Network management apparatus

1. A network management apparatus connected to a plurality of packet relay apparatuses constituting a group through a network, comprising:

an energy saving level management table for holding the combination of operation modes of a plurality of energy saving functions provided to said packet relay apparatuses and energy saving levels in association with one another;

an apparatus information acquisition unit configured to acquire, via the network, a CPU usage ratio of said packet relay apparatuses, which belong to said group;

an energy saving level calculation unit configured to calculate an energy saving level of said packet relay apparatuses constituting said group on the basis of said CPU usage ratio acquired by said apparatus information acquisition unit; and

an energy saving function setting unit configured to set an energy saving function of said packet relay apparatuses on the basis of said energy saving level calculated by said energy saving level calculation unit.

2. A network management apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said apparatus information acquisition unit is configured to acquire consumed electric energy of said packet relay apparatuses in said group unit, and said energy saving level calculation unit is configured to calculate said energy saving level when the sum of the consumed electric energy of said packet relay apparatuses constituting said group exceeds allowable electric energy of said group.

3. A network management apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said energy saving level calculation unit is configured to calculate said energy saving level in such a fashion as to lower the energy saving level of said packet relay apparatus having the lowest CPU usage ratio among said packet relay apparatuses constituting said group.

4. A network management apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said energy saving function setting unit is configured to look up the operation mode of the energy saving function associated with the energy saving level calculated by said energy saving level calculation unit from said energy saving level management table and to generate a setting request for each of the energy saving functions in such a fashion as to achieve the operation looked up to said packet relay apparatus.

5. A network management apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said energy saving function setting unit is configured to notify said packet relay apparatus of the value of said energy saving level such that the operation can be made in the operation mode of the energy saving function associated with the energy saving level calculated by said energy saving level calculation unit.

6. A network management apparatus connected to a plurality of packet relay apparatuses constituting a group through a network, comprising:

an energy saving level management table for holding the combination of operation modes of a plurality of energy saving functions provided to said packet relay apparatuses and energy saving levels in association with one another;

an apparatus management table for managing the present energy saving level of said packet relay apparatus and an energy saving level of minimum guarantee;

an energy saving level calculation unit configured to calculate a difference between the present energy saving level and the energy saving level of the minimum guarantee for each of said packet relay apparatuses constituting said group by looking up said apparatus management table and calculating an energy saving level of said packet relay apparatuses constituting said group on the basis of said difference; and

an energy saving function setting unit configured to set, to said packet relay apparatus via the network, the energy saving function of said packet relay apparatuses on the basis of said energy saving level calculated by said energy saving level calculation unit.

7. A network management apparatus according to claim 6 , which further comprises an apparatus information acquisition unit configured to acquire consumed electric energy of said packet relay apparatuses in said group unit, and wherein said energy saving level calculation unit is configured to calculate said energy saving level when the sum of the consumed electric energy of said packet relay apparatuses constituting said group exceeds allowable electric power.

8. A network management apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein said energy saving level calculation unit is configured to calculate said energy saving level in such a fashion as to lower the energy saving level of said packet relay apparatus having the greatest difference among said packet relay apparatuses constituting said group.

9. A network management apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein said energy saving function setting unit is configured to look up the operation mode of the energy saving function associated with the energy saving level calculated by said energy saving level calculation unit from said energy saving level management table and to make a setting request for each of said energy setting functions to said packet relay apparatus so that the operation is made in the operation mode so looked up.

10. A network management apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein said energy saving function setting unit is configured to notify said packet relay apparatus of the value of said energy saving level such that the operation can be made in the operation mode of the energy saving function associated with the energy saving level calculated by said energy saving level calculation unit.