Methods, systems and computer program products for thermal management of a processor associated with a network interface

A network communications device comprising:

• (a) a first network interface for sending and receiving message traffic over a network;
• (b) a first processor associated with the first network interface for controlling the sending and receiving of the message traffic over the first network interface;
• (c) a second processor configured to control the sending and receiving of message traffic over a network;
• (d) a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature associated with the first processor;
• and
• (e) a thermal management application associated with the temperature sensor and the first processor for determining whether the temperature has a predetermined relationship with respect to a threshold value, and, in response to the temperature having a predetermined relationship with respect to the threshold value, switching the message traffic from the first processor to the second processor.

A computer program product comprising computer executable instructions embodied in a computer readable medium for performing steps comprising:

• (a) sending and receiving message traffic using a first processor associated with a first network interface;
• (b) determining a temperature associated with the first processor;
• and
• (c) switching the message traffic from the first processor to a second processor in response to the temperature associated with the first processor having a predetermined relationship with respect to a threshold value, the threshold value being less than a thermal shutdown level of the first processor.