Patent ID: 7058826

Claim:
In a system having a plurality of physical network devices, a method for grouping said plurality of physical network devices into a logical network device for operation and control, said method comprising: coupling said physical network devices that are to be grouped together as a logical device for communication; identifying a manager to supervise operation of said logical device; identifying a number of said plurality of physical network devices that are configured to perform a task; receiving at least one request for performance of the task; determining demand for the task; and based on the demand, executing a procedure within said manager to coordinate and control operation of said logical device to increase or decrease the number of physical network devices that are configured to perform the task; and wherein demand for each of a plurality of tasks performed by the logical device are monitored for the logical device, for each physical device within said logical device, or both; and said demand information is used to power manage said logical device and said physical devices; said power management includes reconfiguring said logical unit to minimize power consumption while maintaining a required task performance level; said reconfiguring said logical unit to minimize power consumption while maintaining a required task performance level is performed in accordance with power management policies; and said power management policies include a policy that attempts to satisfy performance requirements by operating each of first selected physical devices at first performance levels, and each of second selected physical devices at second performance levels.