TW201301024A - Active server monitoring apparatus and active server monitoring method - Google Patents

Abstract

An active server monitoring apparatus and method used for monitoring at least one server are disclosed. The active server monitoring apparatus includes a judging module and a control module. The judging module is used for receiving a sensed data and judging whether the sensed data matches a specific default condition. If the judgment of the judging module is yes, the control module actively outputs a control command signal to the server to control the server to perform a specific default action according to the control command signal. The control command signal includes the specific default action, and the specific default action corresponds to the specific default condition.

Description

Active server monitoring device and active server monitoring method

The invention relates to a server, in particular to an active server monitoring device and an active server capable of automatically sensing a server and its environment and actively issuing control commands to the server according to the sensing result. The monitoring method can achieve the effect of automatically controlling the server to perform the necessary contingency measures according to the control instructions.

In recent years, with the continuous advancement of technology, the technologies and equipment related to server management have also achieved remarkable innovation and development. For example, the so-called Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) itself provides a server monitoring medium and a common instruction specification - Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI).

In fact, the smart platform management interface was originally an industry standard for peripheral devices in Intel-based enterprise systems, and users could use the standard at no additional cost. Because the smart platform management interface can span different operating systems, firmware and hardware platforms, it can intelligently monitor, control and automatically recover the operation status of a large number of servers to reduce the cost of the server system. Although today's technology can be combined with smart platform management interface and other high-level management mechanisms (such as multi-computer switch (iKVM) or virtual machine (VM) with remote remote control function), or through text mode ( For example, Structured Query Language (SQL), etc. to operate the server's operating system, but for the server side, the traditional substrate management controller still plays the role of information intermediary, and will not The server's operating system makes any task assignments or interactions.

However, in practical applications, the current method of managing the server through the substrate management controller still encounters many problems and needs to be overcome. For example, once the external communication on the server side is isolated or destroyed, or the server side unfortunately has an emergency and needs to make a decision in a very short time, the server manager cannot pass the baseboard management controller from the client. The computer that operates the server end must go directly into the equipment room where the server is set up. Assume that in the engine room where the server is set up, if there is a fire or an attack, the server may have been damaged by the smashing of the server, and the valuable short-term contingency time is missed. The server manager may enter the computer room and may suffer life safety. Great threat.

Therefore, one aspect of the present invention is to provide an active server monitoring device and an active server monitoring method to solve the above problems encountered in the prior art.

In one embodiment, the active server monitoring device of the present invention is configured to monitor at least one server. The active server monitoring device includes a determination module and a control module. The judging module is configured to receive the sensing information and determine whether the sensing information meets certain preset conditions. If the judgment result of the determination module is yes, the control module actively outputs a control command signal to the server to control the server to perform a specific preset task according to the control instruction signal. The control command signal includes a specific preset task and the specific preset task corresponds to a specific preset condition.

In practical applications, the sensing information can be sensed by the sensor on the environment of the server itself or the server, and the sensor can be externally connected to the active server monitoring device, or the sensor is built in The active server monitors the device and is coupled to the determination module.

The sensing information is selected from the standby power supply remaining amount of the server, the ambient temperature or smoke concentration of the environment in which the server is located, whether the server is infected with a computer virus, malfunction or destruction, whether the environment of the server is invaded or destroyed, and the servo Whether the device can communicate with one of the groups formed by external communication.

The specific preset tasks are selected from one of the group consisting of power on, power off, data backup, data deletion, file opening, file closing, application execution, computer virus removal, and data upload/download.

The control module actively outputs the control command signal to the server operating system through the transmission interface; the transmission interface is selected from a Human Interface Device (HID) interface, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface, and One of the groups consisting of the Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART) interface; the operating system is selected from the Windows operating system, the Linux operating system, the Mac OS operating system, and the DOS operating system. One of the grouped groups.

The active server monitoring device may further include a storage module for storing a plurality of preset conditions including a specific preset condition. A plurality of preset conditions correspond to a plurality of preset tasks, respectively. The judging module compares the sensing information with a plurality of preset conditions to determine whether the sensing information meets a specific preset condition.

In another embodiment, the active server monitoring method of the present invention is for monitoring at least one server. The active server monitoring method comprises the following steps: (a) receiving sensing information and determining whether the sensing information meets a specific preset condition; (b) if the determining result of the step (a) is YES, actively outputting the control command signal To the server, wherein the control command signal includes a specific preset task and the specific preset task corresponds to a specific preset condition; (c) the control server performs a specific preset task according to the control command signal.

Compared with the prior art, the active server monitoring device and the active server monitoring method according to the present invention can automatically determine the environment in which the server itself or the server is located by the sensor without inputting any command from the administrator. Sensing whether the obtained sensing information meets a specific preset condition, and automatically controlling the server to perform a specific preset task according to the judgment result. Thereby, the active server monitoring device and the active server monitoring method of the present invention can actively send a control command to the server according to the sensing result when an unexpected unexpected situation occurs in the environment of the server itself or the server. The controller can automatically control the server to perform the necessary contingency measures according to the control instructions without issuing instructions from the administrator, which not only greatly shortens the strain time in the emergency, but also enables the data stored in the server to be backed up and transmitted to other safe areas in time. Server managers can be prevented from venture into the equipment room to ensure their safety.

The advantages and spirit of the present invention will be further understood from the following detailed description of the invention.

The invention discloses an active server monitoring device and an active server monitoring method for automatically sensing a server and its environment and actively issuing a control command to the server according to the sensing result, without issuing an instruction through a manager. The server can be automatically controlled to perform the necessary contingency measures according to the control instructions.

An active server monitoring device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the active server monitoring device is configured to actively monitor at least one server. In fact, the active server monitoring device may be a Baseboard Management Controller (BMC), but is not limited thereto. Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of the active server monitoring apparatus of this embodiment.

As shown in Fig. 1, the active server monitoring device 1 is coupled to the servers 2a-2c. In fact, the number of servers to which the active server monitoring device 1 is coupled can be adjusted according to actual needs, and is not limited to the three servers of this example, and the server to which the active server monitoring device 1 is coupled is connected. There are no specific restrictions on the types.

In this embodiment, the active server monitoring device 1 includes a determination module 10, a control module 12, a storage module 14, and a transmission interface 16. The determination module 10 is coupled to the sensor 3, the control module 12 and the storage module 14 respectively; the transmission interface 16 is coupled to the control module 12 and the servers 2a-2c, respectively. It should be particularly noted that the sensor 3 can be built in the active server monitoring device 1 or externally connected to the active server monitoring device 1. As for the type of the sensor 3, depending on actual needs, it may be a temperature sensor, a smoke sensor, a power sensor, etc., without particular limitation.

Next, each module included in the active server monitoring device 1 and its functions will be described in detail.

In this embodiment, the storage module 14 of the active server monitoring device 1 stores a plurality of preset conditions including a specific preset condition, and the plurality of preset conditions respectively correspond to a plurality of preset tasks. In fact, the above preset tasks may be power on, power off, data backup, data deletion, file opening, file closing, application execution, computer virus removal, or data upload/download, but not limited thereto. As for the preset condition, the remaining amount of the standby power supply of the servers 2a to 2c is less than the critical value, the ambient temperature of the environment in which the servers 2a-2c are located is higher than the critical temperature, and the smoke concentration of the environment in which the servers 2a-2c are located is higher than The threshold value, or the external communication interruption of the server 2a~2c, etc., is not limited thereto.

The active server monitoring device 1 senses the environment in which the servers 2a-2c themselves or the servers 2a-2c are located through an external or built-in sensor 3 to obtain a sensing information. In practical applications, the sensing information may be the remaining amount of the standby power of the servers 2a-2c, the ambient temperature or the smoke concentration of the environment in which the servers 2a-2c are located, whether the servers 2a-2c are infected with the computer virus, malfunction or destroyed. Whether the environment in which the servers 2a to 2c are located is invaded or destroyed, or whether the servers 2a to 2c are capable of external communication, etc., but not limited thereto.

Next, the determination module 10 will receive the sensing information from the sensor 3 and determine whether the sensing information meets certain preset conditions. The determining module 10 compares the sensing information with a plurality of preset conditions to determine whether the sensing information meets a specific preset condition of the plurality of preset conditions.

If the judgment result of the determination module 10 is YES, and the representative sensing information meets the specific preset condition, the control module 12 will actively output a control command signal to the server 2a~2c to control the server 2a~2c according to the control instruction. The signal performs a specific preset task. The control command signal includes a specific preset task and the specific preset task corresponds to a specific preset condition.

In this embodiment, the control module 12 actively outputs the control command signal to the operating system (OS) of the servers 2a-2c through the transmission interface 16. In fact, the transmission interface may be a Human Interface Device (HID) interface, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface, or a Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART) interface; The operating systems of the servers 2a-2c may be Windows operating systems, Linux operating systems, Mac OS operating systems, or DOS operating systems, but are not limited thereto. The control command signal may be a Human Interface Device (HID) signal, which may be stored in the active server monitoring device 1 in some specific manner, such as text file upload or web page setting. Neighboring, etc., but not limited to this.

Through the above operation mode, the active server monitoring device 1 in this embodiment can not only effectively fill the window between the start of an emergency event on the server end until the administrator responds appropriately, but also actively and automatically to the server. Unexpected events that occur at the end are handled appropriately. For example, when the standby power supply of the server 2a is about to be used up, the active server monitoring device 1 senses the sensor 3, and then actively sends a control command signal to the operating system of the server 2a. The control server 2a can first perform a backup operation for the current important data before the standby power is used up.

In addition, when a fire occurs in the equipment room of the server 2a, the active server monitoring device 1 can sense that the temperature in the equipment room is greatly increased through the sensor 3, and immediately sends a control command signal to the server 2a. The operating system controls the server 2a to immediately back up its important data to the secure area. Even if the external communication of the server 2a of the server 2a is broken or fails, the manager cannot control the server 2a from the remote through the network, but the active server monitoring device 1 can actively and automatically control the server 2a for the non-operation. The expected event is properly processed, so the operating system of the server 2a still has the ability to adapt to the current environment, in order to effectively improve the lack of prior art.

In detail, the behavior of the active server monitoring apparatus 1 of the present invention actively operating the servers 2a to 2c may include the following items:

(1) By storing a preset keyboard or mouse signal: the administrator can upload a file of a specific format (such as a text file) to the active server monitoring device 1 through the webpage and store it in the active server monitoring. In the device 1, and this file format needs to be able to be interpreted by the servers 2a-2c, such as the scan code of the keyboard.

(2) The active server monitoring device 1 can also manually operate the server 2a~2c through the above-mentioned sensors (for example, the administrator issues the smart platform management interface (IPMI) through the active server monitoring device 1. The command) performs active operation of the servers 2a to 2c.

(3) The active server monitoring device 1 can transmit control command signals to the servers 2a to 2c through a human-machine interface device (HID) such as a universal serial bus interface or a universal asynchronous transceiver interface to perform a server. Active operation of 2a~2c.

Another embodiment of the present invention is an active server monitoring method. In this embodiment, the active server monitoring method is used to actively monitor at least one server. Please refer to FIG. 2, which is a flow chart showing the method for monitoring the active server. As shown in FIG. 2, first, the method performs step S10 to preset a specific preset condition and a corresponding specific preset task to the active server monitoring device.

In fact, the specific preset conditions described above and their corresponding specific preset tasks may be determined according to actual needs. For example, the specific preset condition may be that the ambient temperature of the environment in which the server is located is higher than 60 degrees Celsius, and the corresponding specific preset task may be to back up the server data and transmit the backed up server data to other The server in the secure area, but not limited to this.

Next, the method performs step S12 to sense the environment in which the server itself or the server is located to obtain sensing information. In practical applications, the sensing information may be the remaining amount of the standby power of the server, the ambient temperature or the smoke concentration of the environment in which the server is located, whether the server is infected with a computer virus, malfunction or destruction, and whether the environment in which the server is located is invaded. Or damage, or whether the server can communicate externally, but not limited to the above.

Then, the method performs step S14, receives the sensing information, and determines whether the sensing information meets a specific preset condition. For example, assume that the specific preset condition is that the ambient temperature of the environment in which the server is located is higher than 60 degrees Celsius, and if the sensing information is ambient temperature = 50 degrees Celsius, since the sensing information does not meet certain preset conditions, that is, If the result of the determination in step S14 is NO, the method will re-execute step S12. Conversely, if the sensing information is ambient temperature=70 degrees Celsius, since the sensing information meets a certain preset condition, that is, the determination result of step S14 is yes, the method will execute step S16 to actively output the control command signal to the servo. Device. Thereafter, the method performs step S18, and the control server performs a specific preset task according to the control instruction signal.

Next, an explanation of the active server monitoring method will be made through an example. As shown in FIG. 3, the method performs step S20 to sense the temperature around the server to obtain a sensed temperature value. Next, the method performs step S22, receives the sensed temperature value, and determines whether the sensed temperature value is higher than the critical temperature value.

For example, if the critical temperature value is 60 degrees Celsius, if the sensing temperature value is 50 degrees Celsius, since the sensing temperature value is not higher than the critical temperature value, that is, the determination result of step S22 is no, the method will Step S22 is re-executed. Conversely, if the sensed temperature value is 70 degrees Celsius, since the sensed temperature value is higher than the critical temperature value, that is, the determination result of step S22 is YES, the method will execute step S24 to actively output a backup command to the server. After that, the method will execute step S26, and the control server performs backup of the server data according to the backup instruction, and transmits the backed up server data to the secure area through the network. It should be noted that the process steps shown in FIG. 3 are only one embodiment of the active server monitoring method, and are not limited thereto.

Compared with the prior art, the active server monitoring device and the active server monitoring method according to the present invention can automatically determine the environment in which the server itself or the server is located by the sensor without inputting any command from the administrator. Sensing whether the obtained sensing information meets a specific preset condition, and automatically controlling the server to perform a specific preset task according to the judgment result. Thereby, the active server monitoring device and the active server monitoring method of the present invention can actively send a control command to the server according to the sensing result when an unexpected unexpected situation occurs in the environment of the server itself or the server. The controller can automatically control the server to perform the necessary contingency measures according to the control instructions without issuing instructions from the administrator, which not only greatly shortens the strain time in the emergency, but also enables the data stored in the server to be backed up and transmitted to other safe areas in time. Server managers can be prevented from venture into the equipment room to ensure their safety.

The features and spirit of the present invention will be more apparent from the detailed description of the preferred embodiments. On the contrary, the intention is to cover various modifications and equivalents within the scope of the invention as claimed.

S10~S26. . . Process step

1. . . Active server monitoring device

3. . . Sensor

10. . . Judging module

12. . . Control module

14. . . Storage module

16. . . Transmission interface

2a~2c. . . server

1 is a functional block diagram of an active server monitoring device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a flow chart showing an active server monitoring method according to another embodiment of the present invention.

3 is a flow chart showing an active server monitoring method according to another embodiment of the present invention.

1. . . Active server monitoring device

3. . . Sensor

10. . . Judging module

12. . . Control module

14. . . Storage module

16. . . Transmission interface

2a~2c. . . server

Claims (12)

An active server monitoring device for monitoring at least one server, the active server monitoring device comprising: a determining module for receiving a sensing information and determining whether the sensing information meets a specific preset And a control module coupled to the determination module, if the determination result of the determination module is yes, the control module actively outputs a control command signal to the server to control the server according to the The control command signal performs a specific preset task, wherein the control command signal includes the specific preset task and the specific preset task corresponds to the specific preset condition. The active server monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the sensing information is obtained by sensing, by the sensor, the environment of the server itself or the server, and the sensing is performed. The sensor is externally connected to the active server monitoring device, or the sensor is built in the active server monitoring device and coupled to the determining module. The active server monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the sensing information is selected from a remaining amount of standby power of the server, an ambient temperature or a smoke concentration of an environment in which the server is located, and the server Whether it is one of a group of computer viruses, faults or corruptions, whether the server's environment is hacked or destroyed, and whether the server can communicate externally. The active server monitoring device of claim 1, further comprising: a storage module coupled to the determining module for storing a plurality of preset conditions including the specific preset condition, And the plurality of preset conditions respectively correspond to the plurality of preset tasks, the determining module comparing the sensing information with the plurality of preset conditions to determine whether the sensing information meets the specific preset condition. The active server monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the specific preset task is selected from the following: power on, power off, data backup, data deletion, file opening, file closing, application execution, computer virus removal, and One of the groups of data upload/download. The active server monitoring device according to claim 1, wherein the control module actively outputs the control command signal to a working system of the server through a transmission interface, wherein the transmission interface is selected from a humanity. A interface of a Human Interface Device (HID) interface, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface, and a Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter (UART) interface. First, the operating system is selected from the group consisting of a Windows operating system, a Linux operating system, a Mac OS operating system, and a DOS operating system. An active server monitoring method for monitoring at least one server, the active server monitoring method comprising the steps of: (a) receiving a sensing information, and determining whether the sensing information meets a certain preset condition; (b) if the result of the step (a) is YES, actively outputting a control command signal to the server, wherein the control command signal includes a specific preset task and the specific preset task corresponds to the specific preset condition And (c) controlling the server to perform the specific preset task in accordance with the control command signal. The active server monitoring method according to claim 7, wherein before step (a), the method further comprises the step of: setting the specific preset condition and the corresponding specific preset task in advance. The active server monitoring method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein before step (a), the method further comprises: sensing the server itself or the environment in which the server is located; To get the sensing information. The active server monitoring method according to claim 7, wherein the sensing information is selected from a standby power supply remaining amount of the server, an ambient temperature or a smoke concentration of an environment in which the server is located, and the server Whether it is one of a group of computer viruses, faults or corruptions, whether the server's environment is hacked or destroyed, and whether the server can communicate externally. The active server monitoring method according to claim 7, wherein the step (a) compares the sensing information with a plurality of preset conditions to determine whether the sensing information meets the plurality of pre-measures. Setting the specific preset condition in the condition, the plurality of preset conditions respectively correspond to a plurality of preset tasks. The active server monitoring method according to claim 7, wherein the specific preset task is selected from the following: power on, power off, data backup, data deletion, file opening, file closing, application execution, computer virus removal, and One of the groups of data upload/download.