Green Ethernet; Chapter 33 Green Ethernet; Green Ethernet Overview; Configuring Green Ethernet - ZyXEL Communications GS3700 Series User Manual

This chapter shows you how to configure the Switch to reduce the power consumed by switch ports.

33.1 Green Ethernet Overview

Green Ethernet reduces switch port power consumption in the following ways.
• IEEE 802.3az Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE)
If EEE is enabled, both sides of a link support EEE and there is no traffic, the port enters Low
Power Idle (LPI) mode. LPI mode turns off some functions of the physical layer (becomes quiet)
to save power. Periodically the port transmits a REFRESH signal to allow the link partner to keep
the link alive. When there is traffic to be sent, a WAKE signal is sent to the link partner to return
the link to active mode.
• Auto Power Down
Auto Power Down turns off almost all functions of the port's physical layer functions when the
link is down, so the port only uses power to check for a link up pulse from the link partner. After
the link up pulse is detected, the port wakes up from Auto Power Down and operates normally.
• Short Reach
Traditional Ethernet transmits all data with enough power to reach the maximum cable length.
Shorter cables lose less power, so Short Reach saves power by adjusting the transmit power of
each port according to the length of cable attached to that port.

33.2 Configuring Green Ethernet

Click Advanced Application > Green Ethernet in the navigation panel to display the screen as
shown.
Note: EEE, Auto Power Down and Short Reach are not supported on an uplink port.
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Green Ethernet

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