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US 2009/0268748 A1Published application
Method, apparatus and system for a stackable ethernet switch
AssigneeExtreme Networks, Inc.
InventorsGihad Ghaibeh, Marwan Naboulsi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Implementation of non-blocking switch stacking capability for a switch device using a plug-in stacking module to connect to the switch device. In one embodiment, the plug-in stacking module receives switched data from one switch means of the connected switch device and switches the received switch data to another switch means of the same switch device. In another embodiment, switching configurations are changed so that operation of the switch device in combination with the plug-in stacking module increases a total number of ports for which non-blocking switching is supported.
Claims23
A switch device comprising:
- a plurality of ports to exchange data, the plurality of ports including a first set of ports switchably interconnected within the switch device, wherein the switch device supports non-blocking switching for a set of interconnected ports including the first set of ports;
- a stacking module interface to connect the switch device to a plug-in stacking module to provide for the switch device a capacity to be stacked with another switch device;
- and
- a configuration module to change a switching configuration to increase the total number of ports of the set of interconnected ports for which the switch device supports non-blocking switching, wherein the connected plug-in stacking module exchanges data with the switch device according to the changed switching configuration.
1 more element
A plug-in stacking module comprising
- a switch interface connector to connect the plug-in stacking module to a standalone switch device to provide for the standalone switch device a capacity to be stacked with another switch device;
- one or more crossbar switch means coupled to the switch interface connector;
- a plurality of switch interface channels coupling the interface connector to the one or more crossbar switch means, the plurality of switch interface channels to exchange switched data between the standalone switch device and the one or more crossbar switch means;
- a plurality of stacking ports;
- a plurality of stacking port channels coupling the one or more crossbar switch means to the plurality of stacking ports, the plurality of switch interface channels to exchange switched data between the one or more crossbar switch means and the plurality of stacking ports.
2 more elements
A system comprising:
- a first switch device having a stacking module interface;
- a plug-in stacking module coupled to the first switch device via the stacking module interface, the plug-in stacking module to provide for the first switch device a capacity to be stacked with another switch device;
- wherein the first switch device includes:
- a plurality of ports to exchange data, the plurality of ports including a first set of ports switchably interconnected within the switch device, wherein the first switch device supports non-blocking switching for a set of interconnected ports including the first set of ports, and
- a configuration module to change a switching configuration to increase the total number of ports of the set of interconnected ports for which the first switch device supports non-blocking switching, wherein the connected plug-in stacking module exchanges data with the first switch device according to the changed switching configuration.
2 more elements
A method comprising:
- within a switch device having a plurality of ports, switchably interconnecting a first set of ports of the plurality of ports, the switch device supporting non-blocking switching for a set of ports including the first set of switchably interconnected ports;
- connecting a plug-in stacking module to the switch device to provide a switch stacking capability for the switch device;
- changing a switching configuration in response to the connecting of the plug-in stacking module to increase a total number of ports in the set of ports for which the switch device supports non-blocking switching, wherein the connected plug-in stacking module exchanges data with the switch device according to the changed switching configuration.
A computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon which when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method comprising:
- within a switch device having a plurality of ports, switchably interconnecting a first set of ports of the plurality of ports, the switch device supporting non-blocking switching for a set of ports including the first set of switchably interconnected ports;
- connecting a plug-in stacking module to the switch device to provide a switch stacking capability to the switch device;
- changing a switching configuration in response to the connecting of the plug-in stacking module to increase a total number of ports in the set of ports for which the switch device supports non-blocking switching, wherein the connected plug-in stacking module exchanges data with the switch device according to the changed switching configuration.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.