Ethernet Network Switches:
Real-World Power Consumption Database
If you are looking for a way to reduce energy consumption of technology, look at your network switches. The typical network switch is on 24 hours a day, even when computers are in a reduced power state due to inactivity. Recently switch vendors have started touting green switches, but often with little more than marketing claims with vague power specifications to back them up.
This chart presents real work testing in normal office and home environments. User contributions to the chart are welcome.
The idle column represents consumption with no cables connected.
The typical column is calculated from 1 week of real-world average of energy use, in a normal office or home environment, consisting of mixed sleeping and non-sleeping equipment, but no power over Ethernet (poE). This is normally measured with an energy meter such as the Kill-A-Watt P4400. It would be better of course to have a consistent laboratory traffic load to place on each switch, but this is not practical for a site that depends on users to submit data.
Please send updates or additions to user bryce2 machine obviously.com.
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