Networking device port multiplexing
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorAnthony E. Baker
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system includes a first networking devices, a multiplexer, a second networking device, and a third networking device. The first networking device includes a pair of ports operational up to a first throughput. The multiplexer includes an input port connected to a port of the first networking device, and a pair of output ports. The second networking device includes an output port connected to a port of the first networking device and to an output port of the multiplexer, and operational up to a second throughput greater than the first throughput. The third networking device includes an output port connected to an output port of the multiplexer, and operational up to a third throughput no greater than the first throughput.
Claims20
A system comprising:
- a first networking device comprising a pair of ports;
- a multiplexer comprising an input port connected to one of the pair of ports of the first networking device, and a pair of output ports;
- and
- a second networking device comprising an output port connected to another one of the pair of ports of the first networking device and to one of the pair of output ports of the multiplexer.
A system comprising:
- a plurality of multiplexers to directly connect to a first networking device;
- and
- a second networking device external to the multiplexers and to directly connect to both the first networking device and the multiplexers,
- wherein the first networking device comprises a plurality of ports, and the second networking device,
- and wherein the multiplexers are to multiplex each port of at least a subset of the ports the first networking device to which the multiplexers are connected to the second networking device.
A networking device comprising:
- a plurality of multiplexers to directly connect to a different networking device;
- a plurality of first output ports to directly connect to the different networking device and to directly connect to the multiplexers;
- a plurality of second output ports to directly connect to the multiplexers and to not directly connect to the different networking device;
- wherein the different networking device comprises a plurality of ports,
- and wherein the multiplexers are to multiplex each port of the first networking device to which the multiplexers are connected to one of the first output ports or to one of the second output ports.
A method performable in a system comprising a first networking device, a multiplexer, and a second networking device, the method comprising:
- to operate an output port of the second networking device in a first mode,
- multiplexing a first port of a plurality of ports of the first networking device from the first networking device to the second networking device, using the multiplexer;
- bridging the first port with a second port of the ports of the first networking device directly connected to the second networking device;
- and
- to operate the output port of the second networking device in a second mode,
- using the second port of the first networking device directly connected to the second networking device, without bridging the second port with the first port of the first networking device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.