Energy Efficient Ethernet

Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE) regulates and saves power consumed by the active hardware components in the switch and conserves power during idle time.

EEE allows RUCKUS devices to conform to green computing standards. This functionality is achieved by moving the data ports to a low-power state when their function is not necessary or when they are in a passive, no traffic condition. The EEE feature in switching platforms reduces overall energy consumption, cooling, noise, and operating costs for energy and cooling. Lower power consumption also means lower heat dissipation, increased system stability, and less energy usage, thereby reducing costs and impact on the environment.

EEE is a set of enhancements to the Ethernet specification to address power consumption during periods of low data activity. EEE is specified in IEEE Std 802.3az-2010 which is an amendment to the IEEE Std 802.3-2008 specification. The optional EEE capability combines the IEEE 802.3 Media Access Control (MAC) sublayer with a family of physical layers defined to support operation in the Low Power Idle (LPI) mode. When the LPI mode is enabled, systems on both sides of the link can save power during periods of low link utilization. LPI signaling allows the LPI client to indicate to the PHY, and to the link partner, that a break in the data stream is expected. The LPI client can then use this information to enter power-saving modes that require additional time to resume normal operation. LPI signaling also informs the LPI client when the link partner sends such an indication. The client device connected to the EEE-enabled switch port must also support the LPI functionality in order to take advantage of this feature on the switch.

Port Support for Energy Efficient Ethernet

  • Port flap may occur on the port when EEE is enabled or disabled.
  • On ICX 7150 models, EEE is supported only on data ports.
  • On ICX 7150 models, EEE is supported in standalone, homogeneous stacking, and SPX stacking topologies.
  • EEE is supported on the following ports of ICX 7150 models:
    • ICX 7150-24 and ICX 7150-24P: Ports 1/1/1 through 1/1/8.
    • ICX 7150-48, ICX 7150-48P, and ICX 7150-48PF: Ports 1/1/1 through 1/1/8 and 1/1/25 through 1/1/32.
    • ICX 7150-C10ZP: Ports 1/1/1 through 1/1/8 (front panel data ports) in 2.5-Gbps and 1-Gbps speed.
    • ICX 7150-48ZP: Ports 1/1/1 through 1/1/16 (front panel data ports) in 2.5-Gbps and 1-Gbps speed.
  • EEE is not supported on ICX 7150 MultiGig ports at 100M speed.
  • EEE is not supported on ICX 7150 stacking ports, SPX ports, and uplink ports.
  • On ICX 7250 models EEE is supported on 1-Gbps copper ports.
  • On ICX 7450 models EEE is supported on 1-Gbps copper ports and 10-Gbps copper module ports.
  • EEE is not supported on 1-Gbps fiber ports (ICX7450-48F), 4x10F module ports, and 1x40Q module ports.
  • On the ICX 7650-48ZP, EEE is supported on ports 1/1/25 through 1/1/48 in 10-, 5-, 2.5-, and 1-Gbps speed.
  • EEE statistics counters are not supported on multi-gig ports.

EEE feature support on SPX

In addition to standalone and stacking environment, EEE is supported on SPX environment. When ICX 7450 and ICX 7250 platform is used as PE, the EEE feature can be configured from Control Bridge (CB) unit.

  • On ICX 7450 product family, EEE feature is supported on 1G Copper ports (PHY BCM54382) and 10G Copper ports (PHY BCM84848).
  • On ICX 7250 product family, EEE feature is supported on 1G Copper ports (PHY BCM54382).
Note: In SPX environment, the EEE feature is supported only on 1G and 10G copper ports and in full-duplex mode. EEE feature is not supported on stacking and on configured SPX ports since any port can act as SPX port.

Initially, the port will flap whenever EEE feature is enabled or disabled on the port to advertise EEE parameters through auto-negotiation.

In this section:

  1. Enabling Energy Efficient Ethernet
    Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE) is supported on select ICX devices and can be enabled globally or per port. Follow these steps to enable EEE globally or per port, including in an SPX environment.
Parent topic: Operations, Administration, and Maintenance