POWER MANAGEMENT IN A NETWORK OF INTERCONNECTED SWITCHES

摘要

A switch can reduce power consumption in a switch network by disabling under-utilized links between switches. The switch can include one or more line cards each operable to transmit and receive packets over a respective link to a remote switch. The switch can also comprise a control mechanism operable to place under-utilized links in standby mode whenever possible to conserve power. During operation, the switch can receive a standby request for placing a first link to a neighboring switch in a standby mode, and determines whether one or more eligible links to the neighboring switch can accommodate traffic from the first link. If the eligible links are able to accommodate traffic from the first link, and if the local switch and the neighboring switch agree to place the first link in standby mode, the local switch proceeds to place the first link in standby mode.

主权项

1. A switch, comprising:
one or more line cards; and power control circuitry coupled to the one or more line cards and configured to:
identify a first standby request for placing a first link in a standby mode;determine whether at least one eligible link can accommodate traffic from the first link; andplace a local line card corresponding to the first link in standby mode in response to the at least one eligible link being able to accommodate traffic from the first link.