Patent ID: 8661290

Claim:
A method, in a data processing system, for saving power in redundant service processors of the data processing system, the method comprising: responsive to receiving a primary control signal from a primary service processor within a first predetermined time period, placing, by the redundant service processor, a plurality of components into a low power state, wherein the plurality of components excludes an Ethernet controller of the redundant service processor; monitoring, by the redundant service processor, for a signal within a second predetermined time period from the primary service processor; responsive to receiving the signal from the primary service processor within the second predetermined time period, determining, by the redundant service processor, whether the signal is a heartbeat signal or an activate signal; and responsive to receiving the activate signal, waking-up, by the redundant service processor, the plurality of components that are in the low-power state in order for the redundant service processor to collect data and recover the data processing system in an event of a failure.