Estimating power consumption? - Reality Check: Server Insights -
Estimating power consumption?

Need to estimate power consumption and proper selection of components? Check out the HP Power Advisor. Other features are also provided including a condensed bill of materials, a cost of owner ship calculator, and a power report.

Reduce power consumption with ProLiant right-size power supplies. In HP’s latest generation of ProLiant servers, power is both critical and flexible. With the new HP Power Advisor you can measure power usage as you configure servers and racks in a downloadable tool.

The tool is so easy to use, drag & drop with an intuitive interface and configure away.

 

 

Just released a new update: Now including the NEW ProLiant SL6000 system!

New features will be released soon including  the addition of the HP BladeSystem c3000 and c7000. Follow the updates and other news on Twitter, @hppoweradvisor.

Check out the HP Power Advisor now.

Have you used this tool? Tell us your story. What are you seeking in a power advisory tool that we are currently not providing?

 


Posted 07-13-2009 9:18 PM by Kristie Popp

Comments

Naresh wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 07-14-2009 5:48 AM

This Tool was absolutely great.!

Lippi wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 07-22-2009 8:26 AM

Is there any Support for MSA or Tape Libary etc. ?

Kristie Popp wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 07-22-2009 4:35 PM

Lippi,

Here's a note from our Storage folks. This is an EVA one and I will continue to post more as they send me any info.

Here’s an EVA power calculator: h18006.www1.hp.com/.../index.html. I will keep checking to see if we have others.

Also, our manager of the tool, HP's Brent Allen, informed me they do with to continue to evolve this tool to include Storage.

Let me know if I can be of any further help!

Anthony wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 07-24-2009 3:10 PM

The tool's great, but whenever I load the power advisor up it brings up a runtime error - Line: 23, Error: path not found

It seems to still work fine, but i was wondering if anyone else is getting this error (or knows how to fix it).

never happend with v1.0

Jaro wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 07-27-2009 3:14 PM

I like the tool, hope to see the blades workign in it soon.

My biggest issue is scrolling through the server, it's a long list, slow scrolling, and fairly annoying.  maybe a drop down as well as the pictures, sub categorys, or a scroll bar to grab and go faster with, anythign would help.

Also, when I have a server in one rack I can't seem to drag it to another rack, or copy it to another rack, that would be nice as well.

Finally, I extract it and run it from a file location, some type of install would be good, as well as an updater.

I do think it's going in a great direction, it's nicer, and simple to use over all, just need to get all the products in there.

HP Power Advisor Team wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 07-27-2009 3:30 PM

Hi Anthony,

That is the first that we have heard of this specific issue. I recommend removing the tool completely and reinstalling it. We try to replicate the issue on our end and investigate implementing a fix in a future release. It is good to hear that the tool still works - even with the error message - that way it won't slow you down.

Thanks for highlighting this to us!

The HP Power Advisor Team

Jeff Gehlbach wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 07-28-2009 6:15 PM

This utility sounds great, but there's neither a Mac nor a LInux version so I can't use it.

masakazu wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 07-29-2009 2:45 AM

It is glad to become it to use it to calculate Blade.

I am glad to save time by come to being able to calculate by settling the Rack option relation.

Though it is good to be able to display the rack chart

I think that I become more wieldy if the Rack figure can be output to Visio.

If it comes to be able to input the picture and the parameter value of an empty box for the other companies product installed in same Rack, it is still good.

Kristie Popp wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 08-04-2009 8:44 PM

New release: the HP Power Advisor version 1.2 out now. This version now includes blades!

www.hp.com/go/hppoweradvisor

CharlieC wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 08-05-2009 4:55 PM

The script error reported above is probably due to running older IE browser version.  I have identical machines, IE8 vs IE6, and the errror is only on IE6 machine.  As 'Anthony' reported, it proceeds to run correctly afterwards.  FWIW

german Infante wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 08-07-2009 11:51 PM

this tools has some bugs  when you select  FC mezzanine cards it does not allow to add them  even ypu have the right VCFC selected, and it does not include the new 8GB SAN sw, and i couldn find the new SWiscs for blades on list no bay available

Kelvin Edmison wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 08-10-2009 8:08 PM

Windows only tool?  Really?

I do not have a PC platform on which to run this; we've got Mac and Linux.  Have you thought about making it an online app rather than an EXE?

disappointed wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 08-11-2009 2:20 PM

Really? You couldn't make it a little simpler without the glitz? I went to the Power Advisor to get "advice" - which power supply should I use under a certain configuration. Guess what? No advice. It tells me the power requirements, but never says whether the small 460w or medium 750w PS is the right choice. Yes, either will work, but based on the power efficiency of the PS, which would be the right choice? And then I tried to configure a c7000 enclosure. My dual core 3Ghz system pegged for a few minutes while it thought about it, and I kept getting messages that a flash script is taking too long. I eventually just had to give up. Wouldn't a spreadsheet been a lot simpler...?

very disappointed wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 08-11-2009 2:30 PM

You really need to go back and work on the blade power configuration. You shouldn't release something like this that just doesn't work.

- missing interconnect options

- put FC in Bay 3/4, go to blade and try to add FC mezz - says "type mismatch - can only select FC"!

- finish enclosure and blade configuration, but Power Summary shows 0 for everything!

The Quickspecs shouldn't always refer you to a tool that is not fully functional.

linux user wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 08-11-2009 2:45 PM

Me too - a Linux user. It's flash, so why not web based? No technical need for it to be a downloadable app. (And it doesn't even install itself - it just unzips files)

HP Power Advisor Team wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 08-12-2009 4:14 PM

Dear German Infante and "very disappointed",

We apologize for any inconvienence that this is has caused you, please refer to the Blade Power Sizer while we work to quickly fix this issue. We working to fix this issue as soon as possible and we encourage you to provide any further information that you have to hppoweradvisor@hp.com.

Thank you for your feedback!

HP Power Advisor Team wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 08-12-2009 4:23 PM

Dear Kevin and Linux User,

We completely understand your frustrations with the Windows based structure of the tool. We chose to develop this in flash so that it could easily be ported to the web. We are working to quickly make this available as a web based application - ensuring that the save and load features work correctly between the user and server. We have had success in testing the port to the web - an are confident that we will be able to provide the web based tool in the near future.

Thanks for your feedback!

The HP Power Advisor Team

HP Power Advisor Team wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 08-12-2009 8:20 PM

Dear Disappointed,

Thank you for your feedback.

As always, the smallest power supply "that works" is the correct choice, as this most closely matches the power draw from the components that have been selected. If the power supply selected is insufficient or not redundant, the tool advises the user of this and recommends using a larger power supply. It sounds like your configuration is not in that category. Thus, you will notice that the system you configured used the 460W power supply as default.

If you have further recommendations on how we can inhance the tool for a better user experience, please let us know by sending an email to: hppoweradvisor@hp.com

You'll also notice that the system power consumption changes depending on the power supply selected.

Thanks!

HP Power Advisor Team

Ray W wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 08-13-2009 12:04 PM

Blade config issue when using FC interconnects in Bay 3 & 4.

adding an FC Mezz creates error. "You can only select Fibre Cannel" when actually selecting an FC mezz

Green Computer Man wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 08-14-2009 8:10 AM

I was wondering when power adviser included MSA storage. We usually buy ProLiant servers with MSA storage. It is rather difficult for us to determine power and cooling required for new computer systems installed in the data centre.

Tom C wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 08-14-2009 9:42 PM

I feel stupid but after unzipping the download what next?

I don't see a readme file or anything.

Kristie Popp wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 08-14-2009 9:56 PM

Hello Tom C:

Oh Oh - I just got the same problem, "win-wip extractor cannot run" or something like that, I will send to the team. I am sorry for the problem! Will let you know what they say.

I also like the idea of a readme, I will suggest. Thank you.

davidr@roystonit.com wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 08-18-2009 5:38 PM

ditto to to comments regarding the win-zip extractor issue

Jacob Van Ewyk wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 08-19-2009 10:41 PM

FYI, while they aren't as advanced and the HP Power Advisor, there are also Power Calculators for HP Integrity servers. They are posted at h20341.www2.hp.com/.../472199-0-0-0-121.html.

Ed Davies wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 08-20-2009 11:33 AM

Looks like a good tool - when will you add in support for DL585 G6

Mark Hahn wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 08-20-2009 9:25 PM

a zipped windows exe?  you've got to be kidding!  especially when you're starting to pull power information _out_ of quickspecs.  this is just msft-style feature-o-philia.  why not provide at least the raw data: base power for a system minimally configured, plus at least skeletal deltas for mem, cpu, disks, etc.

after all, power is mostly linear: a CPU will cost you the same heat in any system you put it into (modulo pdu efficiency, of course, but your customers are actaully smart enough to know that too.)

HP Power Advisor Team wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 08-21-2009 7:03 PM

Hi All,

Good news! We've had several recent developments. First of all, for folks that have been having trouble installing the tool, we just released and posted a MS Windows XP and Vista download and installation guide.

Also, the new revions 1.22 is available! This includes the DL585 G6, ML110 G5, ML115 G5, and fixes to the recently seen issues with Blade interconnects/mezzanines.

Thanks!

HP Power Advisor Team

HP Power Advisor Team wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 08-24-2009 3:56 PM

Hi Mark Hahn,

We appreciate your interest in the HP Power Advisor. We need to clarify a couple of items.

1. We apologize for any difficulty that you have encountered with the zip format. We are working to provide an installer/updater as well as a web based format.

2. We do not pull power information from QuickSpecs. All power information has been collected via actual lab testing.

3. Raw data would be practically meaningless without the the appropriate logarithms behind it - this is part of the value that the tool offers.

4. Power is not linear and the tool uses power supply efficiency curves.

5. The same CPU will cost you different amounts of heat in differnt systems due to differences in system efficiencies and heatsinks.

We hope that this may answer some questions or concerns that you have raised.

Thanks for adding to the discussion!

The HP Power Advisor Team

Allan H. wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 08-24-2009 8:05 PM

Estimating power needs for server's is great, but some pieces are missing to be able to do full rack estimations:

Adding support of MSA storage, and various networking switches would be great (ethernet, fiber, Infiniband).

Barry V. wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 09-08-2009 4:48 PM

Power Advisor not working.

I have loaded the software and dropped the DL380 into a rack. Saved the configuration. Loaded the configuration. Status light is Green. I hit the GO button and all Power Summary values remain at zero.

RAWSKI wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 09-22-2009 5:02 PM

Using ie8 on XP Pro SP3.  Fatal script error on line 23.  Application never runs no matter which script response I choose.  

AndyT wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 09-29-2009 10:48 AM

Hi - using v1.22 and still having issues with Blade interconnects/mezzanines.

I'm trying to add BLc QLogic QMH2462 FC HBA Opt Kit to a BL460c.

Any ideas?

Sandy K wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 10-05-2009 5:14 PM

This tppl just does not work at all, why do we have to have all the fancy graphics all I want to know is what the realistc power consumption is

All I get is a very pretty picture of a DL360 with no useful information.

Also why in 2009 am I having to navigate to a directory and click on a strange file name. Have the developers got stuck in a time warp?

Amerio wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 10-12-2009 2:22 PM

I followed the installation instructions, but everytime I try to extract the file I get the following  !   D:\HPPowerAdvisor.zip: Unexpected end of archive

I'll keep trying but so far I've not been successful. I was wondering if anyone else was expierencing the system problem?

Alexandre P wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 10-13-2009 2:16 PM

Hi,

Just wanted to say thanks for the tool, it helps a lot!

As others mentionned, I'm also eagerly waiting for the integration of MSA products in the tool.

Also, I have a feature request;  Would it be possible to name individual servers?  The reason for this is simple..  when a BOM or Power report is generated, only a generic name appears.  It would be great to have a customized name for each server, so that its reflected inside those reports.

Alex wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 10-22-2009 5:11 AM

Hi.

We're using v1.23 and we have a problem with DL785 G6 - there's no way to choose any CPU. List of CPUs is empty. May be the reason is an empty component list for CPUs in the xml-file for this server.

Joe Havlik wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 10-28-2009 7:53 PM

When will the Power Advisor have the DC version of the DL 380 G6 in it?

RWattsS6 wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 10-29-2009 12:03 PM

HI,

I have recently downloaded the power advisor app but I am having some difficulties in that I am able to save individual server configs but I am unable to load them back up onto either the server or rack tabs? they just remain empty? any ideas i'm running it on XP?

cheers

vose wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 11-02-2009 9:29 PM

A windoze power advisor might be useless to many of your server customers (it certainly does me no good).  Will you please provide us with the Tables and Formula so we can perform the intended calculations ourselves?

Thanks

Michael

Ruben wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 11-03-2009 3:05 PM

Hi,

as Joe Havlik has noticed the Power Advisor tool does not support DC power for DL servers.

I have tried to estimate the power comsumption for a DL360 G6 server using a DC power supply but it is not supported by the current version.

Thanks!

ruben.navas@hp.com wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 11-03-2009 3:11 PM

Hi all,

as Joe Havlik has noticed, it is not possible to configure a DC power supply for DL servers.

I have tried to use this tool in order to estimate the power comsumption for a DL360 G6 server using a DC power supply, but it is not supported.

Will DC power supplies be supported for next version?

J. Sadler wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 11-11-2009 5:48 PM

Another why isn't a Linux or Mac version available?

In this day and economic conditions I'd expect HP would be keenly interested in getting as much market share as possible. Removing Linux and Mac from the equation doesn't make much sense.

There are large HP customers that issue Linux and Mac to their employees.

Anyone know what the power numbers are for an MSA70 with dual power supplies and no drives?

Martin Brennecke wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 11-12-2009 1:14 PM

Well...nice tool...maybe...the links are dead. No power advisor download....

gmari2008 wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 11-24-2009 12:04 PM

Is possible include the storage, the console and the networting ?

Es. EVA or MSA, procurve ecc..

HP Power Advisor Team wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 11-24-2009 4:09 PM

We are continuing to work on including new features and products from across the portfolio, including the DC power supply.

For Linux and Mac users we are working on deploying a web based hosted version of the tool.

We are also in the process of working on a better installer that would allow for a quick desktop shortcut.

Thank you all for all of the great feedback. This is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

The HP Power Advisor Team

LOu wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 11-26-2009 7:39 PM

I installed HP Power advisor and ran it. When I go to generate the power report. It opens up the browser and sits there saying that "generating report". I let it run for about 30 minutes and no report is displayed.

What could be the problem?

Thanks.

Harley Kingston wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 12-02-2009 4:15 AM

I would like to point out for the current version (1.23) to work on Windows 7 64-bit you do need to manually change where to extract files to "c:\Program Files (x86)\Hewlett Packard\". I couldn't get it working until I made this change. I image it's the same for Vista 64-bit.

Yaush wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 12-10-2009 5:00 PM

Hi, can anyone help me to get the tool running in IE8? What settings are actually required? I get a blank page with just the version and contact header and a box with "One or more ActiceX controls could not be displayed", even when setting security and privacy to 'Low' on local intranet zone (actually all zones as an test).

Thanks

Dirk

boobal wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 12-15-2009 12:59 PM

power consumption current version (1.23), Can you please advise me if any know how to find BTU for Hp old server by each server different processor used( servers like  HP 9000, HP Net Server , for HP Integrity i found some of the server, etc..)

It little bit urgent ,

Please mail me if any one have the tool,

My mail id : bbalan_in@yahoo.co.in/bbalanin@gmail.com

Thanks,

Boobal

Chuck Watson wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 01-09-2010 12:55 AM

I'm trying to configure 150 nodes of SL2x170s for a customer and they want to know how much power the Nehalem x5560 procecessors will consume. Turns out that the Power Advisor does not have the x5560 in the SL2x170, the DL1000, or the DL160G6. This is a valid processor for all of these platforms. When will the Power Calculator contain all possible processor configurations?

sam.lees@hp.com wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 01-19-2010 12:43 AM

The Website states v1.25 is available, however the Download is still the old v1.20 version.

It would be nice if the tool auto-updated like the Storage-works sizing tool, and Bladesystem Sizer.

All my HP Tools Auto-update except this one.

It is a great tool and very thorough, but would be excelent if I didn't have to manually update it.

Thanks

Sam

Tim H wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 01-21-2010 3:44 PM

Great tool. I use it to advise customers on power requirments all the time.

It would be great if it auto updated and would be excellent if it waxed floors, cured cancer and picked the winning lottery numbers too.

Better than the Cicso tool which is....

NOTHING!

-Tim-

paal torp (HP) wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 01-26-2010 12:21 PM

i wonder why 1.24 version included C7000 and the 1.25 dont?

i also miss FBWC and 8GB fc card.

Wayne C wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 01-27-2010 4:44 PM

Looks promising but very disappointed.

Constantly need to close and reopen the application, especially when I'm removing components.

Very limited in the file names I can save configs to (no spaces, capitals hypens etc.)

Unable to load previously saved files.  After selecting load and choosing a previously saved config the config does not appear.

I've tried a couple of machines (XP and WIN 7 both exhibit all the problems listed)

Cheers

Wayne

Kristie Popp wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 01-27-2010 4:58 PM

Thanks for the feedback Wayne. I will send to the team.

michael.leitner@foreapartners.com wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 01-28-2010 7:38 PM

This tool is missing to many options to be accurate take the SL 6000 for instance.  Using 4 170’s in a SL 6000 your power usage is more than that of 4 DL 160 even though the DL 160 would require 4 Power supplies that are 92% efficient at 500 watts each that’s 40W lost per power supply Net loss on the DL 160 is 160watts over 4 PS. The SL has 2 x 750 watt 120w Loss yet when I run the calculator the SL takes more power every time then 4 DL160.  Also the SFF dives are not listed in your tool this is not correct.

And If the SL takes more power with less Power supplies then HP needs to re-engineer the SL line because it’s not working as intended.

Kristie Popp wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 02-04-2010 9:42 PM

Michael, thank you for the comments. The development team is working the tool.

Alex Gomes wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 02-10-2010 12:31 PM

Great tool but the Enclosure option on version 1.25 is not available? The website says it wil be available and the documentation shows it (as well as the Recommedations tab)It throws a message "not available on this version" but since this is the latest...

a.montenegro@miami.edu wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 02-24-2010 10:43 PM

I have an old ESA1200 and EVA5000, Also have old Digital ESA's with HSG70 and HSG80 controllers, does Power Analyzer have the capability to computer the power consumption on those?

Thanks

Kristie Popp wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 02-25-2010 1:48 AM

Hello a.montenegro@miami.edu :

We are only tracking the latest products for power, products currently undergoing testing. Great question, thanks for asking - I am sure other have the same question.

Jim wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 03-01-2010 5:01 PM

This tool seems nice but is completely useless for me since I use Linux + Mac.

D Dodge wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 03-12-2010 7:41 PM

The DL/ML370G6 does not allow me to add a second drive cage and an additional 6 drives to the build, even after adding a second SAS controller.  MAX 8 LFF drives though the chasis can take 14 Drives witha all slots filled.  The 2TB MDL SATA is not in the config.  If it is there I have no Idea how to activate it.  I can aadd two controlers, but not 14 drives.  

SY wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 03-15-2010 9:56 AM

Why aren't the Storageworks components included?

ulas wrote re: Estimating power consumption?
on 03-16-2010 2:00 PM

Why it has not 48v dc power supply consumption. and is it possible dl 380g5 dc power consuption more than ac power consumption? for example 220v ac =701watt 48v dc=739 watt. i think something is wrong in this program beacuse all article says dc power more efficient than ac power. if you find a solutioın you could sent me email. ulas.uzel@kocsistem.com.tr

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