Network system with energy efficient fiber port

1. A method for saving power in a fiber ports of a network system, comprising:

at least one data processing device of the network system accessing, from memory coupled to said at least one data processing device, instructions causing said at least one data processing device to determine an instance of a period of inactivity for a fiber port of the network system;

said at least one data processing device accessing, from said memory, instructions causing said at least one data processing device to terminate power delivery to a transmit laser of an SFP (small form-factor pluggable) device of the fiber port during at least a portion of the period of inactivity;

said at least one data processing device accessing, from said memory, instructions causing said at least one data processing device to maintain power delivery to the SFP device while power delivery to the transmit laser is terminated;

said at least one data processing device accessing, from said memory, instructions causing said at least one data processing device to determine when the period of inactivity has ended;

said at least one data processing device accessing, from said memory, instructions causing said at least one data processing device to buffer a plurality of packets of information in response to determining that the period of inactivity has ended; and

said at least one data processing device accessing, from said memory, instructions causing said at least one data processing device to discontinue said power delivery termination after buffering said packets.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the fiber port is without link to a remote device during the period of inactivity; and

causing said at least one data processing device to terminate said power delivery includes causing said at least one data processing device to cycle the transmit laser between a powered up state and a powered down state during at least a portion of the period of inactivity.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:

said at least one data processing device accessing, from said memory, instructions causing said at least one data processing device to output from the transmit laser a link detection signal for reception by a remote device while the transmit laser is in the powered up state during the period of inactivity.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

said at least one data processing device accessing, from said memory, instructions causing said at least one data processing device to confirm that a remote device with which the fiber port has a link established will not report a loss of link during the period of inactivity.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein:

the fiber port is without link to a remote device during the period of inactivity; and

said at least one data processing device accessing, from said memory, instructions causing said at least one data processing device to terminate said power delivery includes said at least one data processing device accessing, from said memory, instructions causing said at least one data processing device to cycle the transmit laser between a powered up state and a powered down state during at least a portion of the period of inactivity.

6. A network system, comprising:

memory;

at least one data processing device coupled to said memory; and

instructions accessible from said memory by said at least one data processing device, wherein said instructions are configured for causing said at least one data processing device to carry out operations for:

determining an instance of a period of inactivity for a fiber port of the network system;

terminating power delivery to a transmit laser of an SFP device of the fiber port in response to the fiber port exhibiting the period of inactivity;

maintaining power delivery to the SFP device while power delivery to the transmit laser is terminated;

determining when the period of inactivity has ended;

buffering a plurality of packets of information in response to determining that the period of inactivity has ended; and

discontinuing said power delivery termination after buffering said packets.

7. The network system of claim 6 wherein:

the fiber port is without link to a remote device during the period of inactivity; and

causing said at least one data processing device to carry out operations for terminating said power delivery includes causing said at least one data processing device to carry out operations for cycling the transmit laser between a powered up state and a powered down state during at least a portion of the period of inactivity.

8. The network system of claim 6 wherein said set of instructions are further configured for causing said at least one data processing device to carry out operations for:

confirming that a remote device with which the fiber port has a link established will not report a loss of link during the period of inactivity.

9. The network system of claim 8 wherein:

the fiber port is without link to a remote device during the period of inactivity; and

causing said at least one data processing device to carry out operations for terminating said power delivery includes causing said at least one data processing device to carry out operations for cycling the transmit laser between a powered up state and a powered down state during at least a portion of the period of inactivity.

10. The network system of claim 9 wherein said set of instructions are further configured for causing said at least one data processing device to carry out operations for:

outputting from the transmit laser a link detection signal for reception by the remote device while the transmit laser is in the powered up state during the period of inactivity.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable media having tangibly embodied thereon and accessible therefrom a set of instructions interpretable by at least one data processing device, said set of instructions configured for causing said at least one data processing device to carry out operations for:

determining an instance of a period of inactivity for a fiber port of the network system;

terminating power delivery to a transmit laser of an SFP (small form-factor pluggable) device of the fiber port during at least a portion of the period of inactivity;

maintaining power delivery to the SFP device while power delivery to the transmit laser is terminated;

determining when the period of inactivity has ended;

buffering a plurality of packets of information in response to determining that the period of inactivity has ended; and

discontinuing said power delivery termination after buffering said packets.

12. The computer-readable media of claim 11 wherein:

the fiber port is without link to a remote device during the period of inactivity; and

causing said at least one data processing device to carry out operations for terminating said power delivery includes causing said at least one data processing device to carry out operations for cycling the transmit laser between a powered up state and a powered down state during at least a portion of the period of inactivity.

13. The computer-readable media of claim 11 wherein said set of instructions are further configured for causing said at least one data processing device to carry out operations for:

confirming that a remote device with which the fiber port has a link established will not report a loss of link during the period of inactivity.

14. The computer-readable media of claim 13 wherein:

the fiber port is without link to a remote device during the period of inactivity; and

causing said at least one data processing device to carry out operations for terminating said power delivery includes causing said at least one data processing device to carry out operations for cycling the transmit laser between a powered up state and a powered down state during at least a portion of the period of inactivity.

15. The computer-readable media of claim 14 wherein said set of instructions are further configured for causing said at least one data processing device to carry out operations for:

outputting from the transmit laser a link detection signal for reception by the remote device while the transmit laser is in the powered up state during the period of inactivity.