Power Management in Networks

A method for managing resource utilization of network devices in a network, the method comprising:

• assessing a resource utilization characteristic of an existing network configuration;
• assessing a resource utilization characteristic expected of a prospective network configuration if adopted;
• comparing the resource utilization characteristic of the existing network configuration to the resource utilization characteristic of the prospective network configuration;
• assessing a performance characteristic of the prospective network configuration;
• adopting the prospective network configuration only if the comparison of the resource utilization characteristic and assessment of the performance characteristic yield results indicating improvement in resource utilization and performance upon adopting the prospective network configuration.

A apparatus for managing power consumption by network devices in a network, the apparatus comprising:

• a computer processor including one or more instructions that when executed by the computer processor are operable to:
• access a routing protocol that manages an allocation of processing resources in the network;
• generate a first configuration of a network using the routing protocol;
• determine, for resources in the network, a utilization of the resources in the first configuration;
• determine, based on the determined utilization of resources in the first configuration, a first cost that is indicative of power consumption of network devices associated with the first configuration;
• identify a second configuration, different from the first configuration, to support the utilization of the resources;
• determine a second cost that is indicative of power consumption of network devices associated with the second configuration;
• compare the first cost to the second cost;
• assess prospective network performance assuming the second configuration was adopted;
• decide to adopt the second configuration based on results of comparing the first cost to the second cost and assessment of the prospective network performance;
• configure, based on the decision to adopt the second configuration, the network to use the second configuration;
• and
• selectively activate processing resources on inactive network devices to support the second configuration and deactivate processing resources on active network devices being utilized in support of the first configuration that are not utilized in support of the second configuration.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including instructions executable by one or more computer processors, the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions for causing the one or more computer processors to perform operations comprising:

• accessing a routing protocol that manages an allocation of processing resources in the network;
• generating a first configuration of a network using the routing protocol;
• determining, for resources in the network, a utilization of the resources in the first configuration;
• determining, based on the determined utilization of resources in the first configuration, a first cost that is indicative of power consumption of network devices associated with the first configuration;
• identifying a second configuration, different from the first configuration, to support the utilization of the resources;
• determining a second cost that is indicative of power consumption of network devices associated with the second configuration;
• comparing the first cost to the second cost;
• assessing prospective network performance assuming the second configuration was adopted;
• deciding to adopt the second configuration based on results of comparing the first cost to the second cost and assessment of the prospective network performance;
• configuring, based on the decision to adopt the second configuration, the network to use the second configuration;
• and
• selectively activating processing resources on inactive network devices to support the second configuration and deactivating processing resources on active network devices being utilized in support of the first configuration that are not utilized in support of the second configuration.