Ethernet interconnection circuit and apparatus

An Ethernet interconnection circuit, comprising:

• a physical interface exchanger having a first physical interface, a second physical interface, and a third physical interface;
• a first board-level processor connected to the first physical interface;
• and
• a second board-level processor connected to the second physical interface;
• wherein the third physical interface is connected to a network interface;
• wherein a first communication path is formed between the first board-level processor and an external Ethernet, and the first communication path passes through the first physical interface, the third physical interface, and the network interface;
• a second communication path is formed between the second board-level processor and the external Ethernet, and the second communication path passes through the second physical interface, the third physical interface, and the network interface;
• a third communication path is formed between the first board-level processor and the second board-level processor, and the third communication path passes through the first physical interface and the second physical interface.

An Ethernet interconnection apparatus, comprising:

• an Ethernet interconnection circuit, comprising:
• a physical interface exchanger having a first physical interface, a second physical interface, and a third physical interface;
• a first board-level processor connected to the first physical interface;
• and
• a second board-level processor connected to the second physical interface;
• and
• a network interface connected to the third physical interface:
• wherein,
• a communication between the first board-level processor and an external Ethernet is implemented by the first board-level processor through the first physical interface, the third physical interface, and the network interface;
• a communication between the second board-level processor and the external Ethernet is implemented by the second board-level processor through the second physical interface, the third physical interface, and the network interface;
• a communication between the first board-level processor and the second board-level processor is implemented by the first board-level processor and the second board-level processor through the first physical interface and the second physical interface.