Field configurable fan operational profiles

Abstract

A system, apparatus, and procedure for controlling a fan module. The system comprises a chassis having a backplane, at least one fan module arranged in the chassis, and a profile switch. In one embodiment, the profile switch is arranged in the chassis. Each fan module includes at least one fan and a fan module controller arranged to receive a control signal from a shelf controller. The profile switch is arranged to signal the fan module controller so as to control the at least one fan based on operating profiles corresponding to selected switch positions of the switch.

1 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A method comprising:
 determining whether a fan state is normal;   determining whether an autonomous fan state is normal;   identifying a fan profile setting;   generating, based on the fan profile setting, a normal fan speed signal for at least one fan, in a case where the fan state and the autonomous fan state are determined to be normal; and   generating, based on the fan profile setting, a fast speed signal for a fan, in a case where the fan state and the autonomous fan speed are determined not to be normal.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising setting the fan state to one of a normal fan state or a fast fan state, based on a temperature, wherein the determining of whether the fan state is normal is based on the setting. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the temperature is a surrounding temperature in an environment of the at least one fan, the method further comprises detecting whether the surrounding temperature exceeds a threshold, and wherein the setting is based on a result of the detecting. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the identifying of the fan profile setting is performed based on a setting of a fan profile switch. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the determining of whether the autonomous fan state is normal comprises determining whether the at least one fan is failed. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising setting the autonomous fan state for one or more fans, where it is determined that the at least one fan is failed. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the determining of whether the autonomous fan state is normal comprises determining whether a fan module state is set. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising determining whether a timer has expired. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the generating of the fast fan speed signal is performed in response to determining that the timer has expired. 
     
     
         33 . A system, comprising:
 a memory storing a program; and   a computer processor, operating under control of the program to perform a method comprising:
 determining whether a fan state is normal, 
 determining whether an autonomous fan state is normal, 
 identifying a fan profile setting, 
 generating, based on the fan profile setting, a normal fan speed signal for at least one fan, in a case where the fan state and the autonomous fan state are determined to be normal, and 
 generating, based on the fan profile setting, a fast speed signal for a fan, in a case where the fan state and the autonomous fan speed are determined not to be normal. 
   
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the method further comprises setting the fan state to one of a normal fan state or a fast fan state, based on a temperature, wherein the determining of whether the fan state is normal is based on the setting. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , wherein the temperature is a surrounding temperature in an environment of the at least one fan, the method further comprises detecting whether the surrounding temperature exceeds a threshold, and wherein the setting is based on a result of the detecting. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the identifying of the fan profile setting is performed based on a setting of a fan profile switch. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the determining of whether the autonomous fan state is normal comprises determining whether the at least one fan is failed. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the method further comprises setting the autonomous fan state for one or more fans, where it is determined that the at least one fan is failed. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 37 , wherein the determining of whether the autonomous fan state is normal comprises determining whether a fan module state is set. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 39 , wherein the method further comprises determining whether a timer has expired. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 40 , wherein the generating of the fast fan speed signal is performed in response to determining that the timer has expired. 
     
     
         42 . A computer-readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by a computer processor, cause the computer processor to perform a method comprising:
 determining whether a fan state is normal;   determining whether an autonomous fan state is normal;   identifying a fan profile setting;   generating, based on the fan profile setting, a normal fan speed signal for at least one fan, in a case where the fan state and the autonomous fan state are determined to be normal; and   generating, based on the fan profile setting, a fast speed signal for a fan, in a case where the fan state and the autonomous fan speed are determined not to be normal.   
     
     
         43 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 42 , wherein the generating of the fast fan speed signal is performed in response to determining that a timer has expired.