Multi-layer network device in one telecommunications rack

• US 6,760,339 B1
• Filed: 06/16/2000
• Issued: 07/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ciena Corporation
• Original Assignee: Equipe Communications Corporation
• Inventors: Pearson, Terrence S., Whitehouse, Joe, Simons, Corey, Branscomb, Brian, Noel, Chris R.
• Primary Examiner(s): HO, DUC CHI
• Application Number:
  US09/596,055
• Time in Patent Office: 1,481 Days
• Field of Search: 370/230, 370/401, 370/469, 370/428, 370/352, 370/389, 370/466, 361/788, 361/796, 710/132, 710/100, 710/8, 710/317, 340/2-28, 709/249, 709/250, 709/230
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/14 Time supervision arrangements, e.g. real time clock
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0685 Clock or time synchronisation in a node; Intranode synchronisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/082 the condition being updates or upgrades of network functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0859 by keeping history of different configuration generations or by rolling back to previous configuration versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0863 by rolling back to previous configuration versions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/50 using label swapping, e.g. multi-protocol label switch [MPLS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 7/0008 Synchronisation information channels, e.g. clock distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 1/14 Structural association of two or more printed circuits providing electric connection to or between printed circuits H05K1/11, H01R12/00

Abstract

The present invention provides a high switching capacity network device in one telco rack including both physical layer switch/router subsystems and an upper layer switch/router subsystem. Instead of providing a single physical layer switch/router subsystem, multiple physical layer switch/router subsystems are provided. Segmenting the physical layer switch/router into multiple, for example, four, subsystems better utilizes routing resources by allowing etches for the physical layer subsystems to be moved away from the center of the mid-plane/back-plane of the network device. Moving the physical layer subsystem etches away from the center of the mid-plane enables the network device to include an upper layer/switch router subsystem with etches toward the center of the mid-plane. 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 run 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.

Claims

1. A network device, comprising:

at least one physical layer cross-connection subsystem;

a port subsystem connected to the physical layer cross-connection subsystem and capable of being connected to an external network attachment and capable of transferring network packets, including data and control information, with other network devices over the external network attachment in accordance with a physical layer network protocol, and wherein data in the network packets is organized in accordance with one or more upper level network protocols;

an upper layer switch fabric subsystem coupled with the cross-connection subsystem; and

a forwarding subsystem connected to the physical layer cross-connection subsystem and the upper layer switch fabric subsystem and capable of operating on network packet data in accordance with one of the upper level network protocols;

wherein the physical layer cross-connection subsystem is capable of transferring network packets between the port subsystem and the forwarding subsystem and wherein the network device is capable of fitting within one telecommunication rack.

2. The network device of claim 1, wherein the forwarding subsystem is a first forwarding subsystem and further comprising:

a second forwarding subsystem connected to the physical layer cross-connection subsystem and the upper layer switch fabric subsystem and capable of operating on network packet data in accordance with the one of the upper level network protocols; and

wherein the upper layer switch fabric subsystem is capable of transferring network packet data between the first and second forwarding subsystems.

3. The network device of claim 1, wherein the physical layer cross-connection subsystem is a first physical layer cross-connection subsystem and further comprising:

a second physical layer cross-connection subsystem coupled with the upper layer switch fabric subsystem.

4. The network device of claim 3, further comprising:

a third physical layer cross-connection subsystem coupled with the upper layer switch fabric subsystem; and

a fourth physical layer cross-connection subsystem coupled with the upper layer switch fabric subsystem.

5. The network device of claim 4, wherein the third and fourth physical layer cross-connection subsystems are connected together and capable of transferring data.

6. The network device of claim 4, wherein the first, second, third and fourth physical layer cross-connection subsystem are connected together and capable of transferring data.

7. The network device of claim 3, wherein the first and second physical layer cross-connection subsystems are connected together and capable of transferring data.

8. The network device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a plurality of mid-planes including a plurality of back-planes.

9. A network device, comprising:

a plurality of port subsystems, wherein each port subsystem is capable of being connected to an external network attachment and capable of transferring network packets, including data and control information, with other network devices over the external network attachment in accordance with a physical layer network protocol, and wherein data in the network packets is organized in accordance with one or more upper level network protocols;

a plurality of forwarding subsystems, wherein each forwarding subsystem is capable of operating on network packet data in accordance with one of the upper level network protocols;

a cross-connection subsystem coupled with the plurality of port subsystems and the plurality of forward subsystems and capable of transferring network packets between the plurality of port subsystems and the plurality of forwarding subsystems;

a switch fabric subsystem coupled to the plurality of forwarding subsystems and capable of transferring network packet data between the plurality of forwarding subsystems; and

wherein the network device is capable of fitting within one telecommunications rack.

10. The network device of claim 9, wherein the plurality of port subsystems is a first plurality of port subsystems, the physical layer network protocol is a first physical layer network protocol, the plurality of forwarding subsystem is a first plurality of forwarding subsystems and the physical layer cross-connection subsystem is a first physical layer cross-connection subsystem and further comprising:

a second plurality of port subsystems, wherein each port subsystem is capable of being connected to an external network attachment and capable of transferring network packets, including data and control information, with other network devices over the external network attachment in accordance with a second physical layer network protocol, and wherein data in the network packets is organized in accordance with one or more upper level network protocols;

a second plurality of forwarding subsystems, wherein each forwarding subsystem is capable of operating on network packet data in accordance with one of the upper level network protocols;

a second cross-connection subsystem coupled with the second plurality of port subsystems and the second plurality of forwarding subsystems and capable of transferring network packets between the second plurality of port subsystems and the second plurality of forwarding subsystems; and

wherein the switch fabric subsystem is coupled to the second plurality of forwarding subsystems and capable of transferring network packet data between the first and second plurality of forwarding subsystems.

11. The network device of claim 10, further comprising:

a third plurality of port subsystems, wherein each port subsystem is capable of being connected to an external network attachment and capable of transferring network packets, including data and control information, with other network devices over the external network attachment in accordance with a third physical layer network protocol, and wherein data in the network packets is organized in accordance with one or more upper level network protocols;

a third plurality of forwarding subsystems, wherein each forwarding subsystem is capable of operating on network packet data in accordance with one of the upper level network protocols;

a third cross-connection subsystem coupled with the third plurality of port subsystems and the third plurality of forwarding subsystems and capable of transferring network packets between the third plurality of port subsystems and the third plurality of forwarding subsystems; and

wherein the switch fabric subsystem is coupled to the third plurality of forwarding subsystems and capable of transferring network packet data between the first, second and third plurality of forwarding subsystems.

12. The network device of claim 11, further comprising:

a fourth plurality of port subsystems, wherein each port subsystem is capable of being connected to an external network attachment and capable of transferring network packets, including data and control information, with other network devices over the external network attachment in accordance with a fourth physical layer network protocol, and wherein data in the network packets is organized in accordance with one or more upper level network protocols;

a fourth plurality of forwarding subsystems, wherein each forwarding subsystem is capable of operating on network packet data in accordance with one of the upper level network protocols;

a fourth cross-connection subsystem coupled with the fourth plurality of port subsystems and the fourth plurality of forwarding subsystems and capable of transferring network packets between the fourth plurality of port subsystems and the fourth plurality of forwarding subsystems; and

wherein the switch fabric subsystem is coupled to the fourth plurality of forwarding subsystems and capable of transferring network packet data between the first, second, third and fourth plurality of forwarding subsystems.

13. The network device of claim 12, wherein the third and fourth cross-connection subsystems are connected together and capable of transferring data.

14. The network device of claim 12, wherein the first, second, third and fourth cross-connection subsystems are connected together and capable of transferring data.

15. The network device of claim 12, wherein the first, second, third and fourth physical layer network protocols comprises the same protocol.

16. The network device of claim 12, wherein the first, second, third and fourth physical layer network protocols comprise different protocols.

17. The network device of claim 10, wherein the first and second cross-connection subsystems are connected together and capable of transferring data.

18. The network device of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of port subsystems transfer network packets in accordance with the same physical layer network protocol.

19. The network device of claim 9, wherein each of the plurality of port subsystems transfers network packets in accordance with different physical layer network protocols.