Ethernet Power Consumption for Cisco Switches

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2008 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Introduction
Why is network power consumption important? How can we measure it? How much power do Ethernet switches consume?

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2008 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Network Power Consumption

Customers calculating total cost of ownership need to factor in power consumption. Likewise, power consumption contributes to a companys carbon footprint. Miercom was commissioned by Cisco to measure power consumption in Ethernet switches

Power Consumption Examples

33 watts is the power consumed by a ceiling fan at average speed. 60 watts is the power required to light an incandescent bulb. 80 watts is the power consumed by an average PC. 200 watts is the power consumed by an average LCD.
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Miercom Measures Power Consumption

Device Under Test
Cisco Catalyst 2960 48TC-L Cisco Catalyst 2960G-48-TC-L Cisco Catalyst-3750G-48PS Nortel BayStack 5510-48T HP ProCurve 2650 Cisco Catalyst 3560E-48PD Cisco Catalyst-3750E-48PD-F

Traffic Generator

3Com 5500G-E HP ProCurve 3500yl-48G

KillAWatt

5% and 100% throughput traffic generated Frame size sequence: 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024, 1280, and 1518 bytes Layer 2 and Layer 3 tested 1GE and 10GE tested
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KillAWatt is used to measure the power consumption for each device under test.

Results: 100% Throughput

Power Consumption at 100%
Fast Ethernet GE, no PoE Up to 10 Gig + PoE 205 212

161 142 122 129 143

56 37

Cisco 2960

HP ProCurve 2650

Cisco 2960G

Nortel Baystack Cisco 3560-E 5510

Cisco 3750E

Cisco 3750-G

3Com 5500 G-E

ProCurve 3500yl

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2008 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Results: Layer 2 Switches

Power Consumption of Layer 2 switches at 100%
140
Supports Gigabit Ethernet

120

100

80

The Cisco WS-C2960G supports Gigabit Ethernet. The other switches support only Fast Ethernet, which results in increased power consumption.

60

40

20

0 Cisco WS-C2960 HP Procurve 2650 Cisco WS-C2960G

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Results: Layer 3 Switches

Power Consumption of Layer 3 switches at 100%
250 Supports Gig E 10/100/1000. Stackable Supports up to 10 Gig - Fixed Supports up to 10 Gig - Stackable 200

150

100

50

0 Cisco 3560-E Nortel Baystack Cisco 3750-G 5510

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Cisco 3750E

3Com 5500G-E

HP3500yl
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Results: Layer 3 for Cisco, HP, and 3COM

Layer 3: Cisco 3750-E vs. HP 3500yl vs. 3Com 5500GE
240 Cisco3750ECuUplinks100% Cisco3750EFiberUplinks100% 220 Cisco3750E2x10GBUplinks100% 200 180 160 140 120 64 128 256 512 1024 1280 1518 Packet Size (Bytes) HP3500yl48Cuuplinks100%

Power Consumption (Watts)

Cisco switches consume 33% less power than 3Com and HP switches

HP3500ylfiberuplinks100% HP3500yl2x10GBUplinks100% 3Com5500GECuUplinks100% 3Com5500GEFiberUplinks100% 3Com5500GE2x10GBUplinks100%

The Continued Innovation in the Cisco E Series is Proven Once Again

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Results: E Series Improvements

Layer 3: Cisco 3750-E vs. 3750-G Series
170 165 Cisco 3750-E Cu Uplinks 100%

Power Consumption (Watts)

160 Cisco 3750-E 2x10G Uplinks 100% 155 150 145 140 135 Cisco 3750-E Fiber Uplinks 100% 130 125 120 64 128 256 512 1024 Packet Size (Bytes) 1280 1518 Cisco 3750-G Cu Uplinks 100% Cisco 3750-G Fiber Uplinks 100%

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2008 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Observation
Financial Saving
Comparative study
HP Procurve 3500yl
Power per switch Power in a 3-switch rack Heat dissipated in BTU (1 W = 3.41 BTU) Power consumed in cooling 1 BTU Power consumed for cooling Total power consumed by switch Cost per Kwh Cost per day Cost per year 212 W 636 W 2168.76 BTU 0.105 W 227.71 W 863.71 W 10 cents $2.07 $ 755.98

Cisco 3750-E
Power per switch Power in a 3-switch rack Heat dissipated in BTU (1 W = 3.41 BTU) Power consumed in cooling 1 BTU Power consumed for cooling Total power consumed by switch Cost per Kwh Cost per day Cost per year 143 W 429 W 1462.89 BTU 0.105 W 153.60 W 582.60 W 10 cents $1.39 $ 510.36

$245.62 is saved per 3-switch rack by a Cisco switch when compared to a HP switch Over a 5-year period: $1228.10 1000 racks: $1,228,100.00
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Observation Continued
Financial Saving More use for energy expense
Run a PC and a 3750E at the cost of a HP 3500yl !

Environmental Benefits
Reduce your Co2 emission by 55 ton. Decrease your carbon footprint

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A Watt Saved Is A Watt Earned

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2008 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.

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