Managing a number of ethernet links

A system for managing multiple Ethernet links on a single cable comprising:

• a processor;
• a storage device coupled to the processor and storing instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform a method, the method comprising:
• identifying the multiple Ethernet links on the single cable based on capabilities and policies of media access controllers (MACs) and a physical layer entities (PHYs), wherein each Ethernet link of the multiple Ethernet links utilizes one or more channels of the single cable;
• determining Ethernet link types for the single cable based on the capabilities and the policies of the MACs and the PHYs;
• for each of the multiple Ethernet links, negotiating parameters based on a corresponding determined Ethernet link type and the one or more channels utilized by a respective Ethernet link, wherein negotiating the parameters comprises exchanging capabilities between two nodes connected to the cable using at least one or more next page messages, wherein the at least one or more next page messages comprise an Organizationally Unique Identifier (OUI), an operation code indicating whether a node is capable of operating multiple Ethernet links on the single cable, and one or more user-defined codes specific to the operation code;
• and
• managing, in real time, the multiple Ethernet links within the single cable based on the policies, wherein managing the respective Ethernet link comprises powering off one or more MACs and PHYs corresponding to a particular channel based at least on traffic demand.

A computer program product for managing multiple Ethernet links of a single cable, comprising:

• a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, said non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising computer readable program code embodied therewith, said computer readable program code comprising program instructions that, when executed, causes a processor to:
• identify the multiple Ethernet links on the single cable based on capabilities and policies of media access controllers (MACs) and physical layer entities (PHYs) connected to the single cable, wherein each Ethernet link of the multiple Ethernet links utilizes one or more channels of the single cable;
• determine Ethernet link types for the single cable based on the capabilities and the policies of the MACs and the PHYs;
• for each of the multiple Ethernet links, negotiate parameters based on a corresponding determined Ethernet link type and the one or more channels utilized by a respective Ethernet link, wherein negotiating the parameters comprises exchanging capabilities between two nodes connected to the single cable using at least one or more next page messages, wherein the at least one or more next page messages comprise an Organizationally Unique Identifier (OUI), an operation code indicating whether a node is capable of operating multiple Ethernet links on the single cable, and one or more user-defined codes specific to the operation code;
• and
• manage, in real time, the multiple Ethernet links within the single cable based on the policies, wherein managing the respective Ethernet link comprises powering off one or more MACs and PHYs corresponding to a particular channel based at least on traffic demand.