portPower

portPower is a software utility designed to manage and monitor power consumption of connected USB devices. It allows users to view the current power draw of individual USB ports, identify devices that are consuming excessive power, and in some cases, remotely disable or enable specific ports. The application typically presents this information through a graphical user interface, offering a clear overview of the system's USB power status.

The primary functionality of portPower revolves around diagnostics and resource management. Users can employ it to troubleshoot issues related to insufficient power supply to USB devices, such as external hard drives or high-power peripherals. By displaying real-time wattage, it helps in determining if a device is operating within expected power limits or if there's a potential fault. Furthermore, it can be useful for optimizing power usage on systems where USB devices might be drawing more power than necessary, contributing to overall energy efficiency.

portPower often integrates with the operating system's power management features, providing a centralized control point. While the specific features can vary between versions and implementations, common capabilities include logging power usage over time and generating reports. This data can be valuable for system administrators and power users who need to track and analyze the energy footprint of their connected hardware. The software is generally cross-platform, supporting both Windows and macOS operating systems, making it accessible to a wide range of users.