Configuring Intelligent Power Monitoring for IAPs

The Intelligent Power Monitoring (IPM Intelligent Power Monitoring. IPM is a feature supported on certain APs that actively measures the power utilization of an AP and dynamically adapts to the power resources.) feature actively measures the power utilization of an AP and dynamically adapts to the power resources. IPM allows you to define the features that must be disabled to save power, allowing the APs to operate at a lower power consumption.

IPM dynamically limits the power requirement of an AP as per the available power resources. IPM applies a sequence of power reduction steps in a prioritized order until the AP functions within the power budget. This happens dynamically as IPM constantly monitors the AP power consumption and applies the next power reduction step in the priority list if the AP exceeds the power threshold. To manage this prioritization, you can create IPM policies to define a set of power reduction steps and associate each step with a priority. The IPM policies, when applied to the AP, are based on IPM priorities, where the IPM policy can be configured to disable or reduce certain features in a specific sequence to reduce the AP power consumption below the power budget. IPM priority settings are defined by integer values, where the lower values have the highest priority and are implemented first.

By default, IPM is disabled. When disabled, the static power management method limits the operation and performance of an AP based on the worst case power usage model where the power profiles are hard-coded for each AP. In order to manage this prioritization, you can define a set of power reduction steps and associate them with a priority. IPM applies a sequence of power reduction steps as defined by the priority definition until the AP is functioning within the power budget. This happens dynamically as IPM constantly monitors the AP power consumption and reacts to over-consumption by applying the next power reduction step in the priority list if the AP exceeds the power threshold.

To configure Intelligent Power Monitoring, complete the following steps:

In the WebUI, set the filter to a group containing at least one AP.
The dashboard context for the group is displayed.
Under Manage, click Devices > Access Points.
A list of APs is displayed in the List view.
Click the Config icon.
The tabs to configure the APs are displayed.
Click Show Advanced.
Click the System tab.
The System page is displayed.
Click the IPM accordion.
Select the IPM Activation check box to enable IPM.
Click the + icon in the IPM Power Reduction Steps With Priorities pane.
The IPM Power Reduction Steps With Priorities window is displayed.
In the IPM Step Priority field, enter a value from 1 to 16 to define IPM priority.
The lowest values are considered highest in priority, and are implemented first.
From the IPM Step drop-down list, select the desired IPM reduction step as described in Table 1
Click OK.
The IPM Power Reduction Steps With Priorities table in the IPM section lists all the IPM settings.
Click Save Settings.

The following figure shows the IPM steps and priorities listed in the IPM Power Reduction Steps With Priorities table.

Figure 1 IPM Steps and Priorities

Configuring Reduction Steps

The reduction steps and their order are configured using the IPM Power Reduction Steps with Priorities parameter in the WebUI. The reduction steps are associated with priority values, and the priority settings are defined by integer values, where the lower values have the highest priority and are implemented first. When triggered, the reduction steps are applied sequentially starting with the reduction step that is assigned the highest priority value. The reduction steps are applied only when the AP exceeds the power budget or high threshold temperature.

The following table describes the reduction steps and their corresponding WebUI parameters.

Table 1: IPM Reduction Step Parameters
Reduction Step	WebUI Parameter
Reduces the CPU Central Processing Unit. A CPU is an electronic circuitry in a computer for processing instructions. frequency to 25%	cpu_throttle_25
Reduces the CPU frequency to 50%	cpu_throttle_50
Reduces the CPU frequency to 75%	cpu_throttle_75
Disables the second Ethernet Ethernet is a network protocol for data transmission over LAN. port	disable_alt_eth
Disables the PSE port	disable_pse
Disables the first PSE port	disable_pse1
Disables the second PSE port	disable_pse2
Disables the USB Universal Serial Bus. USB is a connection standard that offers a common interface for communication between the external devices and a computer. USB is the most common port used in the client devices. port	disable_usb
Reduces radio 0 chains to 1x1	radio_0_chain_1x1
Reduces radio 0 chains to 2x2	radio_0_chain_2x2
Reduces radio 0 chains to 3x3	radio_0_chain_3x3
Reduces radio 0 chains to 4x4	radio_0_chain_4x4
Reduces radio 0 chains to 5x5	radio_0_chain_5x5
Reduces radio 0 chains to 6x6	radio_0_chain_6x6
Reduces radio 0 chains to 7x7	radio_0_chain_7x7
Disables radio 0	radio_0_disable
Reduces radio 0 power by 3 dB Decibel. Unit of measure for sound or noise and is the difference or ratio between two signal levels. from the maximum value	radio_0_power_3dB
Reduces radio 0 power by 6 dB from the maximum value	radio_0_power_6dB
Reduces radio 1 chains to 1x1	radio_1_chain_1x1
Reduces radio 1 chains to 2x2	radio_1_chain_2x2
Reduces radio 1 chains to 3x3	radio_1_chain_3x3
Disables radio 1	radio_1_disable
Reduces radio 1 power by 3 dB from the maximum value	radio_1_power_3dB
Reduces radio 1 power by 6 dB from the maximum value	radio_1_power_6dB
Reduces radio 2 chains to 1x1	radio_2_chain_1x1
Reduces radio 2 chains to 2x2	radio_2_chain_2x2
Reduces radio 2 chains to 3x3	radio_2_chain_3x3
Disables radio 2	radio_2_disable
Reduces radio 2 power by 3 dB from the maximum value	radio_2_power_3dB
Reduces radio 2 powerby 6 dB from the maximum value	radio_2_power_6dB

Radio Index

Starting from HPE Aruba Networking Central 2.5.7, all references to the radio bands Band refers to a specified range of frequencies of electromagnetic radiation. (2.4 GHz Gigahertz., 5 GHz, secondary 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands) are removed and replaced with radio indices (1, 0, and 2) that are associated with radio power restrictions. Prior to HPE Aruba Networking Central 2.5.7, the IPM radio power reduction steps referred to the operating bands of the radio.

The following table describes the radio bands supported till HPE Aruba Networking Central 2.5.6, as well as their corresponding radio indices introduced in HPE Aruba Networking Central 2.5.7.

Table 2: Radio Index Details
AP Type	Radio Band (Prior to HPE Aruba Networking Central 2.5.7)	Radio Index (HPE Aruba Networking Central 2.5.7 or later versions)
Non-Flex Dual Band Mode AP	2.4 GHz	1
	5 GHz	0
	Secondary 5 GHz	2
	6 GHz	2
Flex Dual Band Mode AP	5GHz-and-2.4GHz	0, 1
	5GHz-and-6GHz	0, 1
	2.4GHz-and-6GHz	0, 1

Points to Remember

By default, IPM is disabled.
When enabled, IPM enables all IAP functionalities initially. IPM then proceeds to shut down or restrict the functionalities if the power usage of the IAP goes beyond the power budget of the IAP.
Although AOS allows flexible configuration of the radio band on some IAPs, the radio index always remains fixed.
In the dual 5 GHz mode on 340 Series (AP-344 and AP-345) access points, both radio 0 and radio 1 operate in the 5 GHz band.
Some reduction steps are available only for select AP platforms. For example, radio_2_disable step is applicable to any AP that has three radios such as AP-555 and AP-655, irrespective of the frequency band under which they operate.
To reduce the CPU power gradually, the smallest reduction is allocated a higher priority value so that the minimum reduction step is implemented first. For example, the cpu_throttle_50 parameter should have a higher priority value than the cpu_throttle_25 parameter, so that IPM gradually reduces the CPU throttle or power usage based on the priority list.