A method comprising: identifying state information for a plurality of packet processing components of a network device that are receiving traffic, wherein the packet processing components perform packet routing functions and/or packet processing functions; analyzing the packet processing components using a scanning technique to identify state information, wherein the scanning technique identifies the state information by scanning a set of internal memories and a set of internal registers; storing the state information, by the network device, while the plurality of packet processing components are receiving the traffic and before disabling one or more elements of a packet processing component; detecting that the packet processing component is no longer processing at least a portion of traffic, before disabling one or more elements of the packet processing component; disabling, by a network device, one or more elements of the packet processing component, wherein the one or more elements of the packet processing component are less than an entirety of the packet processing component, wherein the one or more elements of the packet processing component perform routing and scheduling instructions; obtaining, by the network device, state information associated with the one or more elements of the packet processing component; restoring, by the network device and based on the state information, configuration instructions for the one or more elements of the packet processing component; and re-enabling, by the network device, the one or more elements of the packet processing component to an operational state. identifying state information for a plurality of packet processing components of a network device that are receiving traffic, wherein the packet processing components perform packet routing functions and/or packet processing functions; analyzing the packet processing components using a scanning technique to identify state information, wherein the scanning technique identifies the state information by scanning a set of internal memories and a set of internal registers; storing the state information, by the network device, while the plurality of packet processing components are receiving the traffic and before disabling one or more elements of a packet processing component; detecting that the packet processing component is no longer processing at least a portion of traffic, before disabling one or more elements of the packet processing component; disabling, by a network device, one or more elements of the packet processing component, wherein the one or more elements of the packet processing component are less than an entirety of the packet processing component, wherein the one or more elements of the packet processing component perform routing and scheduling instructions; obtaining, by the network device, state information associated with the one or more elements of the packet processing component; restoring, by the network device and based on the state information, configuration instructions for the one or more elements of the packet processing component; and re-enabling, by the network device, the one or more elements of the packet processing component to an operational state.