Multi-chassis switch having a modular center stage chassis

A system, comprising:

• a first switching component, installed in a first chassis, to receive data from a sending device,
• the data being intended for a receiving device;
• a first controller, installed in the first chassis, to:
• obtain first control information associated with forwarding the data,
• identify, based on the first control information, a second switching component and a third switching component,
• the second switching component being installed in a second chassis, and
• the third switching component being installed in a third chassis, and
• control the first switching component to provide a first portion of the data to the second switching component and a second portion of the data to the third switching component;
• a second controller, separate from the first controller, to:
• obtain, from a master controller, second control information associated with forwarding the data,
• identify, based on the second control information, a fourth switching component connected to the receiving device,
• the fourth switching component not being installed in the second chassis or the third chassis, and
• control, based on the second control information, the second switching component to forward the first portion of the data to the fourth switching component;
• and
• a third controller, separate from the first controller and the second controller, to:
• obtain, from the master controller, third control information associated with forwarding the data,
• identify, based on the third control information, the fourth switching component, and
• control, based on the third control information, the third switching component to forward the second portion of the data to the fourth switching component.

A method, comprising:

• receiving, by a first switching component of a first chassis, data from a sending device,
• the data being intended for a receiving device;
• obtaining, by a first controller of the first chassis, first control information associated with forwarding the data;
• identifying, by the first controller and based on the first control information, a second switching component and a third switching component,
• the second switching component being installed in a second chassis, and
• the third switching component being installed in a third chassis;
• controlling, by the first controller, the first switching component to provide a first portion of the data to the second switching component and a second portion of the data to the third switching component;
• obtaining, by a second controller and from a master controller, second control information associated with forwarding the data,
• the second controller being separate from the first controller,
• identifying, by the second controller and based on the second control information, a fourth switching component connected to the receiving device,
• the fourth switching component not being installed in the second chassis or the third chassis;
• controlling, by the second controller and based on the second control information, the second switching component to forward the first portion of the data to the fourth switching component;
• obtaining, by a third controller and from the master controller, third control information associated with forwarding the data,
• the third controller being separate from the first controller and the second controller;
• identifying, by the third controller and based on the third control information, the fourth switching component;
• and
• controlling, by the third controller and based on the third control information, the third switching component to forward the second portion of the data to the fourth switching component.

A system, comprising:

• a first chassis;
• a second chassis;
• and
• a third chassis,
• the first chassis comprising:
• a first switching component to receive data from a sending device,
• the data being intended for a receiving device;
• a first controller to:
• obtain first control information associated with forwarding the data,
• identify, based on the first control information, a second switching component and a third switching component,
• the second switching component being installed in the second chassis, and
• the third switching component being installed in the third chassis, and
• control the first switching component to provide a first portion of the data to the second switching component and a second portion of the data to the third switching component;
• a second controller, separate from the first controller, to:
• obtain, from a master controller, second control information associated with forwarding the data,
• identify, based on the second control information, a fourth switching component connected to the receiving device, and
• control, based on the second control information, the second switching component to forward the first portion of the data to the fourth switching component;
• and
• a third controller, separate from the first controller and the second controller, to:
• obtain, from the master controller, third control information associated with forwarding the data,
• identify, based on the third control information, the fourth switching component, and
• control, based on the third control information, the third switching component to forward the second portion of the data to the fourth switching component.