The implementation of the server efficiency rating tool

Abstract

The Server Efficiency Rating Tool (SERT) has been developed by Standard Performance Evaluation Corporation (SPEC) at the request of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), prompted by concerns that US datacenters consumed almost 3% of all energy in 2010. Since the majority was consumed by servers and their associated heat dissipation systems the EPA launched the ENERGY STAR Computer Server program, focusing on providing projected power consumption information to aid potential server users and purchasers. This program has now been extended to a world-wide audience.This paper expands upon the one published in 2011, which described the initial design and early development phases of the SERT. Since that publication, the SERT has continued to evolve and has entered the first Beta phase in October 2011 with the goal of being released in 2012. This paper describes more of the details of how the SERT is structured. This includes how components interrelate, how the underlying system capabilities are discovered, and how the various hardware subsystems are measured individually using dedicated worklets.