Network Port Virtualization for Power Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Power consumption in enterprise network systems is high due to always-on electrical and mechanical components, leading to increased heat generation and energy usage, especially in devices like blade servers where not all communication channels are actively used, resulting in inefficiencies during off-peak hours.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of virtualization techniques to migrate connectivity from multiple power-consuming physical ports to a single shared port, allowing for the shutdown of unused ports without disrupting network connectivity, using World Wide Port Name (WWPN) and World Wide Node Name (WWNN) encapsulation and N-Port ID Virtualization (NPIV) to create virtual ports that assume the identity of powered-down physical ports, enabling seamless power-saving without impacting host server operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple physical ports remain active to ensure network connectivity and bandwidth, then network reliability and performance are maintained, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual port that copies the identity characteristics (WWPN, WWNN) of a physical port to serve as its replacement. This virtual copy maintains network connectivity while allowing the physical port to be powered down, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining reliability and reducing power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual port serves multiple functions: it maintains network connectivity, provides bandwidth capacity, and enables power savings by replacing physical ports. This multi-functionality allows a single virtual port to fulfill roles that would traditionally require multiple active physical ports.
2Use of energy by moving object
If physical ports are shut down to save power, then power consumption is reduced, but network connectivity may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual port acts as an intermediary between the host server and the network fabric. It mediates connectivity by translating requests to and from the physical network infrastructure, allowing physical ports to be powered down while maintaining seamless network connectivity through the virtualization layer.
3Use of energy by moving object
If virtualization is used to migrate connectivity to reduce power consumption, then power efficiency improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operational parameters of port management by transitioning from physical port-based connectivity to virtual port-based connectivity. This parameter change enables power savings while the virtualization management system handles the complexity of port migration, identity mapping, and connectivity maintenance.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for managing power consumption by a network device is disclosed. The network device includes first and second ports, each of the first and second ports identified by a unique identifier and adapted to handle separate network traffic. The method includes verifying that the first and the second ports are connected to a common network end node; shutting off a link between the first port and the network end node; obtaining the unique identifier of the first port; creating, on the second port, a virtual port in response to the unique identifier of the first port; discovering the virtual port on the network device; and redirecting traffic formerly routed through the link through the virtual port.