Patent ID: 7477655
Filing Date: 2009-01-13
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for controlling power consumption in a fibre channel switch element having a plurality of ports for transmitting and receiving fibre channel frames over a network via a plurality of links, comprising: (a) powering up the plurality of ports for a duration during the fibre channel switch element initialization so that if the ports are shut down, they are shut down in a known state; (b) shutting down all the ports, except a control port of the fibre channel switch element, wherein all the ports are shut down in the known state; (c) determining active ports of the fibre channel switch element, after all the ports are shut down in the known state; and (d) providing power to only the active ports to receive and transmit fibre channel frames; wherein each port of the fibre channel switch element has a receive segment to receive fibre channel frames and a transmit segment to transmit fibre channel frames.