Network Interface Controller Power State Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current power management systems face challenges in balancing power consumption and system performance, particularly in low power states, leading to increased network latency and reduced throughput due to aggressive sleep states and unpredictable I/O events.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method where network interface controllers and power management entities dynamically adjust core power states based on network traffic patterns, ensuring at least one core remains active to handle incoming traffic, and activating additional cores as needed to manage bursty events, using power management hints to optimize power utilization without latency impacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If cores are placed in deep low power states (e.g., C3) to reduce power consumption, then power savings increase, but the time to respond to network traffic increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts core power states based on real-time network traffic conditions. The network interface controller monitors traffic patterns and sends power management hints to the operating system, which then decides whether to place cores in low power states or keep them active, creating a dynamic adaptation mechanism that resolves the static trade-off between power savings and wakeup latency
Solution Approach 2:
The network interface controller performs preliminary monitoring of network traffic conditions and proactively sends power management hints to the operating system before the system needs to respond to traffic. This advance notice allows the OS to prepare core power state transitions in advance, reducing the effective latency when traffic arrives
2Use of energy by moving object
If aggressive power down algorithms are used to maximize power savings, then power consumption decreases, but system throughput is significantly reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the network interface controller continuously monitors network traffic conditions and sends power management hints to the operating system. This feedback loop allows the system to adjust core power states based on actual traffic patterns, preventing aggressive power down during high traffic periods and enabling power savings during low traffic periods, thus maintaining throughput while reducing power consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The network interface controller performs self-monitoring of traffic conditions and autonomously generates power management hints without requiring external intervention. This self-service capability enables the system to automatically balance power consumption and throughput based on real-time conditions
3Loss of time
If cores are kept active to maintain low latency response, then network latency is reduced, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts core power states based on real-time network traffic conditions. The network interface controller monitors traffic patterns and sends power management hints to the operating system, which then decides whether to place cores in low power states or keep them active, creating a dynamic adaptation mechanism that resolves the static trade-off between power savings and wakeup latency
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the power state parameter of cores based on network traffic conditions. When traffic is low, cores are transitioned to low power states; when traffic increases, cores are awakened or kept active. This parameter change approach allows the system to optimize power consumption while maintaining acceptable latency performance
Data Source
AI summary
In an embodiment, a method includes identifying a core of a multicore processor to which an incoming packet that is received in a packet buffer is to be directed, and if the core is powered down, transmitting a first message to cause the core to be powered up prior to arrival of the incoming packet at a head of the packet buffer. Other embodiments are described and claimed.