Network device with compact chassis

A method of manufacturing a network device, the method comprising:

• installing, within a housing, a first set of power supplies along a left side of the housing;
• installing, within the housing, a second set of power supplies along a right side of the housing;
• installing, within the housing, a set of switch cards between the first set of power supplies and the second set of power supplies;
• installing, within the housing, a set of line cards in-line with the first set of power supplies, the second set of power supplies, and the set of switch cards, wherein:
• the set of line cards are oriented orthogonally to the set of switch cards;
• and
• the set of line cards are oriented parallel with each other;
• installing, within the housing, a first circuit board assembly of a midplane disposed between the set of line cards and the first set of power supplies;
• and
• installing, within the housing, a second circuit board assembly of the midplane disposed between the set of line cards and the second set of power supplies,
• the first circuit board assembly and the second circuit board assembly each having a width extending along a first direction and a length extending along a second direction, said first circuit board assembly and said second circuit board assembly being spaced apart a first distance along the first direction to provide a planar space, wherein said first distance is greater than the width of at least one of the first circuit board assembly and the second circuit board assembly;
• and
• distributing power, within the housing, from the first and second sets of power supplies through a busbar to the set of switch cards and the set of line cards and without distributing power from the first and second sets of power supplies through the first and second circuit board assemblies of the midplane to the set of switch cards and the set of line cards.

A network device, comprising:

• a housing;
• a set of switch cards;
• a set of line cards oriented orthogonally to the set of switch cards thereto;
• a first set of power supplies on a left side of the housing;
• a second set of power supplies on a right side of the housing;
• at least one busbar coupled to the set of line cards, the set of switch cards, the first set of power supplies, and the second set of power supplies, said at least one busbar comprising a first busbar, a second busbar, and a third busbar electrically connecting the first busbar and the second busbar;
• and
• a midplane including a first circuit board assembly between the set of line cards and the first set of power supplies and a second circuit board between the set of line cards and the second set of power supplies,
• the first circuit board assembly positioned at a left side of the midplane adjacent the first busbar, the second circuit board assembly positioned at a right side of the midplane between the first busbar and the second busbar, and no other circuit board assemblies positioned between the first busbar and the second busbar, and
• the midplane distributing no power from the first and second sets of power supplies to the set of line cards or the set of switch cards and the midplane and the busbar configured to allow air to flow from a front of the housing through the set of line cards and a center portion of the housing to the set of switch cards, the first set of power supplies and the second set of power supplies.