Efficient power allocation for redundant power supply with system priority

摘要

This disclosure describes a more efficient and configurable power allocation scheme for redundant power supply (RPS) systems used in network switches. This allocation scheme allows the system owner to assign power from a shared RPS unit to higher priority devices in any network switch in the system. This permits more granularity in assigning the RPS with backup power available to devices such as ports residing within individual switches in a multiple switch network. An efficient power allocation scheme for RPS allows the user to define the system priority of various devices for backup power according to the user's preferences. The user may assign the RPS to user-defined high priority devices in any piece of equipment. This makes RPS power allocation more flexible by offering the user more setup options for backup power.

主权项

1. A method comprising:
receiving, by a redundant power supply, configuration data specifying a priority and a power requirement for each of a plurality of ports within a plurality of network switches, wherein the redundant power supply is connected to the network switches by one or more control busses and one or more reserve power busses, each of the network switches having a respective power supply separate from the redundant power supply; receiving, by the redundant power supply, via the one or more control busses, a request from one of the network switches for reserve power from the redundant power supply in response to power from the respective power supply for the network switch failing in the network switch; in response to the request, determining, by the redundant power supply, based on the priorities and power requirements of the ports within the network switches, an amount of reserve power to grant to the network switch requesting the reserve power; outputting the amount of reserve power via at least one of the one or more reserve power busses from the redundant power supply to the network switch requesting the reserve power; and upon determining that there is insufficient reserve power available from the redundant power supply to provide the amount of reserve power granted to the network switch that requested the reserve power, outputting one or more messages from the redundant power supply by the one or more control busses to direct at least one of the switches to deactivate one or more of the ports having low priorities so that there is sufficient reserve power available from the redundant power supply to provide the amount of reserve power granted to the network switch that requested the reserve power.