endpoint. In response to a determination that the compared signatures differ, the method includes updating a cache in the solution with state information for the endpoint, computing a new signature for the state information, and replacing the stored signature with the new signature. Otherwise the method includes bypassing any updating of the cache.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide for user permissions based control of pooled FoD activation keys. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for user permissions based control of pooled FoD activation keys is provided. The method includes pooling one or more authorization codes for access by different end users in activating different features of a set of hardware components using FoD. The method also includes responding to an FoD request to activate one of the features by a particular one of the end users by determining whether or not a pre-defined code usage policy permits the particular one of the end users to use a pooled one of the authorization codes and if permitted according to the pre-defined code usage policy, generating an FoD activation key with the pooled one of the authorization codes and activating the one of the features with the FoD activation key.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method, system and computer program product for dynamic activation of service indicators based upon service personnel proximity. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for dynamic activation of service indicators based upon service personnel proximity is provided. The method includes receiving at an enclosure of different hardware devices in a data center, a message for personnel proximity based activation of a service indicator lamp and activating a presence sensor in response to receiving the message. The method also includes responding to presence sensing an individual by the presence sensor by activating the service indicator lamp of the enclosure.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method, system and computer program product for dynamic activation of service indicators based upon service personnel proximity. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for dynamic activation of service indicators based upon service personnel proximity is provided. The method includes receiving at an enclosure of different hardware devices in a data center, a message for personnel proximity based activation of a service indicator lamp and activating a presence sensor in response to receiving the message. The method also includes responding to presence sensing an individual by the presence sensor by activating the service indicator lamp of the enclosure.

Abstract: For system management applied to a computer system, a power supply of the computer system starts to power a motherboard and a CPU thereon. A reset holding module in a system management controller holds the CPU in a Power-on Reset (PoR) state. The system management controller executes an operation requested by a user. The reset holding module releases the CPU from the PoR state in response to the system management controller completing the operation.

Abstract: For system management applied to a computer system, a power supply of the computer system starts to power a motherboard and a CPU thereon. A reset holding module in a system management controller holds the CPU in a Power-on Reset (PoR) state. The system management controller executes an operation requested by a user. The reset holding module releases the CPU from the PoR state in response to the system management controller completing the operation.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a computer system has a plurality of chassis interconnected by cables. Each cable initially connects a unique port pair consisting of a port of one chassis and a port of another chassis. The disconnection of cables is monitored, including electronically recording a disconnection sequence in which the port pairs are disconnected by removing each cable from at least one port of the respective port pair. Visual guidance is provided for re-cabling the computer system by sequentially identifying the port pairs in a reversal of the disconnection sequence, wherein identifying each port pair includes illuminating visual indicators associated with the ports of each port pair with a matching illumination pattern.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, computer program product, and system for managing activation keys associated with a computing system. In one embodiment, in accordance with the present invention, the computer implemented method includes the steps of detecting a repair activity on a computing system, determining whether at least one system identifier (ID) associated with a component of the computing system has changed in comparison to system IDs associated with components of the computing system before the detected repair activity, responsive to determining that at least one system ID associated with a component of the computing system has changed, retrieving one or more activation keys that correspond to the determined at least one system ID, and determining whether the one or more retrieved activation keys are associated with a system ID that does not match any system ID associated with a component of the computing system.

Abstract: A method initializes a federated computer system from a fabric of nodes connected by a federated interface. Each node casts a vote to the federated interface for a candidate firmware version supported by the node casting the vote. The candidate firmware version having received the greatest number of votes is identified, and the computer system is initialized as a federated system of the nodes that support the firmware version identified as having received the greatest number of votes. A process of iterative voting may be used to identify a greater number of nodes supporting a compatible firmware version.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a method, system and computer program product for dynamic activation of service indicators based upon service personnel proximity. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for dynamic activation of service indicators based upon service personnel proximity is provided. The method includes receiving at an enclosure of different hardware devices in a data center, a message for personnel proximity based activation of a service indicator lamp and activating a presence sensor in response to receiving the message. The method also includes responding to presence sensing an individual by the presence sensor by activating the service indicator lamp of the enclosure.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide for user permissions based control of pooled FoD activation keys. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for user permissions based control of pooled FoD activation keys is provided. The method includes pooling one or more authorization codes for access by different end users in activating different features of a set of hardware components using FoD. The method also includes responding to an FoD request to activate one of the features by a particular one of the end users by determining whether or not a pre-defined code usage policy permits the particular one of the end users to use a pooled one of the authorization codes and if permitted according to the pre-defined code usage policy, generating an FoD activation key with the pooled one of the authorization codes and activating the one of the features with the FoD activation key.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide for user permissions based control of pooled FoD activation keys. In an embodiment of the invention, a method for user permissions based control of pooled FoD activation keys is provided. The method includes pooling one or more authorization codes for access by different end users in activating different features of a set of hardware components using FoD. The method also includes responding to an FoD request to activate one of the features by a particular one of the end users by determining whether or not a pre-defined code usage policy permits the particular one of the end users to use a pooled one of the authorization codes and if permitted according to the pre-defined code usage policy, generating an FoD activation key with the pooled one of the authorization codes and activating the one of the features with the FoD activation key.

Abstract: A method for firmware update coordination in a federated computing system can include receiving in a host one of different computers coupled to one another in a federated computing system, different version levels of firmware versions in peer ones of the different computers. The method additionally can include recording in a compatibility list in the host computer, different version levels of firmware versions for respectively different peer ones of the computers. The method yet further can include selecting a firmware update to be applied to the host computer and comparing a version level of the selected firmware update to the different version levels in the compatibility list. Finally, the firmware update can be applied to the host computer only if the version level of the selected firmware update is present in the compatibility list, but otherwise rejecting the firmware update.

Abstract: Embodiments include a power-efficient failover method. The method includes operating a primary server at a normal operating state in which program code is executed, and dynamically generating a backup of the results of the executed program code while in the normal operating state. The method further includes operating a redundant server at a reduced power state in which less power is consumed than in the normal operating state of the primary server. The workload of the primary server may be assumed according to the backup in response to a failure of the primary server. The power state of the redundant server is managed, including maintaining the redundant server in the reduced power state prior to detecting a failure of the primary server and increasing the power state of the redundant server and assuming the workload of the primary server in response to the failure of the primary server.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and products for backing up an image in a computing system that includes computer memory, including: receiving, by a backup image manager, an image for one or more computing devices within the computing system; identifying, by the backup image manager, available protected computer memory within the computing system, wherein the available protected computer memory within the computing system is restricted from alteration by a user of the computing system; slicing, by the backup image manager, the image into a plurality of image slices; and storing, by the backup image manger, one or more of the image slices in the available protected computer memory.

Abstract: Managing firmware in a computing system storing a plurality of different firmware images for the same firmware includes: calculating, for each firmware image in dependence upon a plurality of predefined factors, a preference score; responsive to a failure of a particular firmware image, selecting a firmware image having a highest preference score; and failing over to the selected firmware image.

Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling fluid coolant flow in cooling systems of computing devices are disclosed. According to an aspect, a method may include determining a temperature of a fluid coolant in a cooling system of a computing device. For example, a temperature of water exiting a cooling system of a server may be determined. The method may also include determining an operational condition of the computing device. For example, a temperature of a processor, memory, or input/output (I/O) component may be determined. Further, the method may include controlling a flow of the fluid coolant through the cooling system based on the temperature of the fluid coolant and/or the operational condition.

Abstract: A method of managing the workload in a computer system having one or more semi-redundant hardware components is provided. The method comprises detecting loss or degradation of the level of performance of one or more of the semi-redundant hardware components, identifying hardware components affected by the loss or degradation, migrating a critical job from an affected hardware component to an unaffected hardware component, and performing less-critical jobs on an affected hardware component. Loss or degradation of the semi-redundant component reduces the capacity of affected hardware components in the computer system without entirely disabling the computer system. Jobs identified as critical run on hardware components having the most capacity and reliability, while less-critical jobs use the remaining capacity of affected hardware components. Examples of semi-redundant hardware components include a memory module, CPU core, Ethernet port, power supply, fan, disk drive, and an input output port.

Abstract: One embodiment provides a method of initializing a federated computer system from a fabric of nodes connected by a federated interface. Each node casts a vote to the federated interface for a candidate firmware version supported by the node casting the vote. The candidate firmware version having received the greatest number of votes is identified, and the computer system is initialized as a federated system of the nodes that support the firmware version identified as having received the greatest number of votes. A process of iterative voting may be used to identify a greater number of nodes supporting a compatible firmware version.

Abstract: A method initializes a federated computer system from a fabric of nodes connected by a federated interface. Each node casts a vote to the federated interface for a candidate firmware version supported by the node casting the vote. The candidate firmware version having received the greatest number of votes is identified, and the computer system is initialized as a federated system of the nodes that support the firmware version identified as having received the greatest number of votes. A process of iterative voting may be used to identify a greater number of nodes supporting a compatible firmware version.