WO2015024691A1

WO2015024691A1 - Power distribution unit, computer arrangement and method for capturing port information

Info

Publication number: WO2015024691A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/063606
Authority: WO
Inventors: Manfred Götz; Bernhard Schräder; Marco Paulsen; Jonathan Westerholt
Original assignee: Fujitsu Technology Solutions Intellectual Property Gmbh
Priority date: 2013-08-22
Filing date: 2014-06-26
Publication date: 2015-02-26
Also published as: DE102013109090B3; DE102013109090B9

Abstract

The invention relates to a power distribution unit (11), comprising at least one first port (13) for connecting the power distribution unit (11) to a power source and comprising a plurality of second ports (19) for connecting loads (12) to the power distribution unit (11). The power distribution unit (11) additionally comprises a plurality of interruption apparatuses (20), associated with the second ports (19), for interrupting a connection between the first port (13) and a respective second port (19a, 19b, 19c), and comprises at least one control unit that is coupled to the plurality of the second ports (19). The control unit is set up to use an interruption apparatus (20a) to interrupt a supply of power on a selected second port (19a) associated with the interruption apparatus (20a), to receive during the interruption a piece of information regarding an identifier of a load (12a) that is connected to the selected second port (19a) via a power supply line and, following reception of the information, to restore the supply of power on the selected second port (19a). The invention additionally relates to a computer arrangement having at least one power distribution unit (11) and also to a method for capturing port information for at least one power distribution unit (11).

Description

description

Power distribution unit, computer arrangement and method for acquiring connection information

The invention relates to a power distribution unit for at ^¬ close of consumers to a plurality of terminals of the power distribution unit. Moreover, the invention relates to a computer arrangement comprising a plurality of computer systems, at least one central data acquisition ^¬ unit and at least one power distribution unit, and a method for detecting port information for at least one power distribution unit.

Energy or power distribution units, referred to in English as so-called "Power Distribution Units" (PDU), ^¬ NEN among others, in data centers to connect a relatively large number of electrical consumers with one or more power supply networks. In addition to the mere establishment of the electrical connection, such power distribution units can optionally fulfill further functions, such as, for example, a power measurement, a controlled switching on and off of individual consumers and other administrative tasks.

Such energy distribution units at least in the beginning give the organizational structure of a data center as ^¬ . For example, can be assigned to a rack system a averaging unit Energievertei-, which has a number of Ser ver having inserts corresponding number of terminals for at ^¬ close the corresponding computer systems or other consumers. Of course, there are others too Splits conceivable, for example, according befäfi ^¬ ned groups of consumers, as required for example in the production of redundant power supply levels.

Within such an organizational unit ge ^¬ precise mapping between the terminals of a power distribution unit and the connected consumers, however, is difficult to understand. For example, when swapping computer systems within a rack system, there may be a swapping of the association between ports and consumers. Such assignments usually result from a manually created, associated documentation of the infrastructure. However, such documentation is not necessarily updated during any maintenance work in a data center, so inconsistencies between the documented state and the actual state can occur.

Accordingly, power distribution units that are capable of independently detecting consumers connected to them are desirable. From the publication "The HP Intelligent Power Infrastructure Solutions" Hewlett Packard Develop ^¬ ment Company, LP from 2010 (PC 100801 TB) an intelligent PDU is known by in a Versorgungslei- integrated data lines processing communication with a power supply of a server computer manufactures. About the intelli ^¬ gente PDU and the associated data lines of the supply lines information can be queried by the server computer and processed by the intelligent PDU.

The problem with the described approach is that the provision of an additional data cable in a supply line ^¬ and corresponding connectors on sides of the PDU and the server computer system causes considerable effort and largely precludes compatibility with components from other manufacturers. In addition, the assignment is made only on a logical level, which can lead to inconsistent connection information especially in case of errors in the power supply or data communication.

The object of the present invention is to describe an energy distribution unit which enables an automatic assignment of connections of the power distribution unit and consumers connected thereto. The above problems should be overcome or reduced.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a power distribution unit comprising a ers ^¬ th connection discloses least to connect the power distribution unit to a power source and a plurality of second connec ^¬ sen for connecting consumers to the power distribution unit. The power distribution unit further comprises a plurality of interrupt devices associated with the second terminals for interrupting a connection between the first terminal and a second terminal of the plurality of second terminals, and at least one control unit coupled to the plurality of second terminals. The control unit is to sent a ^¬ to interrupt interrupt devices a power supply of a selected, associated with the interrupt device second terminal by means of a breaking device of the plurality, during the interruption, information on an identifier of a connected via a power supply line at the selected second connection consumer to received and after upon receipt of the information, restore power to the selected second port.

The power distribution unit according to the first aspect enables a temporary network separation of one or more consumers from the power distribution unit. By coupling the second connections to the control unit, during the interruption, communication between the control unit and the loads connected to the corresponding connections can take place via a power supply line without being monitored or disturbed by consumers connected to other connections. In this way, the assignment of the information received by the consumer with respect to an identifier to the connection coupled to the interruption device is clearly possible. The use of additional line connections between the control unit and the consumers connected to the power distribution unit in addition to the actual power supply line is not required.

According to advantageous embodiments, the control unit is signaled to connect or disconnect a consumer connected to the selected second connection. By way of example, the signaling can take place as a function of an electrical power detected by a power measuring device. In this way it is possible the

Steps for detecting the information regarding an identifier of a consumer connected to the selected second connection immediately after its electrical connection to the power distribution unit to perform. Likewise, it is possible, possibly cached allocation information after detection of a separation of the electrical load from the power distribution unit.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a computer arrangement comprising a plurality of computer systems, at least one central data acquisition unit configured to acquire connection information relating to the plurality of computer systems, and at least one power distribution unit to which the plurality of computer systems are attached Power supply are disclosed. The power distribution unit is to be directed ^¬ to distribute the energy of at least one power supply network ^¬ factory to the connected computer systems and a power supply of at least one selected computer-tersystems the plurality of computer systems temporarily interrupting, during the interruption, information on an identifier of the at a to receive the associated terminal of the power distribution unit connected Compu selected ^¬ tersystems and restore the power supply to the selected computer system after the reception of the information.

Such an arrangement allows for automatic Erfas ^¬ solution of terminal information relating to the plurality of computer systems that are connected to at least one power distribution unit ^¬. Such a connection Informa ^¬ tion may vomit chert ^¬ from the central data acquisition unit and optionally further processed so that an administrator or user can access current information about any time, in what way the individual computer systems are connected to a power supply. According to an advantageous embodiment, each of the computer systems at least one power supply for the Com ^¬ computer system with a generated from a primary supply voltage of the power supply network, the secondary DC voltage on, the network part is arranged to the secondary DC voltage during the temporary interruption of the primary power supply , For example, a DC or AC voltage of the power supply network to maintain. By adjusting the duration of the interruption on the one hand and an enabled by a power supply interruption time on the other hand the continuous operation of the computer systems may be ensured even during the ^¬ be written interruption of the power supply.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the identifier transmitted during the separation comprises, for example, a unique serial number of a network part. Means Configurati ^¬ onsinformationen the plurality of computer systems, a relation between the power supply topology of a hand, and the components of a computer system connected thereto, on the other hand can thus be prepared.

The computer arrangement may environmentally take a rack cabinet further wherein said computer systems are designed as a rack modules for on ^¬ acceptance in the rack housing and the energy ^¬ distribution unit is disposed in the rack housing. By preparing a rack enclosure with an in inte ^¬ grated power distribution unit of the type mentioned above in connection of additional rack drawers automatic detection can be ensured. In a further refinement, the energy distribution unit has at least one network interface for transmitting information relating to identifiers of the computer systems connected to the energy distribution unit to the central data acquisition unit. Via such a network ^¬ network interface several Energievertei ^¬ averaging units and a central data collection unit can be linked to each other ^¬ particular, so that the detection of extensive connection information, as occurs in particular the case of large data centers, is made possible.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a method for detecting connection information for at least one power distribution unit having a plurality of terminals for connecting a corresponding one

A plurality of consumers disclosed. The method comprises the steps:

Interrupting the power supply to at least one selected terminal of the at least one power distribution unit;

- receiving information regarding an identification of a ^¬ closed to the at least one selected terminal consumer during the interruption;

- associating the received information with the associated at least one selected port; and

- Restore the power supply to the at least one selected port. Said method according to the third aspect is suitable for operating the power distribution unit according to the first aspect and the computer arrangement according to the second aspect and allows automatic detection of Anschlussinforma ^¬ tions.

Advantageously, the connection of a load to the selected port of the line distribution unit is detected ^¬ au tomatically, wherein the step of interrupting the selected port is performed after detection of connection of a consumer. Preferably, the interruption of the power supply to the selected terminal is triggered after a predetermined first waiting time after detection of the connection and the ^¬ production of the power supply to the selected terminal after a predetermined second waiting time after the interruption triggered. By providing predetermined waiting times, the safe operation of the consumers connected to the power distribution unit can be ensured. Specifically sicherge ^¬ assumed that a secondary-side buffer capacity of a network is partly fully charged by the first waiting time. By specifying the second waiting time, it can be ensured that the short-term grid-side interruption does not lead to an interruption of a supply voltage provided on the secondary side. The communication between the power distribution unit and the consumers connected to it can originate either from the power distribution unit or the consumer connected thereto. For example, the Energievertei ^¬ development unit may signal data transmission parameters, such as a protocol and / or a version of a data transfer ^mechanism at the consumer and then query specific information from the connected loads. Alternatively, a connected consumer can Detect power failure and, in response, send information regarding an identifier to the power distribution unit. In addition to the initial recognition of connection information, the mechanism described can also be used in the further operation for signaling configuration data. For example, configuration data from a central configuration service may be implemented using the retrieved infor- mation concerning the identification of a selected at the arrival end of the power distribution unit connected Ver ^¬ brauchers be queried. Subsequently, the Energiever ^¬ supply of the at least one selected terminal of the we ^¬ can nigstens a power distribution unit again be interrupted, the configuration parameters during the re-interruption of a load is sent to the least and the power supply to the at least one selected terminal wiederherge below ^¬ represents.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the following description of embodiments and the appended claims. The invention will be described below with reference to Ausführungsbeispie ^¬ len with reference to the attached figures in detail. In the figures, different instances of the same components are indicated with an alphabetic suffix. If the suffix is omitted from the description, all instances are meant. The figures show: 1 shows a schematic arrangement of a Energievertei ^¬ treatment unit with three consumers connected thereto, Figure 2 shows the timing of a detection of connection information on the signal level and

Figure 3 shows the timing of the detection of connection information using a flow chart.

1 shows an assembly 10 comprising a Energievertei ^¬ averaging unit 11, three consumers connected thereto 12a to 12c, and a configuration server 22. When consumers 12a to 12c is in the exemplary embodiment to computer systems. For a better understanding of the structure of the first load 12a in the shape of a ^¬ Com puter system 25 is shown schematically in FIG. 1 It includes an internal power supply 23, in particular a switching power supply with a microcontroller 26 as well as a system component, such as a system board 24. On the Sys ^¬ templatine 24 are further not shown from founder of clarity in the Figure 1 components of computer system 25 is arranged for example, a processor, a system management module and a network component. In the exemplary embodiment, the power supply 23 converts a primary Netzwech ^¬ selspannung in a secondary DC supply voltage. The power supply 23 and the system component are both sorgungsgleichspannung ei ^¬ ne supply line for providing the secondary encryption and a management bus for exchanging control data related. A memory of the power supply 23 or the system component 24 contains less th a retrievable by the microcontroller 26 identifier that uniquely identifies the computer system 25.

The power distribution unit 11 is connected via a first connection 13 and a power line 14 to a power supply network 15. For example, the Netzlei ^¬ device 14 can be inserted via a suitable connector in a socket of a data center. For reasons of simple illustration, only a single phase line of the power line 14 and a single power supply network 15 are shown in FIG. For reasons of safety ^¬ supply and load balancing, the energy distribution ^¬ unit 11 and the power supply network 15 can be connected together, of course, on several, optionally mutually redundant phase lines. Furthermore, it is also possible to connect a single power distribution unit 11 ^¬ to several different power supply networks ^¬ 15th In the exemplary embodiment, the energy distribution unit 11 furthermore has a control unit in the form of a microcontroller 16. The microcontroller 16 is connected in Ausführungsbei ^¬ game with three signal lines 17 a to 17 c, which are coupled via corresponding coupling devices 18 a to 18 c with second terminals 19 a to 19 c for firing the consumer 12 a to 12 c. For example, it is mög ^¬ Lich to couple a programmable input / output terminal of the micro controller 16 via a suitable analog circuit are each capacitively or inductively with a phase line of a plug connection of the power distribution unit. 11

The microcontroller 16 is connected to the configuration server 22 via a third connection 28. For example the third port may be added as an Ethernet interface 28 from ^¬ so that the connection can be made to the configuration server 22 over a local network. In FIG. 1, for reasons of clarity, only a single network connection 27 is shown.

The power distribution unit 11 comprises further three Un ^¬ terbrechungsvorrichtungen 20a to 20c, which are also coupled to the microcontroller sixteenth By way of example, the interrupt devices 20a to 20c are relays which the microcontroller 16 drives via suitable driver circuits. Via the interruption devices 20a to 20c, the second connections 19a to 19c can be selectively disconnected from a power supply network 15 connected via the first connection 13 as well as from the other second connections 19. In particular, a Phasenlei ^¬ processing of the second port 19a through the associated sub ^¬ can be separated from the phase line of the first terminal 13 and the second terminals 19b and 19c 20a refraction device. By means of the disconnection of the terminal 19a, the consumer 12a connected via a power line 21a can also be disconnected from the power supply network 15. As a result of the separation of the power supply, a direct communication channel between the microcontroller 16 and the consumer 12a can be produced at the same time, separate from all other consumers 12b and 12c. About this separate communication channel described below ^¬ bene recognition of connection information can be performed.

Figure 2 shows schematically the timing of a connecting operation of the consumer 12a at the Energievertei ^¬ averaging unit 11 according to figure 1. For this purpose, in Figure 2 of the ef- fective current flow I shown on the phase line of the power line 21a at the second port 19a.

In a first phase 30, no consumer 12 is initially connected to the second connection 19a. Accordingly, no current I flows through the second terminal 19a.

31 at the time the electrical consumer 12a is, game as the power supply 23 of the computer system 25, connected in ^¬ to the first terminal 19a. Then, the current I rises at the first terminal 19a at a predetermined limit value 32, the ent ^¬ speaks, for example, a minimum power consumption of the computer system 25 in a standby state. The connection can be detected, for example, by determining the electrical power output via the second connection 19a. This can be determined, for example, by the microcontroller 16 and the coupling device 18a on the basis of a signal analysis. Alterna tively ^¬ it is also possible to provide a separate from the microcontroller 16 and the coupling device 18 a power measuring device in the power distribution unit. 11

Upon detection of connection of the consumer 12a for ers ^¬ th time 31, the microcontroller 16 first waits from a first waiting time 33rd During this waiting time, a buffer capacity of the power supply 23 is charged with electric power. It can be seen in FIG. 2 that, for this purpose, first of all a relatively large current consumption takes place immediately after the connection of the load 12, which flattens off in the further course.

After the first waiting time 33, which corresponds to a startup time of the power supply 23 of the computer system 25, becomes a second time 34 made a separation of the second terminal 19a. For this purpose, the microcontroller 16 controls the interruption device 20a assigned to the second connection 19a. For example, a relay or other electrical circuit breaker is opened.

In a subsequent time window, the detection of connection information takes place. In the exemplary embodiment, the time window corresponds to a second waiting time 35, which is selected such that it essentially corresponds to a bridging time of the power supply 23 in the form of a switched-mode power supply or is shorter than the latter. In the described embodiment, a time window of 10 ms is available for detecting the connected computer system 25.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the computer system 25 or the integrated power supply unit 23 comprises the further microcontroller 26, which detects the interruption of the mains voltage. After detection of the interruption exceeds he watches the power line 21 to a signaling by the microcontroller 16 of the power distribution unit 11. In ^¬ play, in a first phase information on the type of the power distribution unit 13, or used for communica ^¬ nication signaling from the microcontroller 16 at the consumer 12a are transmitted. Alternatively, the consumer 12a can also start by itself with a signaling of required information, in particular an identifier of the computer system 25, which is received by the microcontroller 16.

For communication is basically any data transmission method, and preferably a data transmission method that with a single signal line, for example the phase line of a single-phase power line manages. Among these are in particular data transmission method in accordance with known field bus systems, but also complex data transmission method, for example according to an Ethernet over Power Line (EOP) or Power Line Communication (PLC) Stan ^¬ dard. The fact that the actual power supply is interrupted in the time window 35, there is no o- only to a very minor disturbance of the data transmission by interference pulses of the power line 21st

After expiration of the time window 35, the power supply is restored to the computer system 25 to a third time point ^¬ 36th For this purpose, the micro control ^¬ ler 16 controls particularly the breaking device 20a in such a way that the second terminal 19a to the first terminal 13 and is thus connected to the power supply network 15 again. The computer system 25 then enters a normal mode in a subsequent phase 37. In the illustrated sequence, the microcontroller 16 recognizes at a later time 38 that the consumer 12a has been disconnected from the second connection 19a. For example, this is possible through continued performance monitoring of the second port 19a. If the output via the second port 19 a performance below the threshold 32 that is used to ge ^¬ if necessary in the power distribution unit 11 and the microcontroller cleared 16 stored connection information or marked as invalid, thus ensuring that at no time to possibly invalid arrival Final information can be accessed.

In Figure 3, the detection mechanism described is shown schematically ^¬ table in the form of a flow chart. After one ,,

- 1 b -

Connection of the power distribution unit 11 to the Energiever ^¬ supply network 15, in particular after initialization of the microcontroller 16, all ports 19 a to 19 c are initially in an un-set state 41. In this state, the power distribution unit provides a voltage to the second terminal 19.

If a connection of a consumer 12 is detected or at one of the terminals 19a to 19c signaled in a different way to the microcontroller 16, in a step 42 ei ^¬ ne setup procedure is started. At a time determined by the microcontroller 16, in step 43 the second connection 19, for which a connection has been signaled, is disconnected from a power supply network 15. Thereafter, in a step 44, the actual device of the second terminal 19 is made. For this purpose, the microcontroller 16 in the described embodiment of the newly connected ^¬ consumer 12 to a unique identifier. When the requested identifier is detected, the system goes to state 45, in which the terminal 10 is in an on ^¬ aligned state. In this state, in the microcontroller 16, the transmitted ID or from abge ^¬ initiated information enabling the identification of the devices connected to the terminal 19 of the consumer 12 is stored. Such information is optional to a central data collection unit further gege ^¬ ben in data centers. For example, the network connection 27 between the power distribution unit 11 and the central configuration server 22 of a data center is suitable for this purpose. For smaller installations, the power distribution unit 11 can also be used as a data acquisition unit itself. Alternatively, ie when no Informatio ^¬ NEN be recognized by a connected load 12 in a step 46, so an error occurs during data transfer, or no response is detected by the consumer within a predetermined waiting time, the system goes to an error state 47. In The system also enters this state if an energy consumption at the connection has been interrupted for more than 5 ms, for example because the connected device has been disconnected again.

In both cases, therefore, assuming one of the states 45 or 47, the power supply at the terminal 19 is wiederherge ^¬ represents. After taking the error state 47, the micro ^¬ controller 16 returns to the first state 41, if necessary, to start a new detection attempt. Whether and how often a new identifier is carried out, for example, can ^{¬ be} specified via corresponding control register of the microcontroller 16. After assuming the state 45, the power distribution unit 11 optionally monitors the connection 19 for a disconnection of the load 12.

For the actual data transmission in step 44, fundamentally different processes are conceivable. According ei ^¬ ner first variant described Energievertei- opens averaging unit 11 the data channel described by the above-

Network separation. It then informs the consumer 12, in particular an intelligent power supply unit of a computer system 25, that data can now be transmitted. Optionally, the microcontroller sets 16 while the fundamental mode of transmission fixed, for example by Versi ^¬ ONS and option settings. For the identification of the consumer 12 by the power distribution unit 11 becomes a serial number of an intelligent power supply unit transmitted to the power distribution unit 11. Thus all the basic information is exchanged and the setup in step 44 is finished. In an alternative embodiment, the power distribution unit 11 again opens a data channel by disconnecting the power line 21 through the interruption device 20. She then waits as to whether a connected to the second port 19 intelligent power supply unit announces her. The intelligent power supply unit Be ^¬ th of the consumer 12 detects the interruption and on ^¬ power distribution unit averages turn a unique identifier, such as the power supply 23 or the system components 24, rocontroller to the micro- 16 11 are thus once again all the basic information in the power distribution unit 11 exists and the setup phase 44 can be completed successfully.

It is possible to rebuild the data channel by opening the interruption device 20 and more

Exchange data. This optional function is independent of the detection and assignment of the second outputs 19 of the power distribution unit 11 to the consumers 12 connected thereto. In principle, any data can be exchanged in any direction between the power distribution unit 11 and the consumers 12 connected thereto.

In a preferred embodiment, the Energievertei- calls averaging unit 11 based on the previously detected ID ei ^¬ nes connected thereto consumer 12 further configura ^¬ tion data from the central configuration server 22 from. For example, after determining an identifier of a computer tersystems 25 an associated network configuration in ^¬ play, a to be used by a network component of the computer system 25 ^¬ IP-network address is retrieved from the confi ^¬ gurationsserver 22nd The network configuration retrieved by the microcontroller 16 can subsequently be forwarded from the microcontroller 16 to the intelligent power supply unit of the connected computer system 25 in a further interruption of the power supply, before the power supply is again established. Within the connected computer system 25, the configuration data can then be forwarded and processed via known configuration means. Beispielswei ^¬ se can retrieve the information about a system management from the microcontroller 26 of the power supply 23, a so-called system management component of a server computer and

Configuration of a network component of the computer system 25 use. The procedure described above ensures that a computer system 25 connected to any power distribution unit 11 is always set up with a network configuration assigned to this computer system 25.

The detection of connection Informa ^¬ functions preferably upon detection of the physical connecting a consumer 12 as described above is carried out to a power distribution unit. 11 When the system is first started or after an unforeseen power failure, individual consumers 12 can be initialized successively or in groups by an energy distribution unit 11 to optimize the process. In addition, it is also possible to repeat the above-described detection of connection information regularly by the power distribution unit 11. Reference sign list

10 arrangement

11 power distribution unit

12 consumers

13 first connection

14 power line

15 power supply network

16 microcontroller (the power distribution unit) 17 signal line

18 coupling device

19 second connection

20 interruption device

21 power line

22 configuration server

23 power supply

24 system board

25 computer system

26 microcontroller (of the switching power supply)

27 network connection

28 third connection

30 first phase

31 first time

32 limit

33 first waiting time

34 second time

35 second waiting time

36 third time

37 second phase

38 fourth time

Claims

Patent claims

Energy distribution unit (11), comprising

at least one first connection (13) for connecting the power distribution unit (11) to a power source; a plurality of second connections (19) for connecting consumers (12) to the energy distribution unit (11);

a plurality of interruption devices (20) assigned to the second connections (19) for interrupting a connection between the first connection (13) and a respective second connection (19a, 19b, 19c) of the ^plurality of second connections (19); and

at least one control unit, which is coupled to the plurality of second connections (19) and is designed to supply a power supply to a selected second connection (19a) assigned to the interruption device (20a) by means of an interruption device (20a) of the plurality of interruption devices (20). interrupt, to receive information regarding an identifier of a consumer (12a) connected via a power supply line to the selected second connection (19a) during the interruption and to restore the power supply to the selected second connection (19a) after receiving the information.

Energy distribution unit (11) according to claim 1, in which the control unit is further set up to interrupt, receive and restore the second connection (19a) depending on a signaling of a connection of a consumer (12a) to the ^second connection (19a). to select.

Energy distribution unit (11) according to claim 1 or 2, in which the control unit is further set up to provide buffered assignment information regarding a consumer (12a) previously connected to the selected second connection (19a) depending on a signaling of a disconnection of the consumer (12a). to delete the previously selected second connection (19a).

Energy distribution unit (11) according to one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising at least one power measuring ^device , wherein the power measuring device is set up to determine an electrical power delivered via the at least one selected second connection (19a) and to connect based on the determined power and/or to signal a disconnection of a consumer (12a) to or from the selected second connection (19a) to the control unit.

Computer arrangement comprising:

a plurality of computer systems (25);

at least one central data acquisition unit configured to capture connection information regarding the plurality of computer systems (25); and at least one energy distribution unit (11) to which the plurality of computer systems (25) are connected for energy supply, the energy distribution unit (11) being set up to supply the energy of at least one energy supply network (15) to the ^connected computer systems (25). distribute and temporarily interrupt an energy ^supply of at least one selected computer system (25) of the plurality of computer systems (25), during the interruption an information tion regarding an identifier of the selected computer system (25) connected to an ^associated connection (19) of the energy distribution unit (11) and ^{to restore} the energy supply to the selected computer system (25) after receipt of the information.

6. Computer arrangement according to claim 5, in which each of the computer systems (25) has at least one power supply (23), in ^particular a switching power supply, for supplying the computer ^system (25) with a power supply generated from a primary supply voltage of the energy supply network (15). ^¬ secondary DC voltage, the power supply (23) being set up to maintain the secondary DC voltage ^during the temporary interruption of the primary supply voltage.

7. Computer arrangement according to claim 6, in which each of

Power supplies (23) have a unique serial number and a control unit which is set up to ^transmit the unique serial number as an identifier to the power supply unit (11) ^during the interruption.

8. Computer arrangement according to one of claims 5 to 7, further comprising a rack housing, wherein the computer systems (25) are designed as rack inserts for inclusion in the rack housing and the power distribution unit (11) is arranged in the rack housing.

9. Computer arrangement according to one of claims 5 to 8, in which the energy distribution unit (11) has at least one network interface for transmitting information with regard to the identification of the computer systems (25) connected to the energy distribution unit (11) to a central configuration server (22).

Method for acquiring connection information for at least one energy distribution unit (11) with a plurality of connections (19) for connecting a corresponding plurality of consumers (12) with the steps:

interrupting the power supply to at least one selected connection (19a) of the at least one power distribution unit (11);

Receiving information regarding an identifier of a consumer (12a) connected to the at least one selected connection (19a) during the ^interruption ;

Assigning the received information to the associated at least one selected connection (19a); and

Restoring the power supply to the at least one selected connection (19a).

The method of claim 10, further comprising:

Detecting a connection of a consumer (12a) to the selected connection (19a) of the energy distribution ^unit (11), the step of interrupting the selected connection (19a) being carried out after the detection of the connection of a consumer (12a).

Method according to claim 11, in which the interruption of the power supply to the selected connection (19a) is triggered after a predetermined first waiting time (33) after the detection of the connection and in which the restoration of the power supply to the selected th connection (19) is triggered after a predetermined second waiting time (35) after the interruption.

Method according to one of claims 10 to 12, further comprising the steps:

Detecting a disconnection of a consumer (12a) from the selected connection (19a) of the energy distribution unit (11); and

Deleting the associated received information regarding the selected connection (19a).

Method according to one of claims 10 to 13, in which the following steps are further carried out during the interruption of the power supply to the selected connection (19a):

Transmitting at least one data transmission ^parameter from the energy distribution unit (11) to a consumer (12a) connected to the selected connection (19a); and

Querying the information regarding an identifier of the consumer (12a) connected to the selected connection (19a).

Detection of the interruption of the energy supply by the consumer (12a) connected to the selected connection (19a); and

Sending the information regarding an identifier by the consumer (12a) connected to the selected connection (19a). Method according to one of claims 10 to 15, further comprising the following steps:

Querying configuration parameters from a central configuration service using the queried information regarding the identifier of a consumer (12a) ^connected to the selected connection (19a) of the energy distribution unit (11);

interrupting the power supply again at the at least one selected connection (19a) of the at ^least one power distribution unit (11);

Sending the configuration parameters to the consumer (12a) connected to the at least one selected connection (19a) during the renewed interruption; and re-establishing power to the at least one selected port (19a).