A method of managing energy and power for a network device

Various embodiments are generally directed to an apparatus, a method and other techniques to generate a rest period for a processing unit and a switching circuit by one or more packets in a buffer for one or more input / output (I / O) ports is buffered or. Embodiments may include: causing the processing unit and / or to operate in a lower power state during the idle period of the switching circuit, and causing the processing unit and / or the switching circuit to leave the lower energy state by one or more out-band send messages to the processing unit and / or the switching circuit is communicated or.