US 7,023,845 B1 · Network device including multiple mid-planes

Abstract

The present invention provides a network device that fully utilizes the available space in a standard telco rack through the use of multiple mid-planes. Full utilization of available space allows a high switching capacity network device including both physical layer switch/router subsystems and upper layer switch/router subsystems to be fit in one telco rack. Inter-mid-plane connections may be provided by connecting switch fabric cards and/or control processor cards to each of the mid-planes. Providing a multi-layer network device in one telco rack allows for intelligent layer 1 switching (for example, dynamic network connection set up), allows for one network management system to control both layer 1 and upper layer networks and eliminates grooming fees. Compared with separate layer 1 and upper layer network devices or a multi-layer network device occupying multiple telco racks, a single network device saves valuable telco site space and reduces expenses by sharing overhead such as the chassis, power and cooling.

Claims21

Dependent claims

A network device, comprising:

a plurality of ports for data ingress and egress;
a plurality of mid-planes;
a cross-connection subsystem connected to said ports and to at least one of said mid-planes;
and
a switch fabric subsystem coupled to each of the plurality of mid-planes,
wherein said cross-connection subsystem is directly and physically connected to at least one of said mid-planes and functions as a physical layer switch which connects on a packet-by-packet basis, and
wherein said switch fabric subsystem functions as an upper layer switch.

4 more elements

A network device, comprising:

a first mid-plane;
a second mid-plane;
a switch fabric card coupled to the first mid-plane and the second mid-plane;
a first cross-connection card directly and physically connected to the first mid-plane;
a first port card connected to the first mid-plane and coupled to the first cross-connection card through the first mid-plane, said first port card functioning as a physical layer switch which connects on a packet-by-packet basis;
and
a first forwarding card connected to the first mid-plane and coupled to the first cross-connection card and the switch fabric card through the first mid-plane,
wherein said switch fabric card and said first forwarding card function as an upper layer switch.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Network device including multiple mid-planes

Life of this patent

Network device including multiple mid-planes

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21