CPA-CSA: Virtualization Mechanisms for Zero-Idle-Power and Thermally-Efficient Data Centers

企业数据中心消耗的能源在美国生产的能源中所占的比例高得惊人。美国环境保护署估计，到2011年，数据中心的能源消耗将超过1000亿千瓦时，占美国发电量的2.5%，预计每年的电力成本为74亿美元。多达40%的能源被浪费了，因为两个关键的低效率：(1)大量的能源被闲置的设备所使用，这些设备是通电的，但没有执行有用的工作；(2)数据中心冷却基础设施的低效率是由产生热量的地方和提供冷空气的地方之间的不匹配引起的。本项目建议研究一种数据中心范围的管理系统，该系统可以实时控制IT设备、电力和冷却基础设施，从而从两方面节约能源。首先，它主动地将计算任务整合到更少的系统上，从而允许关闭空闲系统。其次，它将计算任务转移到可以最有效地冷却的系统。该项目解决了大型数据中心温度建模的关键挑战，并设计了一个能够正确决定任务放置位置的自主系统。

Enterprise data centers consume an alarmingly-high fraction of the energy produced in the United States. The US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that data center energy consumption will reach over 100 billion kWh by 2011, 2.5% of US power generation, resulting in an estimated annual electricity cost of $7.4 billion. As much as 40% of this energy is wasted because of two key inefficiencies: (1) the substantial energy used by idle equipment that is powered on, but not performing useful work, and (2) inefficiency in data-center cooling infrastructure arising from a poor match between where heat is generated and where cool air is supplied. This project proposes research on a data-center-wide management system that controls IT equipment, power, and cooling infrastructure in real time to save energy in two ways. First, it actively consolidates computing tasks onto fewer systems, allowing idle systems to be powered down. Second, it moves computing tasks to systems that can be cooled most efficiently. The project addresses the key challenge of modeling temperature in large-scale data centers and designing an autonomous system that makes correct decisions on where to place tasks.