Network routing based on resource availability

A system, comprising:

• a communication module configured to communicate on a network;
• a network switching element control module to:
• receive status information from a network switching element via the communication module, to determine control information based on the status information;
• and provide the control information to the network switching element via the communication module;
• and
• a network switching element including at least ports and processors, the network switching element to:
• determine if any information flows have been discontinued:
• and
• reallocate the processing of information flows between ports of the processors based on the control information wherein:
• said network switching element control module is further configured to cause said network switching element to deactivate processors that are not processing information flows as a result of the reallocation of the processing of said information flows.

A device, comprising:

• a communication module configured to communicate on a network;
• configured to transmit and receive information flows;
• processors configured to process the information flows between the ports;
• and
• a network switching element module configured to:
• provide status information to a controller via the communication module;
• receive control information from the controller via the communication module assign at least one of the processors to process the information flows between the ports based on the control information;
• and
• deactivate processors that are not processing information flows as a result of the assignment of at least one of the processors to process the information flows.

A method, comprising:

• providing status information to a controller;
• receiving control information from the controller;
• determining whether processors are operating in compliance with the control information;
• determining if any information flows have been discontinued;
• reallocating information flows between the processors based on the control information;
• and
• deactivating processors that are not processing information flows as a result of said reallocating of the processing of said information flows.

At least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon, individually or in combination, instructions that when executed by one or more processors result in the following operations comprising:

• providing status information to a controller;
• receiving control information from the controller;
• determining whether processors are operating in compliance with the control information;
• reallocating the processing of information flows between ports by said processors;
• and
• deactivating processors that are not processing information flows as a result of said allocating of the processing of said information flows.