Table of Contents
Advertisement
6.7 Power management
An aspect that is becoming more significant in the maintenance of a data center
is reducing costs for power consumption by ensuring the server infrastructure is
more efficient and utilized more effectively. In the past, systems were typically
designed for maximum performance without the requirement of keeping power
consumption to a minimum.
Newer systems such as the x3850 M2 and x3950 M2 servers have power
supplies that regulate the power usage by active electronic parts and by the
system-adjusted firmware. As a result, the efficiency can now reach a level
above 90%. New power supplies have a power factor to reduce the ratio between
the amount of dissipated (or consumed) power and the amount of absorbed (or
returned) power.
However this is not the only approach to optimize your yearly IT environment
costs in your data center. More components such as processor cores, memory,
or I/O components for each system and rack can result in less space necessary
in the rack for your IT solution.
6.7.1 Processor features
The Intel Xeon processors have a number of power-saving features. The C1E
Enhanced Halt State as discussed in "C1E" on page 110, reduces the internal
core frequency, and is followed by reducing the internal core voltages if the
operating system is in a low state.
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology (EIST), developed by Intel as the
advancement of the C1E Enhanced Halt State, typically allows only one low (idle)
or high power state. EIST allows a gradual reduction in the core frequency and
core voltages.
Another EIST feature allows you to control the power usage on a system. This
feature is known as
M2 and x3950 M2 server systems. This feature must be enabled so it works in
IBM Active Energy Manager as described in "Active Energy Manager (power
capping)" on page 100. IBM added this feature as a key component of the IBM
Cool Blue™ portfolio within Project Big Green.
Project Big Green is an IBM initiative that targets corporate data centers where
energy constraints and costs can limit their ability to grow.
Getting a server controlled and managed to a defined level of power usage is
important. It can be important for you, if you must limit the power usage at your
356
Planning, Installing, and Managing the IBM System x3950 M2
power capping
and can be enabled in the BIOS of the x3850
Advertisement
Table of Contents
