Dynamic Link Power Control for Network Port Groups
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current techniques for managing network devices fail to adjust power consumption and bandwidth based on traffic rate, leading to unnecessary power consumption by idle interfaces and links during non-peak utilization times.
Innovation Solution
A network device creates a port group for connected links, ranks them, selects a control channel, and powers off non-essential links based on configuration, policy, or traffic prediction, with periodic health checks to conserve power.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all links are kept powered on for network availability, then network reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the power state of network links based on traffic conditions. During low-traffic periods, non-critical links are powered off to save energy while critical links remain active. During high-traffic periods, additional links are powered on to maintain performance, creating a dynamic adaptation between power consumption and network availability requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of network links by transitioning them between powered-on and powered-off states. This parameter change allows the network to optimize between two extremes: full power consumption for maximum availability, and reduced power consumption for minimal availability, with the ability to adjust based on actual traffic needs
2Productivity
If multiple links are powered on for bandwidth capacity, then bandwidth availability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of powering on all available links simultaneously, the system applies partial action by selectively powering on only the number of links necessary to meet current bandwidth demands. During low-utilization periods, fewer links are active, reducing power consumption while still providing sufficient bandwidth capacity for actual traffic needs
3Use of energy by moving object
If links are powered off during idle states to save power, then power consumption is reduced, but network responsiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system maintains link configuration and state information in memory even when links are powered off. This preliminary preservation of operational data allows links to be rapidly reactivated when traffic demands increase, minimizing the impact on network responsiveness while still achieving power savings during idle periods
Solution Approach 2:
The control plane acts as an intermediary between the powered-off data plane links and the network traffic. It maintains awareness of link states and can rapidly reactivate links when needed, mediating between the power-saving state and the responsiveness requirement without requiring continuous physical link activation
Data Source
AI summary
A first network device may create a port group for a plurality of links directly connected to a second network device, and may select the first network device as a controller network device and the second network device as a worker network device. The first network device may rank the plurality of links of the port group to generate a list of ranked links, and may select, from the list of ranked links, a highest ranked link as a control channel. The first network device may power off one or more of the plurality of links, except the control channel, based on one of a configuration, a policy, or a traffic prediction, and may identify a termination of a time period associated with powering off the one or more of the plurality of links. The first network device may power on the one or more of the plurality of links based on the termination of the time period.