Patent ID: 7237129

Claim:
An information processing system comprising: a frame or enclosure for mounting a plurality of devices; a backplane having a plurality of backplane electrical connectors disposed within said frame or enclosure; and a plurality of devices, each including a device electrical connector, matingly coupled to said backplane electrical connectors, said plurality of devices including at least one network device for coupling said system with an external network; wherein said at least one network device comprises at least one server computer having at least one processor and a power manager; and further wherein said or each server computer further comprises an activity monitor identifying a level of activity indicator for said at least one processor; and said or each server computer being operable in: (i) a first mode having a first maximum performance level and a first power consumption rate, and (ii) a third mode having a third maximum performance level lower than said first maximum performance level and a third power consumption rate lower than said first power consumption rate; said system further comprising: a power manager: (i) coupled to each of said computers and receiving said level of activity information from each of said plurality of computers; (ii) analyzing said plurality of received level of activity information; (iii) determining an operating mode for each of said computers selected from said first mode and third mode based on said analyzed activity information and predetermined policies; and (iv) generating commands to each of said plurality of computers directing each of said plurality of computers to operate in said determined operating mode.