Energy conservation in multipath data communications

1. A computer implemented method for energy conservation in multipath data communications, the computer implemented method comprising:

determining a current utilization of each of a plurality of I/O devices;

determining whether an I/O device in the plurality of I/O devices can be powered down without violating a rule, forming an indication of violation;

powering down the I/O device responsive to the indication of violation being false; and

determining whether a latency time of the I/O device elapses before a time when an additional I/O device is needed, wherein the determination of a time when the additional I/O device is needed arises within the latency time of the I/O device.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining whether an additional I/O device is needed in a multipath I/O configuration, forming an indication of powering up;

specifying a maximum utilization of one of the plurality of I/O devices during a specified time period;

locating the additional I/O device;

powering up the additional I/O device; and

making the additional I/O device available for multipath I/O configuration.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 2 , further comprising:

determining a time when the additional I/O device is needed; and

powering on the I/O device within the latency time of the I/O device.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 3 , wherein the powering on occurs no later than the latency time before the time the additional I/O device is needed.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the determining that forms the indication of powering up further comprises one of (i) receiving a request for the additional I/O device and (ii) forecasting the need for the additional I/O device.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 2 , further comprising:

notifying a user responsive to a failure in locating the I/O device.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the determining that forms the indication of violation further comprises one of (i) executing a rule, (ii) executing a system policy, and (iii) executing a configuration.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 1 , the powering down further comprising:

triggering, based on a rule, a logic to power down the I/O device.

9. A computer usable program product comprising a computer storage medium including computer usable code for energy conservation in multipath data communications, the computer usable code comprising:

computer usable code for determining a current utilization of each of a plurality of I/O devices;

computer usable code for determining whether an I/O device in the plurality of I/O devices powers down without violating a rule, forming an indication of violation;

computer usable code for powering down the I/O device responsive to the indication of violation being false, the computer usable code for powering down including computer usable code for triggering, based on a rule, a logic to power down the I/O device; and

computer usable code for determining whether a latency time of the I/O device elapses before a time when an additional I/O device is needed, wherein the determination of a time when the additional I/O device is needed arises within the latency time of the I/O device.

10. The computer usable program product of claim 9 , further comprising:

computer usable code for determining whether an additional I/O device is needed in a multipath I/O configuration, forming an indication of powering up;

computer usable code for locating the I/O device;

computer usable code for powering up the I/O device;

computer usable code for making the I/O device available for multipath I/O configuration; and

computer usable code for notifying a user responsive to a failure in locating the I/O device.

11. The computer usable program product of claim 10 , further comprising:

computer usable code for determining a time when the additional I/O device is needed; and

computer usable code for powering on the I/O device within the latency time of the I/O device.

12. The computer usable program product of claim 11 , wherein the powering on occurs no later than the latency time before the time the additional I/O device is needed.

13. The computer usable program product of claim 10 , wherein the computer usable code for the determining that forms the indication of powering up further comprises computer usable code for one of (i) receiving a request for the additional I/O device and (ii) forecasting the need for the additional I/O device.

14. The computer usable program product of claim 9 , wherein the computer usable code for the determining that forms the indication of violation further comprises computer usable code for one of (i) executing a rule, (ii) executing a system policy, and (iii) executing a configuration.

15. A data processing system for energy conservation in multipath data communications, the data processing system comprising:

a storage device including a storage medium, wherein the storage device stores computer usable program code; and

a processor, wherein the processor executes the computer usable program code, and wherein the computer usable program code comprises:

computer usable code for determining a current utilization of each of a plurality of I/O devices;

computer usable code for determining whether an I/O device in the plurality of I/O devices can be powered down without violating a rule, forming an indication of violation; and

computer usable code for powering down the I/O device responsive to the indication of violation being false, the computer usable code for powering down including computer usable code for triggering, based on a rule, a logic to power down the I/O device; and

computer usable code for determining whether a latency time of the I/O device elapses before a time when an additional I/O device is needed, wherein the determination of a time when the additional I/O device is needed arises within the latency time of the I/O device.

16. The data processing system of claim 15 , further comprising:

computer usable code for determining whether an additional I/O device is needed in a multipath I/O configuration, forming an indication of powering up;

computer usable code for locating the I/O device;

computer usable code for powering up the I/O device based on a forecast of an impending increase in reliability of the data processing system;

computer usable code for making the I/O device available for multipath I/O configuration; and

computer usable code for notifying a user responsive to a failure in locating the I/O device.

17. The data processing system of claim 16 , further comprising:

computer usable code for determining a time when the additional I/O device is needed; and

computer usable code for powering on the I/O device within the latency time of the I/O device.

18. The data processing system of claim 17 , wherein the powering on occurs no later than the latency time before the time the additional I/O device is needed.

19. The data processing system of claim 16 , wherein the computer usable code for the determining that forms the indication of powering up further comprises computer usable code for one of (i) receiving a request for the additional I/O device and (ii) forecasting the need for the additional I/O device.

20. The data processing system of claim 15 , wherein the computer usable code for the determining that forms the indication of violation further comprises computer usable code for one of (i) executing a rule, (ii) executing a system policy, and (iii) executing a configuration.