Modular COFTA-based networking device system

A networking device, comprising:

• a networking device chassis;
• a circuit board that is housed in the networking device chassis;
• a plurality of networking ports that are included on the circuit board and that are accessible on the networking device chassis;
• a networking processing system that is included on the circuit board and that is coupled to the plurality of ports;
• a plurality of non-networking components that are couped to the circuit board;
• and
• a networking device management connector system that is included on the circuit board and that includes:
• a networking processing system management connector that is coupled to the networking processing system;
• a non-networking component management connector that is coupled to the non-networking components;
• and
• a networking software management connector, wherein the networking device management connector system is configured to connect to at least two Computer-On-Fan-Tray-Assembly (COFTA) systems that are each configured to provide a respective operating system that is configured to manage a different subset of the networking processing system via networking processing system management connector, the non-networking components via the non-networking component management connector, and networking software via networking software management connector.

A method for providing a modular Computer-On-Fan-Tray-Assembly (COFTA)-based networking device, comprising:

• connecting, by each of at least two Computer-On-Fan-Tray-Assembly (COFTA) systems, to a different subset of:
• a networking processing system management connector in a networking device management connector system that is included on a circuit board housed in a networking device chassis;
• a non-networking component management connector in the networking device management connector system;
• and
• a networking software management connector in the networking device management connector system;
• providing, by each of the least two COFTA systems, a respective operating system;
• and
• managing, by each of the respective operating systems provided by the at least two COFTA systems, a different subset of:
• a networking processing system via the networking processing system management connector, wherein the networking processing system is included on the circuit board and coupled to a plurality of networking ports that are included on the circuit board and that are accessible via the networking device chassis;
• a plurality of non-networking components via the non-networking component management connector, wherein the plurality of non-networking components are coupled to the circuit board;
• and
• networking software via the networking software management connector.