Storage rack management system and method

Abstract

An equipment storage rack includes a housing defining an interior region. The housing has an exterior. At least one piece of electronic equipment is supported by the housing within the interior region. A management system is adapted to monitor and display conditions of the equipment storage rack. In a certain configuration, the management system includes a controller unit mounted within the interior region of the housing, a display unit coupled to the controller unit and mounted on the exterior of the housing, and at least one monitoring device, coupled with the controller unit, to monitor at least one parameter of the equipment storage rack. Methods of controlling an equipment storage rack are further disclosed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the figures which are incorporated herein by reference and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a data center;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an equipment storage rack;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing certain functional aspects of an equipment storage rack management system of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is another block diagram showing hardware of a controller unit of the management system shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the controller unit;

FIG. 6 is a rear elevational view of the controller unit shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of a vertical rail of the equipment storage rack shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, perspective view of the controller unit being mounted on the equipment storage rack;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged, perspective view of a mounting peg of an embodiment of the invention used to mount the controller unit on the equipment storage rack;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged, perspective view of a temperature sensor mounted on the equipment storage rack;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged, perspective view of a temperature sensor mounted on the equipment storage rack in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 12, 12A and 12B are enlarged, perspective views of cable mounts of embodiments of the invention used to secure a cable to the equipment storage rack;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a beacon of an embodiment of the invention mounted on a top of the equipment storage rack;

FIG. 14 is a front perspective view of a display unit of the management system, the display unit being mounted on a front door of an equipment storage rack;

FIG. 15 is a top plan view of the display unit;

FIG. 16 is a rear perspective view of the display unit;

FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of a display panel assembly of the display unit; and

FIGS. 18A, 18B, 19A, 19B, 20-24, 25A, 25B, 26A, 26B, 27, 28A and 28B are functional block diagrams of the menu options provided on the display unit of the management system.

Claims

1. An equipment storage rack comprising: a housing defining an interior region, the housing having an exterior;at least one piece of electronic equipment supported by the housing within the interior region; anda management system adapted to monitor and display conditions of the equipment storage rack, the management system comprising a controller unit mounted within the interior region of the housing,a display unit coupled to the controller unit and mounted on the exterior of the housing, andat least one monitoring device, coupled with the controller unit, to monitor at least one parameter of the equipment storage rack.

2. The equipment storage rack of claim 1, wherein the at least one monitoring device includes an environmental sensor mounted on the housing of the equipment storage rack.

3. The equipment storage rack of claim 2, wherein the environmental sensor includes a temperature sensor, and wherein the equipment storage rack management system further comprises an air conditioning system coupled to the controller unit, the controller unit being configured to control the operation of the air conditioning system based on information obtained by the temperature sensor.

4. The equipment storage rack of claim 3, further comprising a sensor mount configured to be secured to the housing of the equipment storage rack and one of a snap-in clip and a zip-tie to attach the environmental sensor to the sensor mount.

5. The equipment storage rack of claim 4, wherein the environmental sensor includes a cable to connect the environmental sensor to the controller unit, and wherein the management system further comprises a cable mount configured to be secured to the housing of the equipment storage rack and one of a snap-in clip and a zip-tie to attach the cable to the cable mount.

6. The equipment storage rack of claim 1, further comprising a power device connected to the at least one piece of electronic equipment, and wherein the at least one monitoring device is connected to the power device.

7. The equipment storage rack of claim 1, wherein the housing further comprises a door to provide access to the interior region of the housing, and wherein the display unit is configured to mount on the door of the equipment storage rack.

8. The equipment storage rack of claim 7, wherein the display unit is of two-part construction, with a first part of the display unit being configured to be positioned on an outside of the door and a second part of the display unit being positioned on an inside of the door, the first and second parts being secured to one another with the door being disposed between the first and second parts.

9. The equipment storage rack of claim 1, further comprising a cable configured to connect the controller unit to a second controller unit of a second equipment storage rack.

10. The equipment storage rack of claim 1, further comprising a beacon, coupled to the controller unit and mounted on the housing of the equipment storage rack, to provide an alarm when the at least one monitoring device detects a predetermined event.

11. The equipment storage rack of claim 1, further configured to communicate with a network management system.

12. The equipment storage rack of claim 1, wherein the controller unit comprises a casing having mounting tabs configured to secure the controller unit to the housing of the equipment storage rack within the interior region of the housing of the equipment storage rack.

13. The equipment storage rack of claim 1, wherein the housing is configured as a standard nineteen inch rack.

14. A kit comprising: a controller unit configured to be mounted within an equipment storage rack;a display unit configured to be mounted on the equipment storage rack; anda cable to provide communication between the controller unit and the display unit.

15. The kit of claim 14, further comprising at least one monitoring device configured to monitor at least one parameter of the equipment storage rack and a cable to provide communication between the at least one monitoring device and the controller unit.

16. The kit of claim 15, wherein the at least one monitoring device includes at least one environmental sensor.

17. The kit of claim 15, wherein the at least one monitoring device is connected to a power device.

18. The kit of claim 15, wherein the display unit is of two-part construction.

19. The kit of claim 15, wherein another cable further provides communication between the controller unit and a second controller unit of a second equipment storage rack.

20. The kit of claim 15, further comprising a beacon, configured to be coupled to the controller unit and mounted on the housing of the equipment storage rack by another cable, to provide an alarm when the at least one monitoring device detects a predetermined event.

21. The kit of claim 15, wherein the controller unit is configured to communicate with a network management system.

22. The kit of claim 15, wherein the controller unit comprises a casing having mounting tabs configured to secure the controller unit to the housing of the equipment storage rack within an interior region of the housing of the equipment storage rack.

23. The kit of claim 15, further comprising a cooling system configured to be coupled to the controller unit by another cable.

24. A method of controlling an equipment storage rack of the type comprising at least one piece of electronic equipment, the method comprising: mounting a controller unit on the equipment storage rack;mounting a display unit on the equipment storage rack;mounting at least one monitoring device configured to monitor at least one parameter of the equipment storage rack; andconnecting the controller unit to the display unit and the at least one monitoring device.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising connecting the controller unit with an uninterrupted power supply of the equipment storage rack.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the at least one monitoring device includes an environmental sensor.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the environmental sensor includes one of a temperature sensor and a combination temperature and humidity sensor, and wherein the method further comprises connecting a cooling system to the controller unit, the controller unit being configured to control the operation of the cooling system based on information obtained by the temperature sensor.

28. The method of claim 24, further comprising mounting the display unit on an exterior of the housing of the equipment storage rack.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the display unit is of two-part construction, and wherein mounting the display unit comprises placing a first part of the two-part display unit on the exterior of the housing of the equipment storage rack and securing the first part with a second part of the display unit from the interior region of the equipment storage rack.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein mounting the at least one monitoring device includes securing a sensor mount to the housing of the equipment storage rack and attaching the at least one monitoring device to the sensor mount with one of a snap-in clip and a zip-tie.

31. The method of claim 24, wherein connecting the controller unit to the at least one monitoring device includes employing a cable, and further comprising securing a cable mount to the housing of the equipment storage rack and attaching the cable to the cable mount with a zip-tie.