Lessons learned from IP routers power measurements and characterization

Network Operators are seeking to reduce their energy consumption and minimise the environmental impact on the planet. Therefore, energy efficiency has become a key aspect of the present and future of transport networks. This paper presents a set of energy consumption measurements in state-of-the-art IP/MPLS routers with different functions in a carrier network carried out in the Telefónica Future Network lab, benchmarking them versus the reported data by the devices. A router energy consumption model is proposed and validated with the experimental data. The theoretical model takes as input the idle consumption of the router with its components and the traffic-dependent consumption. The experimental data is also validated with the reported consumption information in the data sheets. The model can be used to quantify the impact of switching off-line cards and transceivers (ports).