Network Traffic Power Estimation for IT Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
In conventional IT environments, the distribution of power consumption among different IT components is unknown, making it difficult to link electrical costs with deployment decisions or operating practices, and existing methods are impractical due to the need for extensive hardware installation, compatibility issues, and authorization problems.
Innovation Solution
A method that estimates power consumption by monitoring network events and correlating them with predetermined power profile data, using SNMP information and existing IT event monitoring systems, without requiring special hardware or network access privileges, to generate real-time energy usage estimates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If direct power consumption tracking through hardware installation is implemented, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and ease of operation deteriorate due to extensive hardware installation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses network events as an intermediary to indirectly measure power consumption. Instead of directly installing power meters on all devices, the system monitors network traffic events (SNMP traps, syslog, netflow) and correlates them with power consumption data, eliminating the need for direct hardware installation on each device while maintaining measurement capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces physical power measurement hardware with a software-based correlation system. By substituting mechanical/electrical measurement devices with network-based data collection and processing, the system achieves power consumption tracking without requiring physical installation of meters on every device
2Measurement precision
If direct power consumption tracking through hardware installation is implemented, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation worsens due to authorization problems and compatibility issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal monitoring approach that works across different device types and networks by using standard network protocols (SNMP, syslog, netflow) that are already deployed in most IT environments. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for device-specific hardware and authorization configurations, making deployment straightforward across heterogeneous systems
Solution Approach 2:
The system leverages existing network monitoring infrastructure and publicly available power consumption data to automatically generate estimates without requiring active participation or authorization from individual devices. The approach uses already-collected network events and public power profiles to self-generate consumption estimates
3Ease of operation
If basic facility-level power tracking is used, then ease of operation is maintained, but loss of information increases as detailed component-level data is unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the power consumption data at the component level by correlating network events with specific device identifiers (IP addresses, hostnames) and power profiles. This segmentation enables detailed tracking of individual component consumption while using the same straightforward network monitoring approach, bridging the gap between high-level facility tracking and granular component data
Data Source
AI summary
A method of estimating power consumption of one or more network connected devices configured within an information technology (IT) architecture includes monitoring network events occurring within the IT architecture over a defined time period; correlating the monitored network events with predetermined power profile operating point data associated with the one or more network connected devices, wherein the power profile operating point data is based on possible network event occurrences within the IT architecture; and based on the correlating, generating an estimated energy usage of the one or more network connected devices for the defined time period.