Method and system for power control of fibre channel switches

• US 20050018663A1
• Filed: 07/20/2004
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Marvell Asia Pte Limited (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Original Assignee: QLogic Corporation (Marvell Technology Group Limited)
• Inventors: Dropps, Frank R., Comp, Charles M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,477,655 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/360
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/28 in relation to timing considerations
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/32 by discarding or delaying data units, e.g. packets or frames
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/101 using crossbar or matrix
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/254 Centralised controller, i.e. arbitration or scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/3009 Header conversion, routing tables or routing tags
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/357 Fibre channel switches

Abstract

A method and system for controlling power consumption in a fibre channel switch element having a plurality of ports and plural links to communicate over a network is provided. The switch element includes, a power control module that is used to provide power to only active ports after firmware of fibre channel switch element determines the active ports. The method includes, determining active ports of the fibre channel switch element, after all the ports are shut down in a known state; and providing power to only the active ports. All ports are powered up during fibre channel switch element reset and then powered down (except a common port) so that the ports are shut down in a known state.

Claims

1. A method for controlling power consumption in a fibre channel switch element having a plurality of ports and plural links to communicate over a network, comprising:

determining active ports of the fibre channel switch element, after all the ports are shut down in a known state; and

providing power to only the active ports.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein all ports are powered up during fibre channel switch element reset and then powered down so that the ports are shut down in a known state.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein fibre channel switch element firmware determines the active ports.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein all but a common port of the fibre channel switch element are powered down.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the active ports are determined based on a printed circuit board configuration.

5. A fibre channel switch element having a plurality of ports and plural links to communicate over a network, comprising:

a power control module that is used to provide power to only active ports after firmware of fibre channel switch element determines the active ports.

6. The switch element of claim 5, wherein all ports are powered up during fibre channel switch element reset and then powered down so that the ports are shut down in a known state.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein all but a common port of the fibre channel switch element are powered down.

8. A fibre channel system that allows communication over a network, comprising:

a fibre channel switch element having a power control module that is used to provide power to only active ports of the fibre channel switch element after firmware of the fibre channel switch element determines the active ports.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein all ports are powered up during a fibre channel switch element reset and then powered down so that the ports are shut down in a known state.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein all but a common port of the fibre channel switch element are powered down.

12. A fibre channel system that allows communication over a network, comprising:

a fibre channel switch element having a power control module that is used to provide active clocks to active ports of the fibre channel switch element after firmware of the fibre channel switch element determines the active ports.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein all ports are powered up during a fibre channel switch element reset and then powered down so that the ports are shut down in a known state.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein all but a common port of the fibre channel switch element are powered down.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the active ports are determined based on a printed circuit board configuration.